Surprise! Miss A Has One on the Way!

[Miss A]

I know there are many other threads out there on Maternity leave and when to tell daycare parents you are pregnant. I found early this week that I am expecting my first, and am approximately 5 weeks. I have searched the forum, and read through all of the threads, but none of the just quite fit my situation.

I have 4/5 of my positions filled for daycare. 2 are full time, one is an infant just born and coming in March, the other infantnis due in March coming in May. On the first of the year I prepared a list of days off for the year of 2016, and also listed in it that should the provider need, parents should expect up to 4 weeks of provider maternity leave. I just happened to add this after reading the posts from here on Maternity leave.

My question is, when I announce the pregnancy to parents, do I need to have my maternity leave plans set in stone, or can I confirm them with the family a little while down the road? I plan to take 2 weeks off for sure, and I am going to see if my mom, aunt, and sister can help me for a couple weeks after. I also want to provide the parents with a list of alternative providers for the two weeks I am off. I am afraid that if I take too much time off, I will lose a family or two.

It must be this pregnancy that is making me so paranoid!

[mommyneedsadayoff]

Congratulations! As for telling parents, I wouldn't say anything till 6 months along or so, unless a big belly makes it pretty obvioys Then I would send a letter, giving your estimated time off and how long you will be closed, as well as referrals to other care if you have some. I would keep your plate light, so if you have a tough pregnancy, you have some options to reduce your load. It all works out in the end...just take care of yourself and your baby

[finsup]

Congrats! I've always told my families as soon as I announce to general public (so pretty much the minute the test turns positive ) but I do make sure to have my plans pretty much figured out before I do. I preface it by saying "with any pregnancy, sometimes unexpected things come up and plans will need to change. In the event of this I will give you as much notice as possible!" Then say how long I'll be closed for, alternative suggestions for care etc. Here 2 weeks is about all I can take and parents haven't complained too much. If you took two and then operated with help the next two, I doubt anyone would mind. I'd just give parents an option to meet your mom/sister/aunt first You have time though and can definitely wait a bit if you want to get things figured out for sure first I've had two babies while doing daycare and the parents seem to really want to know what my plan is and do I intend to come back. If I told them without those things in place I'd worry they would start looking for other places. Stability is/has been big for the families I have/had.

[mamamanda]

Congrats!!! So exciting! I tell my families fairly close to the beginning, but only b/c I get extreme morning sickness and it is VERY obvious that something is not quite right. I'm usually sick before the test turns pink. So weird. Anyway, yes, as pp said, have a general plan in place, but parents have to understand that no two pregnancies are alike. Hopefully if you need extra time they will be understanding. My families were wonderful with this. Congrats again!!!

[Blackcat31]

Congratulations!


I've never done the pregnancy thing while being a provider but I say do whatever works best for you! That is the beauty of self-employment...you get that perk so use it.

I take time when I need time and as long as I give families at least 2 weeks notice (even for lengthy closures) I feel that is ample time for them to make alternate arrangements.

Again, congratulations!! happyface

[MunchkinWrangler]

Congratulations!

You take as much time as you need! As long as you have a plan and your parents are aware of that, I think that's good enough. Unexpected things can happen with pregnancy, I haven't had one while being a provider but I have had full time jobs. You're going to need time for appointments that might interfere with you working schedule and you never know when the baby could come. All your parents should know this and I'm sure they'll be flexible.

[Josiegirl]

Your baby will only be so tiny for so long, take as much time as you want and need. Don't feel guilty or second guess taking time off or anything. There are more dcfs. I've had 3 of my own babies while doing dc and always filled back up. I allowed myself the 6 weeks moms used to get. I know most providers don't seem to do that but I sure did.

Congratulations! And I wouldn't give them exact closure dates for awhile, just tell them this is your due date and you'll know more at a later time.

[Miss A]

Thank you everyone! I am such a worry wart, and I always over think things. I know that if I tell them "I care about you and your families, but this is how it is going to be" then I will have families who appreciate that. It is just so hard to make decisions!

I am also thinking of closing at 5pm after baby comes instead of 5:30. This way I have more time to spend with my family. I just don't want to push parents to fast and hard.

[Ariana]

Most parents are very understandable. I told my parents I was taking 3 weeks and all of them told me that if I needed more to just let them know. They are moms afterall and know what it's like to give birth and take care of a NB.

I would just tell them what you said here. You are definitely taking two weeks but nothing is set in stone yet.

[Claraskids]

First, Congratulations!
Second, please don't promise any family definite dates when you will close or when you will reopen. Stay flexible. Too many things can happen during a pregnancy. With all three of my pregnancies, I ended up on bedrest at six months and still delivered six weeks early. My children are all healthy now, but it certainly threw all my work plans out the window.
Sending positive thoughts for an easy pregnancy and darling little one.