Thoughts on Closing Early for Sports?

[CountryRoads]

My son is in sports and games have started. To make all the games, I will have to close early a few days. The earliest would be closing at 4.

Last year, I didn't close early at all and missed half of some of his games.

The final straw last year was when I had a DCM tell me she was going to be late picking up dcb. I told her that doesn't work that day because my son has a BB game. Her response? "Sorry, but that's the best I can do."

Um, NO. Dcd ended up coming right at closing time in his pajama pants and slippers. Seriously?? And I missed almost the entire first half.

Help me not feel bad about this! I know it is going to inconvenience all of my families, and I'm hesitant to tell them. Please tell me that you all do the same thing and I shouldn't feel bad at all

[LittleExplorers]

Family comes first! How often are these games? You may need to be prepared to loose families. If so, just start advertising for spots with an earlier closing time. Do you have open hours or contracted hours? How many families would it actually affect their work schedule? I close at 4:30 and care for only teacher's kids. I am in a rural area so their other parent typically commutes quite as ways. They figure it out if I have a closed day or early closure here and there but I would not keep my families if I did it regularly. It is worth it for me to have summers and holidays off. My mother in law also helps here and there to cover appointments but she lives 2 hours away so it's only for special instances.

[CountryRoads]

Family comes first! How often are these games? You may need to be prepared to loose families. If so, just start advertising for spots with an earlier closing time. Do you have open hours or contracted hours? How many families would it actually affect their work schedule? I close at 4:30 and care for only teacher's kids. I am in a rural area so their other parent typically commutes quite as ways. They figure it out if I have a closed day or early closure here and there but I would not keep my families if I did it regularly. It is worth it for me to have summers and holidays off. My mother in law also helps here and there to cover appointments but she lives 2 hours away so it's only for special instances.

The games are only in April! I would only need to close early 2 days - 4:00 one day and 5:00 another day (I close at 5:30).

[LittleExplorers]

The games are only in April! I would only need to close early 2 days - 4:00 one day and 5:00 another day (I close at 5:30).

Tell them today. 2 days is way less than I imagined.

[lovemykidstoo]

My son is in sports and games have started. To make all the games, I will have to close early a few days. The earliest would be closing at 4.

Last year, I didn't close early at all and missed half of some of his games.

The final straw last year was when I had a DCM tell me she was going to be late picking up dcb. I told her that doesn't work that day because my son has a BB game. Her response? "Sorry, but that's the best I can do."

Um, NO. Dcd ended up coming right at closing time in his pajama pants and slippers. Seriously?? And I missed almost the entire first half.

Help me not feel bad about this! I know it is going to inconvenience all of my families, and I'm hesitant to tell them. Please tell me that you all do the same thing and I shouldn't feel bad at all

Do not feel bad at all. My son ran cross country and track, my daughter was in poms. The reason I started a daycare was to make time for my kids and family. I gave ample notice, so I didn't feel bad at all. I always thought of all of the times I had kids 10 hours a day when mom and dad were off. Made me feel better . Don't miss your kids things, you will regret it. Just make sure to give plenty of notice.

[gumdrops]

I would absolutely close. I did it when my daughter was in sports. I always offered that if it didn't work out for them, they were welcome to use a back-up for the day and I wouldn't charge them. That happened a few times, but it was worth it to me to be at my daughter's games.

When I didn't close early, someone was always 5 min late picking up the day I needed everyone out the door right at closing time.

[ColorfulSunburst]

would you like if your assistant many times leaves her work earlier than usual just because she wants to go to each sports games of her child?
I used to work as an elementary school teacher and I was not able to attend a lot of my daughter's elementary school events. Just because of having the same kind of event with kids of my classes.
My opinion: to need and want to are not synonyms. You want to attend 100% of your kid's game, but you do not need to. And your kid doesn't need it either. Also, it can be a good lesson for your kid too: not each of our wishes going to happen.

[CountryRoads]

would you like if your assistant many times leaves her work earlier than usual just because she wants to go to each sports games of her child?
I used to work as an elementary school teacher and I was not able to attend a lot of my daughter's elementary school events. Just because of having the same kind of event with kids of my classes.
My opinion: to need and want to are not synonyms. You want to attend 100% of your kid's game, but you do not need to. And your kid doesn't need it either. Also, it can be a good lesson for your kid too: not each of our wishes going to happen.

I already miss so many school events in my childs' life, I refuse to miss out on everything.

Luckily for me, I have a job where I can make my own schedule

[lovemykidstoo]

I already miss so many school events in my childs' life, I refuse to miss out on everything.

Luckily for me, I have a job where I can make my own schedule

You got it!! Your business, your rules. Not to mention you're only doing this 2 times out of 365 during the year. I think your parents will adjust. lovethis

[lovemykidstoo]

I would absolutely close. I did it when my daughter was in sports. I always offered that if it didn't work out for them, they were welcome to use a back-up for the day and I wouldn't charge them. That happened a few times, but it was worth it to me to be at my daughter's games.

When I didn't close early, someone was always 5 min late picking up the day I needed everyone out the door right at closing time.

Oh my gosh every single time I swear!

[ColorfulSunburst]

I already miss so many school events in my childs' life, I refuse to miss out on everything.

Luckily for me, I have a job where I can make my own schedule

so many people want to be a professional in their small business and forget about this wish if it is uncomfortable to them in some points. ;-)
If my business hours are 7am-7pm and I do not have an emergency my daycare will be open. If I have some event that I WANT to attend during my official business hours and I can't find a substitute to cover my shift I will not attend that event. In my opinion, it is professional.
of course, you can think and act differently. I just answer what and why I would do in your situation.

[lovemykidstoo]

When I interview with prospective families, I explain quite clearly that I do not have an assistant. It is just me. In the case I need to leave early, or take a day off, it is on them to find alternate care. If this is not feasible for them to do that, then they look elsewhere. I think it is unrealistic to think that we will work 52 weeks a year, 10 hours a day without other things that we need/want to do. Parents take off work to do things with their family, why shouldn't we also? If someone is lucky enough to have an assistant, that is another matter, but alot of us don't.

[storybookending]

so many people want to be a professional in their small business and forget about this wish if it is uncomfortable to them in some points. ;-)
If my business hours are 7am-7pm and I do not have an emergency my daycare will be open. If I have some event that I WANT to attend during my official business hours and I can't find a substitute to cover my shift I will not attend that event. In my opinion, it is professional.
of course, you can think and act differently. I just answer what and why I would do in your situation.

I grew up with a mom that had this mindset. Now that we are adults she regrets missing our events. Work and professionalism are not the important things in life. I don’t know about you but I didn’t start this business to be a slave to my job.

OP, close early and watch your kids. They’ll appreciate it as adults.

[lovemykidstoo]

I grew up with a mom that had this mindset. Now that we are adults she regrets missing our events. Work and professionalism are not the important things in life. I don’t know about you but I didn’t start this business to be a slave to my job.

OP, close early and watch your kids. They’ll appreciate it as adults.

Yes! Not to mention how is it unprofessional? Now if when the parent drops off in the morning, you say oh by the way, I'm leaving at 4:00 today, that's another matter.

[Alwaysgreener]

so many people want to be a professional in their small business and forget about this wish if it is uncomfortable to them in some points. ;-)
If my business hours are 7am-7pm and I do not have an emergency my daycare will be open. If I have some event that I WANT to attend during my official business hours and I can't find a substitute to cover my shift I will not attend that event. In my opinion, it is professional.
of course, you can think and act differently. I just answer what and why I would do in your situation.

My local butcher shop closes early for personal reasons. I don't find that unprofessional at all. My chiropractor and dentist both have done it too.

I am not sure what state you are in but my state doesn't allow substitute to be brought in. So in order for me to get to the doctors, dentist, chiropractor or my required training hours, I have to close early or all day. If I close all day, then I lose money and my client has to take a full day off or find back up care for the whole day.

I know that you are just saying what you would do however I fill like your posts are borderline lecture on being professional and needs vs want.

We all prioritize things differently. We are also in the field of caring for children emotional, physically, devolopmental,...... And emotionally my children need me available to them, so I choose not to work long hours, I close with advance notice. I would not be a good child care provider, if my children didn't get the love that they need from me because I never took any time off. I encourage my families to be available for their own kids as well.