Maternity Leave

[toriskids]

Anybody have very much success closing down for a month for maternity leave?

I am 6 1/2 months pregnant, due November 20, and run a full capacity in home childcare in Oregon. I have been trying to find a substitute to hire, but have been unsuccessful. I have ran my business for 3 years, and our newest addition was over a year ago, very low turn over and awesome kids!
Obviously the last thing I want to do is start over and my household is dependent on my income..would take a few months to recoup on top of holidays, and our other two kids have birthdays Dec. 29th and Jan 3rd. Have any of you been in a similar situation?

Thanks in advance!

[lilcupcakes09]

I'm in similar situation, due the first week in December. I've already decided I will be taking off until the beginning of the year when the kids return to school. I'm going with what feels right for my family and I want to enjoy the holidays with my family and new little one. With that being said, all my families are very considerate and supportive of my decision except one,she turned her nose up and tried to make me feel guilty claiming she could hardly find anyone to keep her child during my week long vacation a few weeks ago. I'm not letting her get to me, if she goes, it's meant to be. She is my ungrateful parent, I don't feel sorry that she may have to take some time off and actually spend it with her child instead of dropping him off here and leaving him until closing time when she is forced to pick him up.. They have had plenty of time to plan, I'm just thankful all seem pretty on board with my plans.

If you have had their children for a while, they must love you and will respect you for what you choose to do and wish you well doing so, I wouldn't worry about the important ones leaving.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If I did it all over again, I would have taken off AT LEAST 4 weeks. I took off 2 and it was a wonderful 2 weeks with just my baby and me. lovethis You only get that time with YOUR child once and if you want at least 4 weeks then you need to try and make that work as best as you can. I would put it out there that the tentative plan is 4 weeks and see what kind of feedback you receive. If a family says they can't make it work then MAYBE you can have that ONE family come back after 2 weeks if you really, really need the income.

[mom2many]

I have had two maternity leaves while doing daycare. With my first leave, I took one 3 yo dcb back after 2 weeks, so that my oldest ds had a playmate. (They were best buds and only 2 weeks apart.) However, I didn't take any of the other dcks back for another 4 weeks. Then with my second maternity leave, I took all 6 weeks off before resuming. I very much enjoyed having just my 3 home with me and was glad I was able to take this time off!

[Crazy8]

I closed for 2 weeks for each of my pregnancies, any more than that and I would have lost them all I think. Most were always very understanding - they knew I deserved the time but they need child care, and finding someone for 4-6 weeks just isn't an easy option so if they are going to move them somewhere else they are going to move them for good.

Is it unreasonable to want a month off? absolutely not! But you'd have to feel out your own clients to see if that's feasible for them.