Really Hurt :(

[dEHmom]

I have one little boy who grabs my face and looks into my eyes and says,.. Thank you for the nice time, I love you... every day. That to me means more than anything.

my heart just melted........

I agree.

I also have to admit, that I get a little "hee hee hee" or even a "muahahaha" in the back of my head, when parents come to pick their kids up, and they start acting like little brats and crying cause they don't want to leave. Makes me feel good. LOL

[Former Teacher]

I have one little boy who grabs my face and looks into my eyes and says,.. Thank you for the nice time, I love you... every day. That to me means more than anything.

I TOTALLY agree!

[jen]

Awwww...I have one little one who, each and every time I change her diaper, stands up, hugs me and says, "I love you too mama, I love you too, Jen" She's two and the absolute cutest thing I've ever seen.

[nannyde]

Every single day I leave, the mother and/or father says thank you, have a good night, see you tomorrow, have a great weekend, etc..and they MEAN IT.

I make sure that every day I thank my day care parents. If one parent drops off and the other picks up I make sure that I tell each parent "thank you". If one parent does both drop off and pick up I say "thank you" when the parent leaves in the afternoon.

I do lots of versions of it: Thanks Mommy.... Thanks Dad... Thanks Mama.... Thanks Daddy.... Thank you SO much.... Thanks guys see ya in the morning.... Bye BooBoo .. thanks Moms.. etc.

I make sure they are KNOW that I appreciate THEM. When parents treat you with respect and are loyal they need to hear that you GET it and appreciate it.


It's good manners and it's good for business.

[momma2girls]

I make sure that every day I thank my day care parents. If one parent drops off and the other picks up I make sure that I tell each parent "thank you". If one parent does both drop off and pick up I say "thank you" when the parent leaves in the afternoon.

I do lots of versions of it: Thanks Mommy.... Thanks Dad... Thanks Mama.... Thanks Daddy.... Thank you SO much.... Thanks guys see ya in the morning.... Bye BooBoo .. thanks Moms.. etc.

I make sure they are KNOW that I appreciate THEM. When parents treat you with respect and are loyal they need to hear that you GET it and appreciate it.


It's good manners and it's good for business.

I always say the same thing at drop off and pick up- either"Have a good day or good evening or good weekend!!

[nannyde]

I always say the same thing at drop off and pick up- either"Have a good day or good evening or good weekend!!

At drop off when the parent is leaving I say to the parents "Be good at work Mommy/Daddy"

[Unregistered]

one of my daycare moms gave me a whisk filled with hershey kisses and a card that said "We *whisk* you a very Merry *Kiss*-mas" haha...I loved it, I thought it was super cute, and we gave each of our daycare parents a platter of homemade goodies that the kids helped make. Money is tight for everyone, I would much rather they spend their money on their kids then on getting me something, it's the thought that counts and I love my whisk and kisses

[Mom&Provider]

I'm really hurt. Two of my daycare families are done for the year (Christmas holidays) and neither of them even gave me so much as a card. I don't want much, just a little thank you for what I do.

That does ****! Merry Christmas to you and your family and I hope your other families make up for these ones!

[AmandasFCC]

I say thank you every day to my parents, wish them a good day, when something is going on in their lives I do what I can to help out.

A friend of mine last week asked what she should get her babysitter for Christmas, that she was thinking $100. I was blown away!

I didn't word my original post correctly. When I stated that all I want is a little thank you for what I do, I didn't mean GIFTS. I love reading the cards, I love seeing the children's attempts at writing their names, even if it's a line scribbled across the page. I love it! And I think that when the parents don't even think I'm worthy of a card, that really translates to the kids.

They were all sent home with their Christmas gifts yesterday, and in one case, on Thursday, as that was her last day until January. Her mom had made a point to tell me to make sure her daughter didn't forget to give her teacher her gift. Then, "K bye!"

[Abigail]

"We *whisk* you a very Merry *Kiss*-mas"

I will have to try that. I usually only buy gifts for immediate family now, but that would be wonderful to give to all my friends. Chocolate still adds up, but who doesn't love chocolate!

[QualiTcare]

[QUOTE=AmandasFCC;65422]I say thank you every day to my parents, wish them a good day, when something is going on in their lives I do what I can to help out.

A friend of mine last week asked what she should get her babysitter for Christmas, that she was thinking $100. I was blown away!

I didn't word my original post correctly. When I stated that all I want is a little thank you for what I do, I didn't mean GIFTS. I love reading the cards, I love seeing the children's attempts at writing their names, even if it's a line scribbled across the page. I love it! And I think that when the parents don't even think I'm worthy of a card, that really translates to the kids.

They were all sent home with their Christmas gifts yesterday, and in one case, on Thursday, as that was her last day until January. Her mom had made a point to tell me to make sure her daughter didn't forget to give her teacher her gift. Then, "K bye!"[/QUOTE]

huh? :confused:

[QualiTcare]

one of my daycare moms gave me a whisk filled with hershey kisses and a card that said "We *whisk* you a very Merry *Kiss*-mas" haha...I loved it, I thought it was super cute, and we gave each of our daycare parents a platter of homemade goodies that the kids helped make. Money is tight for everyone, I would much rather they spend their money on their kids then on getting me something, it's the thought that counts and I love my whisk and kisses

that is really cute - i'll have to steal that idea!

[AmandasFCC]

[QUOTE=QualiTcare;65424]

I say thank you every day to my parents, wish them a good day, when something is going on in their lives I do what I can to help out.

A friend of mine last week asked what she should get her babysitter for Christmas, that she was thinking $100. I was blown away!

I didn't word my original post correctly. When I stated that all I want is a little thank you for what I do, I didn't mean GIFTS. I love reading the cards, I love seeing the children's attempts at writing their names, even if it's a line scribbled across the page. I love it! And I think that when the parents don't even think I'm worthy of a card, that really translates to the kids.

They were all sent home with their Christmas gifts yesterday, and in one case, on Thursday, as that was her last day until January. Her mom had made a point to tell me to make sure her daughter didn't forget to give her teacher her gift. Then, "K bye!"[/QUOTE]

huh? :confused:

Sorry that wasn't clear .

One daycare girl's last day before holidays was Thursday. When Mom dropped her off in the morning, Mom made a point to tell me not to let dcg forget to give her teacher at school her gift, because I walk her to school every morning. "The gift is in her backpack, please make sure teacher gets it." And then off she goes. No "Merry Christmas", nothing.

Maybe it's petty, but it just hurt my feelings a bit. Yes, I do realize that, in this case, the teacher is clearly more significant in this dcg's life, but you can get a box of generic cards for $5, write Merry Christmas on it, and that's that.

[nannyde]

A friend of mine last week asked what she should get her babysitter for Christmas, that she was thinking $100. I was blown away!

I didn't word my original post correctly. When I stated that all I want is a little thank you for what I do, I didn't mean GIFTS. I love reading the cards, I love seeing the children's attempts at writing their names, even if it's a line scribbled across the page. I love it! And I think that when the parents don't even think I'm worthy of a card, that really translates to the kids.

I think that most providers do enjoy a hand written card but if we were all completely honest ... what we really really want... is cold hard cash or gift cards.

We aren't any different than any other subsect of the population. We know that when someone gives you cash that it says a lot about how they value your service. Gifts are nice but the food gifts, soaps, flower arrangements.. stuff like that isn't really what the average every day person wants.

I came across this post and thought it related to this thread:

http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/206295/holiday-bonus-for-daycare-provider

"never thought of it
I mean, I had heard that if you have an au pair or nanny it was expected, but not for someone with a business. Shoot, when I was a nanny, I only received little gifts. I didn't expect a bonus. Is this the norm now? I mean, I love my CCProvider, but she gets a week paid vacation from parents per year, so I wouldn't expect to give an addition week's bonus. It's hard enough scraping the pay together for childcare as it is. Most providers are not looking to make big $$ with thier job anyway.
Guess, I'm a Scrooge."

I think it's pretty common thinking. It's a great example of the key ingredients to parents thinking when it comes to end of the year bonus:
You have a business (convienient time to think of us that way
The provider already gets paid days off.
Child care is so expensive.
Most providers are doing it to make SOME extra money but mostly doing it cuz they love kids.

There are exceptions to this but I believe that most people believe that they are already paying too much for child care. It's usually the second biggest bill most parents have and on a week to week basis they think that it's A LOT for what we do. If they pay for holiday and vacations they REALLY think it's a lot.

There really isn't much connection that a home provider has expenses for their kid when their kid is in the providers house. Most providers have the house already and their own family living in it so the parents don't really connect the idea that they have to pay a portion of that HOUSE, your car, the washer, dryer, dish soap, food, utilities etc. They truly believe that the money they pay a provider is for the physical care of the kid.

Most parents don't want to pay for time when their kid isn't in your care. They really JUST want to believe that the money they pay is for a part of your physical care and watching of the kid and when they see four/five/six kids they are believing that you are making a REALLY good wage for what you do.

So when it comes time for gift giving they already believe they have done too much especially if they have paid for any time when their kid isn't in your care (sick days, vacation, holidays etc.) You have had so many "free" days already that that is gift enough.

You will find parents that don't think along those lines. They are the special ones we all want. In this day of entitlement and self centeredness... they are not so easy to find.

So if your population is parents who have this kind of thinking your best bet is to build into your fees your "bonus" and require it. There's a reason why some resturants build in a fifteen percent gratuity right into the tab for their waiter. The restraunt industry KNOWS that there will be a significant amount of the customers that wil stiff the waiter when it comes time to pay so they set the rules up so that it can't happen.

It is nice to get handwritten cards. It's great to be wished a Happy Holiday. The kids growth, development, happiness etc. IS important... but the truth is that we are common every day people just like everyone else and if the client really wants to make their provider feel special they will give MONEY. If you have year after year and they aren't giving year end bonus then maybe it's time to build it into your contract as paid time off so you have something concrete to work toward and feel like you are receving what "should be".

[SilverSabre25]

Nanny, you're absolutely right, I think--that most of us really do appreciate the cards and notes and heartfelt thank yous and words of appreciation, but at the end of the day (or the year? ) what we would LIKE most is something that goes above that. A gift, some money, something. Along with the thank you and the heartfelt words of appreciation. My one dcm paid me through the rest of the year (they're out until January now) and included an extra half weeks' pay!! I was thrilled, and that the card AND her words that day said "Thank you so much for all you do for dcb, we really appreciate it" (okay, I paraphrased, but that's the gist) meant EVEN more. The fact that what I do for their son and their family means ENOUGH to them that they wanted to give me something (and half a weeks' pay is nothing to sneeze at!) in return, means a lot.

I don't *expect* anything from any of the families...but I would *LIKE* something. And if we're all pretty honest, monetary gifts are likely to find their way right back to the daycare parents in the form of stuff for the daycare.