Should I Even Ask?

[Boymom]

But those few hours can be precious for those who never get time off. I wouldn't ask, only make sure they were aware. And if they opted to bring their child anyway, oh well. I had planned to work anyway.

But as someone else said, most of my parents wouldn't want their child to be the only one here. But that's just my group, I guess. On the rare occasion that it has happened, the parent of the only insisted on making other arrangements even though I told her I was open as usual and did not encourage her to keep dcg home. I only informed her of the situation. She refused to bring dcg and said, you need a day! It was fantastic. Lol. I went back to bed.

Yes!!! Those few hours with my own kids would be AWESOME!! It's like when I worked outside of my home and the business closed early for a snow day or something like that. I was just giddy at the fact that I was maybe getting just one tiny little afternoon off!! Lol! The parents never ever ever ever pick their kids up early (which is fine, although I always picked up my son early when I could!) in fact sometimes they are late. They pay me, though, so I'm not complaining! They ended up not taking him which is totally fine but this situation has never happened before, so it would have been great to have a surprise afternoon with my kids! :-) :-)

[childcaremom]

I agree with Playcare. I think it is unprofessional to ask. You are being paid to provide a service. You should be providing it.

If you want a day off with your own kids, schedule a day off.

Just my two cents.

[Play Care]

But those few hours can be precious for those who never get time off. I wouldn't ask, only make sure they were aware. And if they opted to bring their child anyway, oh well. I had planned to work anyway.

But as someone else said, most of my parents wouldn't want their child to be the only one here. But that's just my group, I guess. On the rare occasion that it has happened, the parent of the only insisted on making other arrangements even though I told her I was open as usual and did not encourage her to keep dcg home. I only informed her of the situation. She refused to bring dcg and said, you need a day! It was fantastic. Lol. I went back to bed.

Eh, if I need time off, I take it. I don't count on my clients to give me time off. I just feel that it creates a power dynamic that I work hard not not have (parents as my "boss") I think my clients respect me and the service I provide, but I could see them being annoyed at being asked to take both kids in this case.

As a parent if I making child care arrangements, I count on those when I make my plans.

I would much rather have the provider say "I'm closed Friday for a personal day" because it's something I could plan for/around, than ask if I could keep my child home since they'll be the "only" kid here.

But again, different strokes.

[Play Care]

Yes!!! Those few hours with my own kids would be AWESOME!! It's like when I worked outside of my home and the business closed early for a snow day or something like that. I was just giddy at the fact that I was maybe getting just one tiny little afternoon off!! Lol! The parents never ever ever ever pick their kids up early (which is fine, although I always picked up my son early when I could!) in fact sometimes they are late. They pay me, though, so I'm not complaining! They ended up not taking him which is totally fine but this situation has never happened before, so it would have been great to have a surprise afternoon with my kids! :-) :-)

So, take an afternoon off, or a day! Look at the calendar and circle the day. Tell parents you are closed or closing early. Be the boss of your business and don't let them be the boss of it.

I leaned early on in this business that if you wait for someone else to take care of you, you'll be waiting a long time. Life got so much better when I started taking care of me first.

[happymom]

It never once bothered me even in the slightest bit if my kid was the only child in daycare that day or afternoon. I needed childcare, I was paying for childcare. Him having friends there definitely was great, but if his friends weren't there that day, I never felt like he was bored or getting less care.

[Boymom]

It never once bothered me even in the slightest bit if my kid was the only child in daycare that day or afternoon. I needed childcare, I was paying for childcare. Him having friends there definitely was great, but if his friends weren't there that day, I never felt like he was bored or getting less care.

And...it doesn't bother me one bit that one dck is here right now! I'm blessed to be able to finally be home with my kids by having a daycare in my home. We have just as much fun no matter how many kids are here! I will be honest and say this particular dck is wearing me out lately, soooo would I have been excited if he would have gone with them? Heck yes!!!! But I do love having him here and he gets along with my son very well (most days !)

I hope my original post didn't come off as lazy because I'm far from it! I just was curious what others would have done in this situation.

[daycarediva]

I now have a policy that I have to have a minimum number of children in attendance to remain open. I would just tell the dcm "Dcm, my numbers are low today, just your two. Both boys will be picked up at what time?"

I made that policy for a reason. I have had the opportunity to close twice and enforced it twice since enacting it. No parent was miffed as they are aware of the policy. I went over it on interview. Our day doesn't run without X number of children here. I do not do 1:1, I would be pulling my hair out or the kid would be doing yard work or laundry. ::

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I wouldn't ask. I would just say, "since you are picking up dck for an appointment, other dck will be my only child present, so he will need to be picked up too. I will offer a half day credit for him applied to next week's care, since I am having you pick up early. Thanks!" If you don't feel comfortable, then don't ask, but why beat around the bush with hints? Either ask or tell them. If I close early due to lack of kids, I do offer a credit.

[Rockgirl]

I used to, in a way, resent only having one child for a day. Now I enjoy one on one time. It's something I rarely get, and it's special for the child. We do things we can't do when everyone is here....sometimes even swimming at a real pool! Or eat lunch at a restaurant, shopping, etc. I've had kids a couple of years later say, "Hey Ms D, remember that day it was just us and we went xyz?" Just a different perspective.

[KiwiKids]

I only have one set of siblings, but I also only allow one drop off and pick up per family per day. Being brought back after a doctor appointment or seeing brother or sister leave with mom while being left behind always seems to upset kids. It has actually never come up with the sibling set I have because the parents have always chosen to get both kids at once if one was leaving.

[childcaremom]

I have the same policy as Kiwikids. One pick up and drop off per family per day.

So if the family was picking up early for a doc appt, both of them would be leaving and neither would be coming back for the day.