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Do you close? How do you handle it? I got apprx 2 hours of sleep due to diarrhea (sorry) and vomiting, which hasn't stopped yet. How do you handle it?
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I would've closed. I explain at interviews that they are responsible for their own backup care. I rarely close due to illness, but when you're sick, you're sick. Hope you feel better soon!Comment
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Definitely close!Comment
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I close.
Per regs I am supposed to close for any symptoms I would exclude kids for. Now, a bad cold or just feeling punky I would take something and get on with my day. But for vomiting and diarrhea I would absolutely close. I wouldn't feel comfortable being stuck in the bathroom while kids were unsupervised.Comment
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Ok, so now what? It's almost 10 am- what do I tell parents now?Comment
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It's your company, you make whatever choice you feel you need to make. If you are too ill to work today, call your parents and tell them that and have them come pick their children up. If you think you can make it through the day, stay open.
With the fact that you are operating a child care with no back up, it would seem to me that you will need to close whenever you are very ill, have doctor appointments, dentist appointments, etc. I would suggest getting a back up person as soon as you can so you don't have to close for those things. Having to close too much (for some parents, a daycare closing unexpectedly once or twice a year is too much) would make you take a chance on losing children because the parents would feel that you are not dependable.
I'm not trying to sound mean or anything. I'm just being honest and truly trying to help.Comment
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Tell the parents the truth. You weren't feeling well, but hoped that you would get better throughout the day, but you are actually getting worse and now can't stay out of the bathroom. You tried to open for them, but now need to close and need them to come get their children. You will call them later tonight to let them know if you will be able to open tomorrow.
Then, I would suggest calling them by 6 or so tonight, so they have time to find back up care for tomorrow if they need it.
Hope you feel better soon.Comment
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Are most of you required to provide back up care? I provide emergency care If I should become injured through the day and have to take an ambulance ride but require parents to find back up care if I'm sick. I do not have one. My daughter or husband are listed as my emergency back up people and can supervise while parents come pick up but that is short term, 30 min max. My families are responsible for when I'm not able.Comment
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In Maryland, you are required to have at least one substitute before you can even get your license. Now, I know that some of us almost never use the substitute, that person is just basically a name on paperwork so they can get their license. But, we are required to have back up. The parents in both counties that I have lived in here expect you to have a substitute (back up). If you close unexpectedly, you are taking a chance that you might lose a child. Most parents are understanding if you are truly ill for one day, but if you have 8 kids and close for one day, you might lose one of those kids.
I practically NEVER close. I went into the hospital one time in the middle of the night and still made sure to have my substitute open on time and run the daycare for me. I had surgery and made sure to have my substitute operate the daycare for me except 1 day. The day of my surgery, she was the only person who could drive me to and from surgery, so I had to close the day of my surgery. I have worked many times when I was throwing up and/or had diarrhea. I also used to have unbelievably heavy periods where often when I stood up, blood and large blood clots would rush down my legs. I stayed open during all those times. I just ran to the bathroom constantly and really quickly washed my legs up and changed my underwear and pants.
There are daycare providers in the area who close for doctor's appointments and when they're sick. But then their parents call around, plenty have called me, and say that their daycare provider closes for those things and therefore are unreliable so they are looking for a new daycare provider who doesn't close. I then tell them that I have an 'assistant' who has worked for me for 6 years now. She watches the children if I have to go to the doctor's or anywhere so I don't close on you. Then I get the kids just because I use my substitute like I am supposed to do.Comment
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I just had to close for this last week. I am sorry you are going through this
I give myself 5 paid sick days and anything over and above that is free for the parents. They aren't allowed to enroll without backup care or flexible work schedules/time off.Comment
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I'm sorry but IMO, I wouldn't want parents in my program who act like this!!! We all get sick, we all need days off for rhings for ourselves and our families. Parents know what they are signing up for when they choose your program. If myself or my children have a stomach bug, I would def close! The health of my children is my upmost priority, not whether I lose a child or not because I took off. I take iff for vacations, took 3 weeks of maternity leave last year, and a sick day here or there but luckily not often and nobody left, nor have I ever had anyone leave for that matter. We are human, if someone gets pissed because you close a day, I'd say "good luck with your new provider!"
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