How Do You Deal With Burn Out?

[Lucy]

The way I deal with it is to just **** it up. I chose this so that I didn't have a boss, a commute, "work clothes", office gossip and b.s., etc., etc. I've done it for 17 years. Yes, there are those days, believe me!

What I do for vacation days is a little bit different than you. I schedule them throughout the year. At the beginning of the year, my husband and I decide when we want to have our long weekends, and I make out a schedule and give it to all the parents by mid-January. I usually take about 6 or 7 days off, and I get the 7 typical holidays off. Sometimes I will schedule one of my days off to fall the Friday before a Monday holiday, so it turns into a 4-day weekend. Also, if we are planning to go out of town, I will have kids picked up by 1:00 pm that day so we can beat the traffic. I have 4 of those this year.

Anyway, that's how I do it. My schedule is set at the beginning of the year and pretty much never changes, unless there is a big emergency. So I always have a day off coming up soon to look forward to.

[Evansmom]

also, do you have contracted hours or come when they want?

I just have hours of operation not contracted hours.

I like the idea of cleaning before every one is gone. This actually makes good sense to me. I have the kids pick up at 12:30 and 4:30. I could put on a show for them around 5pm and then do my cleaning and vacuum. That way when the last child is gone I can be DONE! I usually put a show on for them around 5pm anyway, I figure if we made it through the day without TV and we're all still alive and sane then it's fine to watch an hour or so at that time!

[WDW]

Although maybe I just need a house cleaner? That would be nice.

I actually did this at the end of last year. I do it every other week, just the basics... sweep, mop, kitchen counters and sink, clean the bathrooms, dust and vaccuum the whole house, clean the mirrors. It is AWESOME and is the best money I spend. I pay her $14/hour and she is usually here for 2 hours or less. It is worth it!

[Country Kids]

I had two little ones start in January-18 months each but before that I would clean from 6:30-8:30 A.M. but with them here I can't leave my daycare room because I'm so worried that they will get hurt somehow if I'm not right there because they are both accident prone as it is. They both get here between 6:45-7:00 so my two hours of cleaning are actually shot now. Then I would clean for about 1 1/2 hours at night so my house was staying so nice but not now-I can barely stay on top of my laundry. Is putting me almost into a depression because I hate how my house is starting to look. Even with my husband and kids helping there just isn't enough time in the evening to do it all.

Also, I've done this almost 14 years. Here is my question-I started this year taking all state holidays/regular holidays off. Total for the year is maybe 10 for the year. What do you think would be a reasonable amount of weeks to take for vacation? Most jobs after this long would give you 4-6 weeks with all the other holidays also. Do you think that would be over kill for childcare. I was thinking I could take a week vacation about every 3 months and I actually do not charge my parents for when I take time off so they would esentially be earning about 6 weeks if I took 4 weeks vacation and then my holidays. They may have to pay another person but it wouldn't be like they are double paying.

Any thoughts out there?

[WDW]

I think it depends on where you live. Where I live, that is quite a bit of time off, but I understand your wanting to do it. I don't have a set amount of time I take. It varies from year to year depending on my needs with my family. I take 8 pd holidays and then any other days I close are unpaid. Some years we take a family vacation, like last year we went to Florida for 9 days. I think not counting my holidays I had 11 days off.. the 9 for vacation and 2 sick days. It wasn't enough because I wasn't home to play "catch up" for any of them. I am determined this year, vacation or not, to have a couple days for me. Well, one for me and one for me and DS.

I guess my thought would be, back up care is hard to find. I know everyone SHOULD have it, and it's really not our problem as providers. But I know when I worked outside the home, I didn't have any family where we lived, and we were new to town and didn't know anyone. I found a great sitter but when she closed, one of us had to take a day off. We did it, and never once complained, but if she had taken that many, I don't know what we would have done because DH had 2 weeks vacation time and I had one. That is only three weeks... not including ANY days that we might want to take. Just one side of it. As the provider, I get frustrated because I get minimal time off (and none paid) but watch my parents take multiple days off and bring me their kids anyway. I just had to adjust my budget for the month because I had to close for two funerals and didn't get paid for them. Ugh.

[Country Kids]

I know about getting minimal time off! For our Spring Break I had the parents fill out and let me know if they needed time me. One parent needed me all week, another needed me 3 days, and then another needed me 1 day. Well the week of spring break it all changed-the one that needed me all week only needed me 3 days-they left to go out of town, the one needing me 3 days changed it to two and then the one that only needed me one changed it to two. I only had one day off to be with my kids and vowed I either have the whole week booked next week or I will just take it off. The sad thing is that two of the parents are teachers-why not be with your kids?

This is why I'm really thinking of schedules some set vacations. My family counts also and do only have one child with you and your stuck not able to go anywhere is not fair to your own children.

[daycare]

I just have hours of operation not contracted hours.

I like the idea of cleaning before every one is gone. This actually makes good sense to me. I have the kids pick up at 12:30 and 4:30. I could put on a show for them around 5pm and then do my cleaning and vacuum. That way when the last child is gone I can be DONE! I usually put a show on for them around 5pm anyway, I figure if we made it through the day without TV and we're all still alive and sane then it's fine to watch an hour or so at that time!

think about contracted hours.... seriously, I don't know how I would do it without the contracted hours. I know when each kid comes in and goes out. this really helps me with the planning of my day. I know which kids will need more supervision and the ones that dont when I am cleaning.....

the ones that need more supervision will have to help me with the chores....most of them love it....
dont be afraid to let the DCK help you....also don't let them make an over whelming mess. adapt the one toy out at a time rule and the DCR always gets cleaned before we move onto the next activity no matter what....

[Evansmom]

Can you tell me how contracted hours work? I don't know if this would work for me anyway b/c two of my kids have to come early and stay until 5:45pm and I close at 6pm anyway.

[daycare]

so basically instead of parents brining their kids when ever they feel like it, they are set to contracted hours....EX
***X DC operates daily Monday through Friday from 8:00 Am to 6:00 Pm. Your hours that your child will attend will be determined during your trial period, and agreed to in your contract. Pleas abide by the times set forth in your contract.

ex: I have one kid who needs to come from 7:30-6:00 so this is the time that he is dropped off and picked up daily.... if he is earlier than 8:00 am I charge a fee, if he stay later than 6:00 pm I charge a fee outside of those times...

Then I have other kids that are contracted from 8:30-5:30 same rules apply.

so basically, they have set times that they can use the DC, not the full hours that i operate, unless you want to pay me more..

[WDW]

My family counts also and do only have one child with you and your stuck not able to go anywhere is not fair to your own children.

Yes!!!! I am making an effort to show my family this. I took Monday off to do something with DS school. I haven't been in his classroom at all this year

Don't you HATE when people are off work and bring their kids?!? Esp. if you only have their kids, or a couple kids. I want NOTHING more than time with my son, and frankly, it pi$$es me off when people dump their kids so they can go play or sleep, or whatever. I know, I'm getting paid, but it's $20 for goodness sakes. Aren't your kids worth more than that? I'm getting a backbone, slowly but surely. I've already decided that next year, I'm closing on Good Friday. And this year, I will be taking a two or three days off just to be with my family while DS is on Christmas break. Sorry, but I can't imagine that I will EVER look back and be sorry for putting my child and my marriage first.

[daycare]

geeerr I used to not care at all what the parents were doing while thier kid was here. But then I started to realize that I have one kid who is here every friday until 6pm. He is the only one here and guess what.........his parents dont work on fridays.....

[Evansmom]

geeerr I used to not care at all what the parents were doing while thier kid was here. But then I started to realize that I have one kid who is here every friday until 6pm. He is the only one here and guess what.........his parents dont work on fridays.....

that makes me mad too. When had school/work and had to take my older two to home daycare the first thing I did when done is rush straight over to pick them up!!

I don't understand parents not wanting to be with their children!

[WDW]

I recently had some parent's hours change, and now, two days a week I only have one DCG after 4:00, usually after 3:45. I know mom's hours are flexible because she brings at all diff random times in the mornings. I am considering asking them if on one of those two days, they could pick her up by 4, or at least 4:15. That would be so nice to have that extra hour with DS, or imagine this! An ability to do ANYTHING. Every where I need to go.. bank, post office, dr, vet, etc closes at 5 so I can never go anywhere. Imagine being able to schedule an appointment! ::

Do you think that's a terrible thing to ask? She would have the ability to bring her earlier on that day...

[kidkair]

I within the last few months have started to suffer from my won burn out. I am finished. I no longer find much joy in my day. I work too much and have a couple of challenging/annoying children (no reason to term just loud, dramatic kids) and she is all happy go lucky when she comes in and thinks I am beign too much of a grump.

p.s. I don't need any breaks, personal days, late starts, or early outs bc I don't have a family of my own to take care of.

You DO need breaks and personal days! These prevent burnout; they are not just for spending time with family. The only way I get through the burnout is looking forward to my next day off even though I have no kids of my own and have all the weekends off. I schedule time just for me and it makes a huge difference.

I recently had some parent's hours change, and now, two days a week I only have one DCG after 4:00, usually after 3:45. I know mom's hours are flexible because she brings at all diff random times in the mornings. I am considering asking them if on one of those two days, they could pick her up by 4, or at least 4:15. That would be so nice to have that extra hour with DS, or imagine this! An ability to do ANYTHING. Every where I need to go.. bank, post office, dr, vet, etc closes at 5 so I can never go anywhere. Imagine being able to schedule an appointment! ::

Do you think that's a terrible thing to ask? She would have the ability to bring her earlier on that day...

I'd ask. The worse that can happen is she says no. I have only two kids right now and one is half day. I'm constantly begging the other family to pick up as early as possible because the kid gets so bored being the only one. I'm lucky as his mom completely understands and has been picking him up by 4 quite often but is looking forward to me having another kid in care so that she can some 'me' time after work.

[countrymom]

I just have hours of operation not contracted hours.

I like the idea of cleaning before every one is gone. This actually makes good sense to me. I have the kids pick up at 12:30 and 4:30. I could put on a show for them around 5pm and then do my cleaning and vacuum. That way when the last child is gone I can be DONE! I usually put a show on for them around 5pm anyway, I figure if we made it through the day without TV and we're all still alive and sane then it's fine to watch an hour or so at that time!

I do this, acually I tell the kids not to make a mess because the big kids are going to be home and will be mad if they have to clean up their mess (its my kids that come home from school) and it works really good. I'll wipe things down during the day too like the toothpaste from the bathroom sink.