Kids staying home- good parents or should I be offended?

[NorthernMNgal]

I have awesome families. They pay, they are good parents and I have never had any bad words with any of them. I have two families that often keep their kids home when they don't work. One family, the Dad is laid off right now so he is home every day. They cut days down to 3 per week but he decided to keep them one of the scheduled days this week. The other family, the Mom works a varied schedule so she keeps the baby home on days she is off.

Is this normal? I find myself getting worried if they don't like coming or they're better off at home or something. They still pay. Am I just being weird?

[Blackcat31]

I have awesome families. They pay, they are good parents and I have never had any bad words with any of them. I have two families that often keep their kids home when they don't work. One family, the Dad is laid off right now so he is home every day. They cut days down to 3 per week but he decided to keep them one of the scheduled days this week. The other family, the Mom works a varied schedule so she keeps the baby home on days she is off.

Is this normal? I find myself getting worried if they don't like coming or they're better off at home or something. They still pay. Am I just being weird?

I think it's a little of both. ::

It's a rare parent now days that keeps their child home when they are not at work. In my opinion, it's the #1 vent on most child care boards..."parents who bring their kids when they are home"

Consider yourself lucky...and if you are still being paid, then consider yourself even luckier.

Welcome to the forum too by the way! Nice to see another MN gal here.

[Unregistered]

I think your lucky I have the opposite families that are home but till drive here in a snow storm to drop their kids off. They pay for the day they want the kids here id love a bit of the opposite.

[NorthernMNgal]

Oh I know I am extremely lucky! I just want the kids and the families to be happy with my program.

[NorthernMNgal]

I think it's a little of both. ::

It's a rare parent now days that keeps their child home when they are not at work. In my opinion, it's the #1 vent on most child care boards..."parents who bring their kids when they are home"

Consider yourself lucky...and if you are still being paid, then consider yourself even luckier.

Welcome to the forum too by the way! Nice to see another MN gal here.

Thanks for the welcome too by the way!

[finsup]

They are better off at home! And that's not a reflection of you or your care, its just the best place for kids to be is with good parents who love them and want to spend time with them I have one family who keeps their child home every chance they can and that makes me so happy. I love to see parents do things like that and I know how much the kids benefit from it too. Now if we're talking dead beat, awful parents, then chances are they are better away from the home then in it but it sounds to me like these are some good families!

[NaptimesMyFav]

Before I started doing daycare I worked 4 days a week. My schedule varied but I always kept my kids home on my days off! We didn't pay on days they weren't there, so maybe that contributed a little bit. We had no issues with our babysitter. But I am a firm believer that the more time spent with parents the better! Don't worry, if they didn't feel like you were the best care provider for their family they would find someone else. They probably just miss them when they're not there. I feel lonely and like my house is empty when my kids are gone!

[NorthernMNgal]

They are better off at home! And that's not a reflection of you or your care, its just the best place for kids to be is with good parents who love them and want to spend time with them I have one family who keeps their child home every chance they can and that makes me so happy. I love to see parents do things like that and I know how much the kids benefit from it too. Now if we're talking dead beat, awful parents, then chances are they are better away from the home then in it but it sounds to me like these are some good families!

True! Thanks for the reassurance. Sometimes I just worry too much!

[hope]

I think you have some good parents on your hands! They want to spend as much time with their children as possible and they probably realize how hard you work caring for their children and want to help when they can.

[Shell]

Before I started doing daycare I worked 4 days a week. My schedule varied but I always kept my kids home on my days off! We didn't pay on days they weren't there, so maybe that contributed a little bit. We had no issues with our babysitter. But I am a firm believer that the more time spent with parents the better! Don't worry, if they didn't feel like you were the best care provider for their family they would find someone else. They probably just miss them when they're not there. I feel lonely and like my house is empty when my kids are gone!

totally agree!

[Unregistered]

When I worked, I kept my child with me on days off. At the time, it was the closest thing that I had to being a SAHM and to be honest, she was a bit of a handful, and I didn't want her to wear out her welcome. LOL! Maybe they're future daycare providers....

[Leigh]

I have two parents here who spend every minute they can with their kids. If they are home, their kids are home. They WANT to be with their kids. I have another family who leaves their kids here open to close nearly every day. Mom is having a hard time adjusting to having 3 kids, and is just overwhelmed some days. I'm OK with her kids being here-they are great kids. I am proud of her, also, for things she has done lately (last 6 weeks or so) to try to make changes to make her entire family's lives easier. I think it's harder to have kids here when parents are off work when they are "problem" kids. The kids I love, I don't have an issue with it.

[Unregistered]

When is worked at a center any days I had off I always kept dd home always always.

[Unregistered]

Consider yourself lucky! Sounds like, if they were upset with your care, they have plenty of time to find other care, so you probably just have a case of good old fashioned parenting! The kind where they actually want to be around their kids and spend time with them!

[daycarediva]

Sounds like good parenting to me! I wouldn't take offense, if they didn't like you/your program the kids wouldn't be attending.

Now send some of them my way!