Help! How Do I Word This?

[Kabob]

So my assistant / sub informed me that she has a family event to go to the third week of June so she will not be available to help the entire week as she will be out of town.

The thing is, I'm due June 8th but my dr says I could deliver any day now since I delivered early with my son and I also am "showing all the signs."

This makes me nervous. I already am very sick again this week as one child has croup and the others were kind enough to share their nasty colds....so I have a fever and a cough so bad that I could only sleep 2 hours last night and can barely breathe today. If it wasn't for my assistant, I'd be closed today. So I don't know if I'm just not thinking clearly because I'm sick or what but I don't think I can handle having my newborn along with 6 very rambunctious kids (2 of which struggle daily with being gentle, listening, and generally following rules) 2 weeks after delivery by myself.

I was counting on being closed 2 weeks unpaid and then reopening with my assistant helping for another 2 weeks but with this change, I might need to be closed 3 weeks, depending on when I deliver. So how do I word this to the parents? They already are on edge it seems from having to deal without me for 2 weeks...not sure if they'd be happy about me announcing I probably will be closed the 3rd week of June as well (depending on when I deliver this could mean I'd be closed a total of 3 weeks). My contract says I will give 2 weeks notice of closures so I have to figure this out now...hope this makes sense!

[cheerfuldom]

There is now way you can give two weeks notice of things that might happen depending on a when a baby is born. Your contract should be a help to you, not something that bogs you down and ties you up.

I would send out a reminder to all parents about the tentative plan for maternity leave. A brief comment about "per my contract, I prefer to give parents two weeks notice of all daycare closures, however, as we all know, babies come in their own time. Please remember that the above plan is tentative. Parents are required to have a backup plan should the baby's arrival necessitate additional time off. I will do my very best to remain as close to the plan as possible but again, parents are required to have an alternative childcare arrangement in place, should the need arise. Thank you for understanding"

I wouldnt tell anyone about the possible third week because people may get paranoid and leave. You don't even know if you need that time yet! Plus you may be able to do a partial week on your own or if licensing or whatever allows someone there to help besides your permanent assistant. Perhaps have someone to tend to just your baby in your family space while you tend to the daycare kids? Just leave yourself some wiggle room and don't feel bad for taking it if you have too. You WILL regret putting the daycare kids above your own newborn. If you need the time, take it, and the parents can just deal with it for a few extra days. It will all work out! But do not tell the parents every scenario of all the things that could happen depending on when the baby is born. This will just freak them out. Make a general plan with the understanding that parents need to be prepared for situations outside of that plan as babies come on their own schedules. then do what you need to do. If you have to take extra time, it will be easier for you to send out a mass email than telling each parent in person anyway......send the notification and then turn off the computer and phone and enjoy your baby. Do not let the parents ruin this for you! I have had my three younger children while doing daycare and the last thing you want to do is stretch yourself too thin for daycare parents. I did this when my second was born and I can't even remember now who I was watching at the time and you know what? I bet they can't remember how much I did for them when I should have taken more time off with my baby, even unpaid.

[Kabob]

Yeah it is one of those situations where I'm darned if I do and I'm darned if I don't. If I don't say anything and I need to close that extra week then they are going to be mad and leave. If I do say something then they most likely will freak out and leave.

Dh wants me to say something because he thinks that is fair and more honest and also he worries about having work for my assistant.

I didn't want to say anything because it might not be an issue if I have the baby in June. Also parents get so worked up so easily.

Today is just not my day...I also had a child throw up today so that made me lean even more to just winging it when it comes to my leave...I told them before in writing and in person that anything could change and I secretly wouldn't mind losing these families and starting from scratch considering the random drama I've been having lately (sick kids, late parents, constant schedule changes, behavior issues). I frankly don't trust 5.5 yo dcb around small children let alone a baby and so wouldn't mind if he was gone in June...he recently has decided to be a terror to the younger kids...knocking them over, hitting, pinching, and throwing full blown temper tantrums. We can't have spontaneous fun anymore because I have to structure every activity to prevent him from causing fights and have him under more supervision than a baby...it's exhausting. When he's not here because I sent him home or he was kept home it is much better...unfortunately he is part of a sibling set so he often targets his brothers...he does better if I literally make him play separate from everyone all day long...and the others do better if he isn't here whining or trying to bully them all day long...

[cheerfuldom]

Yeah it is one of those situations where I'm darned if I do and I'm darned if I don't. If I don't say anything and I need to close that extra week then they are going to be mad and leave. If I do say something then they most likely will freak out and leave.

Dh wants me to say something because he thinks that is fair and more honest and also he worries about having work for my assistant.

I didn't want to say anything because it might not be an issue if I have the baby in June. Also parents get so worked up so easily.

Today is just not my day...I also had a child throw up today so that made me lean even more to just winging it when it comes to my leave...I told them before in writing and in person that anything could change and I secretly wouldn't mind losing these families and starting from scratch considering the random drama I've been having lately (sick kids, late parents, constant schedule changes, behavior issues). I frankly don't trust 5.5 yo dcb around small children let alone a baby and so wouldn't mind if he was gone in June...he recently has decided to be a terror to the younger kids...knocking them over, hitting, pinching, and throwing full blown temper tantrums. We can't have spontaneous fun anymore because I have to structure every activity to prevent him from causing fights and have him under more supervision than a baby...it's exhausting. When he's not here because I sent him home or he was kept home it is much better...unfortunately he is part of a sibling set so he often targets his brothers...he does better if I literally make him play separate from everyone all day long...and the others do better if he isn't here whining or trying to bully them all day long...

Dont listen to your hubby. He doesnt do your job all day. He shouldnt be the one making the decisions and then you have to deal with the fall out. Do what is best for you! and right now, avoiding the drama and hoping for the best is the way to go. You have already said more than enough to your daycare parents. You are clearly very pregnant and they need a back up plan. They can all use their common sense and know that babies dont run on our schedules. If they get mad, let them leave. Do not kill yourself trying to keep these people happy and give up your precious time and energy that should be for your newborn. Really, if you can afford it, start terming drama families now and start interviewing again after your maternity leave. I would not keep an unpredictable aggressive 5 year old! You can always tell the parents that your environment is no longer meeting his needs but you would be happy to keep the siblings. He may be ready for a preK program if he isnt going to school in the fall. I am telling you.....you are going to be kicking yourself if you have to keep this kid separate all the time while juggling a new baby.

[Shell]

Agree with Cheerfuldom. Parents may leave either way, so do what is best for you, and what you think. Since you don't know about that third week, there really is no reason to bring it up now, imo.

[Kabob]

Yeah I was probably freaking out for nothing. Being sick lately has made me feel like all my plans are messed up.

Ds had his speech therapy today and his therapist asked if 5 yo dcb is attending kindergarten this fall. I said I didn't know and asked why she wanted to know. She said she was concerned about how he would handle a baby. This was said after 5 yo dcb didn't listen to my assistant and tried to dump a bucket of play food on my son's head. I had to physically grab him and take the food away to get him to stop. He acts like he's 2. Then when he heard the therapist talking about the baby, he loudly announced that babies are icky and are trash and belong in the garbage. He says stuff like that daily to get a rise out of people....definitely shocked the therapist.

So yeah...just gonna have to see what happens. His parents both work from home and are notorious for wanting to change their schedules the day before or struggling to arrive on time or struggling to bring the necessary supplies until I tell them I will not be able to accept their kids because I'm out.

I guess I'm just fed up and want this baby to hurry up and get here so I can enroll more families! I think I will at least start advertising this week...