2 Week's Notice Because I'm taking a Vacation

[coloradoprovider]

Take care of yourself

You need to rest and relax. All work and no play makes for a grumpy caregiver.

I try to let my daycare families know at least a few months ahead for vacations; it's a great time for them to schedule theirs so they don't have to pay for their child's spot. I don't have the parents pay for my vacation time (some providers do) but I also expect them to pay during their vacation (to retain their child's spot). It's a great incentive for them to schedule either a grandma visit to take care of the child, or for them to take their vacation at the same time.

At the first interview and many times thereafter, I remind them that I take a total of about 6 weeks off per year - in various configurations and time frames. A key to making this work is very advanced notice. As soon as I plan time off, they are informed (as much as 6 months ahead!).

You deserve time off!

[badger411]

I wish I could

I wish I could be as blase as you all seem to be about getting rid of parents. But I have no wait list, and I am just barely getting by already. I already have 3 spots open and no interest. We are living off of our tax refund right now. When school starts and the kindergarten kids leave, I will have 7 spots open and nobody to fill them. If I didn't have kids on assistance, I would just give up my license and get a full-time job. I take the abuse because otherwise I would be losing my house and my car.

[Snowmom]

I wish I could be as blase as you all seem to be about getting rid of parents. But I have no wait list, and I am just barely getting by already. I already have 3 spots open and no interest. We are living off of our tax refund right now. When school starts and the kindergarten kids leave, I will have 7 spots open and nobody to fill them. If I didn't have kids on assistance, I would just give up my license and get a full-time job. I take the abuse because otherwise I would be losing my house and my car.

I don't think any of us think that "getting rid of parents" is a desirable business trait or something that we want to do. It is just a necessary evil sometimes.

This IS a tough job. There is always going to be that uncertainty of income or the fear of losing all income at once and it can/does happen. That comes with any self employment though. It's a risk.

With time, comes experience. With experience, comes establishment. The more established you are, the greater the demand for your services.

If you keep working at it, you'll get there. Many of us have or have had second jobs too.
It's been 10 years in daycare for me, and I still work a few weekends here and there for extra income when I'm low.
I get creative in my advertising and I AM CONSTANTLY working at it, even when I'm full.

However, even if I'm super low in enrollment, I still make sure they know I'm the boss. I will never let them call the shots here. Ever. If you let them do it once, it will never stop.

[Cat Herder]

I wish I could be as blase as you all seem to be about getting rid of parents. But I have no wait list, and I am just barely getting by already. I already have 3 spots open and no interest. We are living off of our tax refund right now. When school starts and the kindergarten kids leave, I will have 7 spots open and nobody to fill them. If I didn't have kids on assistance, I would just give up my license and get a full-time job. I take the abuse because otherwise I would be losing my house and my car.

Have you done a recent self check? :hug:

How far are you from employers/businesses and schools? Is your yard fenced? Does your home appear warm, tidy and inviting from street view? Are you personally known locally (church, volunteer work, PTA)? Are your rates too low and arousing suspicion? Are your rates too high for the local economy?

Those are typically the death knell for home providers. I hope it improves for you soon.

[Leigh]

I wish I could be as blase as you all seem to be about getting rid of parents. But I have no wait list, and I am just barely getting by already. I already have 3 spots open and no interest. We are living off of our tax refund right now. When school starts and the kindergarten kids leave, I will have 7 spots open and nobody to fill them. If I didn't have kids on assistance, I would just give up my license and get a full-time job. I take the abuse because otherwise I would be losing my house and my car.

Early this spring, I was at 33% capacity. I was bummed out and starting to feel desperate. I went from a waiting list and calls several times a week to kids moving away, parents losing jobs, and I actually termed 2 kids during this period because their mother was a monster. It went on for months, and now I am back to turning people down. The business is up and down all the time. This is the season that we have new daycares opening all over the place and it's going to be more difficult to fill spots. I know, though, that at least half of them will close in less than 6 months, and I'll be picking up their kids.

I'm not blase about terming, but I am adamant about not taking abuse from parents and not dealing with severe behavior problems from kids and their parents anymore.

[Justjoy]

Wow! Sounds like those parent's are nut jobs!!

I take a one week vacation every year and sometimes more. I also take at least one 3 day weekend a year. 2 years ago I broke my ankle and had to have surgery. I was out of commission for 8 weeks! All of my kids came back. Most even came with their parent's to visit me while I was recouperating.
I am pretty picky about the parents & children I will take on. (Except in the case of one. Which I've already posted about).

I really don't have any advice, but I totally feel for you.

[MOM OF 4 LOGGED OUT]

That's messed up! Unfortunately, I know how you feel. When I gave birth, I didn't even GET a notice. This, after all parents assured me they weren't going anywhere. I took TWO weeks off, and that was all the time I had EVER taken in 8 years. I realized these parents always expect something for nothing, and don't care about anyone but themselves.
After leaving the daycare over 5 years ago, I realized that things are actually not better, and in some cases, worse than they were when I left.

As a DCM, I pay my provider ON TIME EVERY TIME, and she gives me a schedule of her time off, and that's that. There is no back and forth, no threatening to quit, no actual quitting, no BS.

Briefly, I was re-considering becoming re-licensed. Between the insane requirements of my state, the inability to let kids be kids anymore, crazy parents and their "new" requirements (like elimination training? Say WHAT?) and the liability just for having a child in my mere presence, makes me say HAIL NO.
There is no way I would ever go back into child care again, after seeing all the stuff I continue to see here, what parents are now expecting, and how disrespectful people are toward their providers.

[LysesKids]

That's messed up! Unfortunately, I know how you feel. When I gave birth, I didn't even GET a notice. This, after all parents assured me they weren't going anywhere. I took TWO weeks off, and that was all the time I had EVER taken in 8 years. I realized these parents always expect something for nothing, and don't care about anyone but themselves.
After leaving the daycare over 5 years ago, I realized that things are actually not better, and in some cases, worse than they were when I left.

As a DCM, I pay my provider ON TIME EVERY TIME, and she gives me a schedule of her time off, and that's that. There is no back and forth, no threatening to quit, no actual quitting, no BS.

Briefly, I was re-considering becoming re-licensed. Between the insane requirements of my state, the inability to let kids be kids anymore, crazy parents and their "new" requirements (like elimination training? Say WHAT?) and the liability just for having a child in my mere presence, makes me say HAIL NO.
There is no way I would ever go back into child care again, after seeing all the stuff I continue to see here, what parents are now expecting, and how disrespectful people are toward their providers.

Hell No to the elimination training... it's a freaking health/sanitation nightmare... I even have a sentence in my potty training policy that I refuse to do elimination training & I'm an infant only home

[Denali]

Hell No to the elimination training... it's a freaking health/sanitation nightmare... I even have a sentence in my potty training policy that I refuse to do elimination training & I'm an infant only home

elimination training? I haven't heard of this...? Can someone enlighten me please...?

[Leigh]

elimination training? I haven't heard of this...? Can someone enlighten me please...?

It's diaper-free potty training-doesn't THAT sound fun in a large group of children? ::::::

Elimination communication (EC) is a practice in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant's need to eliminate waste. Caregivers try to recognize and respond to babies' bodily needs and enable them to urinate and defecate in an appropriate place (e.g. a toilet).

http://godiaperfree.com/elimination-communication/

[LysesKids]

It's diaper-free potty training-doesn't THAT sound fun in a large group of children? ::::::

Elimination communication (EC) is a practice in which a caregiver uses timing, signals, cues, and intuition to address an infant's need to eliminate waste. Caregivers try to recognize and respond to babies' bodily needs and enable them to urinate and defecate in an appropriate place (e.g. a toilet).

http://godiaperfree.com/elimination-communication/

Could you see me trying that with 4 babies under 15 months... so not happening; I'm glad I can be legally licensed exempt once again (QRIS is the other big reason). I run like I'm licensed just without all the government intrusion

[Pestle]

Oh, I think a house full of undiapered children without bowel control is a swell idea. Just wait a few months for the manure to build up, and then plant an organic garden right in your play room! You might lose a few kids and family members to cholera, but you'll be so busy harvesting chard you'll hardly miss 'em!

[MOM OF 4 LOGGED OUT]

Basically the children are training thr parents! Haha! Yeah, so much bull that exists now isn't worth the headache

[Luke25]

So just venting here a bit. I have been in the childcare business since 2003 and have not had a vacation in 9 years even though it is in my contract which all parents signed.
The last time I took my vacation was back in 2009. Have been working without another one. Why?
Traumatized due to the fact that last time I mentioned my vacation, I had families threaten to leave if I left. So I took my vacation and sure enough, two families with siblings did indeed give me a two week's notice upon my arrival. This left a bad taste in my mouth and have not wanted to repeat history, hence my not taking a vacation in nine years. Feeling burnt out and finally thinking of myself for once, I gave a 30 day notice last month stating that I would be taking my much needed vacation this month, and sure enough, I already received a two week's notice letter to terminate family of 2 children. It is a heartbreak for me to see that if I'm not here 365 days a year for the families, then I'm no longer good to them. So sad. I also raised my rates a measly $1.00 a day since 2004. All hell breaks
loose. Has anyone else in this business gone though this experience?? Thanks for letting me vent.

I'm sorry! That is terrible!! You definitely need to take a vacation. I tell my parents in the interview that I will possibly need days off since I'm by myself and will always take 2.5 weeks of vacation every year. I let them know that if they don't have back up care that this may not be a good fit. I don't ever want to feel guilty for taking a much needed vacation or for taking care of personal needs (doctor, child events, etc..)