Who Loses Parents for Provider Taking Off?

[Rockgirl]

It sort of reminds me of when a provider comes on to complain about a parent who was off but still sent in their kid. They say in shock "and it wasn't even an unavoidable appointment! She was getting her hair/nails done!" At some point someone (usually unregistered) comes on to say it's none of our business and we should just do our jobs, etc.
And, I agree
BUT, it goes *both* ways, IMO.
So long as the provider gives ample notice of time off per her contract, the parent in this case has no leg to stand on. Unprofessional in this would be calling out sick on the Wednesday so you can sort through the sale items.
And I say this as someone who is contemplating a day "off" next month so I can deep clean my house. Good times.

Yes!

I don't schedule days off upfront for the year--I take them as things come up, but I always give 6-8 weeks notice, at least. I'm sure no matter what we do with our days off, there will always be someone who says, "She took off for THAT?!" Bottom line, it is my time--my call. I get to decide what is worthy of a day off. Most of my days off are for going to rock concerts....I am closing for two days in a couple of weeks so we can see Dave Matthews Band. I don't even tell dc parents why I'm closing unless they ask.

[Leigh]

Yes!

I don't schedule days off upfront for the year--I take them as things come up, but I always give 6-8 weeks notice, at least. I'm sure no matter what we do with our days off, there will always be someone who says, "She took off for THAT?!" Bottom line, it is my time--my call. I get to decide what is worthy of a day off. Most of my days off are for going to rock concerts....I am closing for two days in a couple of weeks so we can see Dave Matthews Band. I don't even tell dc parents why I'm closing unless they ask.

We don't have to give a reason and hope that the parents think it's good enough. Can you imagine them telling their boss why they want the day off and hearing, no, that's not good enough-you come to work!? I use my time off nearly exclusively for doctor's appointments and rock concerts.

[Annalee]

If I schedule personal days in my contract, which I do, it is not any of my client's business what I do with those days.

[sleepinghart]

Please know I was and am not attacking the OP I said after the portion of my text you all highlighted that BOTH the provider and parent need to decide what works for them PRIOR to signing up. The OP is within her contract per what she said so I am not knocking that and in this situation that fault is on the parent.

That said I personally would not sign on for a school / daycare that closed for reasons I did not feel were reasonable. Each family has to know what works for them --- I know what works for MY family that does not mean anything against the OP. My program will be shortened hours and possibly 1-2 months of summer off, 2 weeks off at Christmas & 1 week off at Spring break so my program won't be ideal for many but will be right for some. I believe there is a right program for each family but it's the parents responsibility to seek out the right program for their family.

~FTR I understood what you were saying in your first post. And I just wanted to add that I not only understand it, but I also totally agree with it. lovethis

[tntsmom]

I was thinking the same... nobody here does anything except Sat or Sun. Fridays are done sometimes, but not often. I could see doing a weeklong yard sale if a person was moving, but timing seems wrong for "I just need to get rid of stuff".

Where I live, we are only allowed 2 yard sales yearly so we do it as a community on the WEEKENDS

Here this weekend it is city wide thursday, friday, sat

[tntsmom]

As a school teacher I only view students as being with me a school year and while I do attach to them and their families I feel it is part of my job to give them the tools to move onto the next teacher as the best version of themselves. I do understand you have them longer as a home daycare provider but just like with teachers them moving on does come with the gig.

Personally I like consistency and a provider closing to host a yard sale would annoy me. It is just not something I would want to take a day off of work for..... teacher in service, vacation, holidays I completely understand but for me yard sale does not rank.

I am just launching my home-based preschool this summer so I am a newbie but as I set opening hours / yearly calendar I am giving thought to what I valued as a parent as well as what I am willing to give of myself as a provider. As a provider I feel both have to be considered and the parents need to know that upon signing up --- it is at that point that they should decided if the school calendar works for them or not.

Get ready, niceness only goes so far. I give my teachers days to themselves happily and they return the favor in the summer, so being a newbie will open your eyes, same respect is not given as you were as a teacher, I was a teacher

[tntsmom]

Personally, I get what you are saying.

Having a garage sale DURING your scheduled time off/vacation is your business.

Closing JUST TO HAVE a garage sale could be viewed as unprofessional.

I guess it's dependent on your (general you) relationship with your clients and how you operate.
I lean towards business first but to each her/his own.

What I do with my unpaid time off is my business, I dont question what they do when they dont tell me they are off and I have their kids.

[Play Care]

That said I personally would not sign on for a school / daycare that closed for reasons I did not feel were reasonable. Each family has to know what works for them --- I know what works for MY family that does not mean anything against the OP. My program will be shortened hours and possibly 1-2 months of summer off, 2 weeks off at Christmas & 1 week off at Spring break so my program won't be ideal for many but will be right for some. I believe there is a right program for each family but it's the parents responsibility to seek out the right program for their family.

I think you are confusing your program, which sounds more like a preschool with preschool hours and time off and child care, which is usually 7-6 M-F in addition to time spent working without kids (cleaning, planning, shopping, state mandated trainings on evenings and weekends)and usually 50 weeks out of the year.
If I sent my kids to a preschool where, despite shorter hours and *ample* time off, the teacher was closing for personal days, I too would be ticked. Frankly I get annoyed with my kids teachers (and they are in 4 and 5 grades, so not littles) when they purposely schedule elective surgeries during the school year when they have all summer to do those things - but they don't want to use their "vacation" to be laid up... but at the end of the day, I recognize its none of my business.

At the end of the day most family child care providers have reasonable amounts of personal time covered in their contracts. I've never worked any job where I had to tell anyone *why* I was using a preplanned personal day to justify why I was taking it off. Why should family child care be any different:confused:

[tntsmom]

If I schedule personal days in my contract, which I do, it is not any of my client's business what I do with those days.

Truth!!!

[Blackcat31]

What I do with my unpaid time off is my business, I dont question what they do when they dont tell me they are off and I have their kids.

I'm not disagreeing with you. :confused:

I am one of the biggest supporters of not mixing business stuff with personal stuff so I 100% agree that it is no one's business what you do with your time off.

I, like City Garden, am simply sharing a different perspective. One that is obviously not that uncommon as one of your families apparently feels it is bothersome enough for them that they are switching providers.

No one is trying to tell you what you can or can't do or saying you are wrong or right.

It's your business so you can do whatever you want but you have to understand that not everyone sees things in the same perspective and that you will never make every one happy all of the time.

......which is why almost everyone posting basically said "we all do what works for us."

The parent is also doing what works for them.

[MunchkinWrangler]

As a school teacher I only view students as being with me a school year and while I do attach to them and their families I feel it is part of my job to give them the tools to move onto the next teacher as the best version of themselves. I do understand you have them longer as a home daycare provider but just like with teachers them moving on does come with the gig.

Personally I like consistency and a provider closing to host a yard sale would annoy me. It is just not something I would want to take a day off of work for..... teacher in service, vacation, holidays I completely understand but for me yard sale does not rank.

I am just launching my home-based preschool this summer so I am a newbie but as I set opening hours / yearly calendar I am giving thought to what I valued as a parent as well as what I am willing to give of myself as a provider. As a provider I feel both have to be considered and the parents need to know that upon signing up --- it is at that point that they should decided if the school calendar works for them or not.

I understand what you're saying but because my clients aren't my boss, I don't think I need to give any reason for why I'm taking days off. That's personal. I don't ask when my family's take days off. The only time I got be a reason is when I have to close last minute because off illness or an emergency.

The obvious reason for not giving a reason is exactly what you wrote, it gives a person a chance to judge whether it's "fair" or "worth it" to close when, really, it's nobody's place to judge why or when I can take days off. So taking a day off because I want to laze around the house in my pajamas all day, I would assume, wouldn't be a good enough reason to take a day off leading to the assumption that I'm unreliable?

[MunchkinWrangler]

I'm not disagreeing with you. :confused:

I am one of the biggest supporters of not mixing business stuff with personal stuff so I 100% agree that it is no one's business what you do with your time off.

I, like City Garden, am simply sharing a different perspective. One that is obviously not that uncommon as one of your families apparently feels it is bothersome enough for them that they are switching providers.

No one is trying to tell you what you can or can't do or saying you are wrong or right.

It's your business so you can do whatever you want but you have to understand that not everyone sees things in the same perspective and that you will never make every one happy all of the time.

......which is why almost everyone posting basically said "we all do what works for us."

The parent is also doing what works for them.

That is why the planned days off I take, which I write out in January, I never give any other reason other then calling it a personal or administrative day. It leaves no room for judgement and the parents can choose their backup care in advance. I like to spend time with my child also, so that gives us a free day and I plan something fun or our dr appointments, etc.

[CityGarden]

Get ready, niceness only goes so far. I give my teachers days to themselves happily and they return the favor in the summer, so being a newbie will open your eyes, same respect is not given as you were as a teacher, I was a teacher

I suppose this is true, which is why I am happy to have found a community like this to learn from!

Please know the spirit in which I initially posted was not one of judgement or blame I don't think you did anything "wrong". I was kind of surprised to see my post taken in a way I did not intend.

[Ariana]

I would just tell this lady not to get hit by the door on the way out! She is miffed because you are closing for a garage sale? Who cares why you are closing, if they valued you as a provider, which they clearly do not, they would be happy for you. I have learned a HUGE lesson in knowing the difference between clients who appreciate me and clients who do not. It is apparent very early on and I only go out of my way for clients who are appreciative of me and my services. I take excellent care of their kids but some parents see you as no more than a hole their money goes into because they don't value their children like you do.

This woman will get a RUDE awakening when she goes elsewhere and will likely come crawling back. Karma is a biatch ::

[AmyKidsCo]

Personally, I get what you are saying.

Having a garage sale DURING your scheduled time off/vacation is your business.

Closing JUST TO HAVE a garage sale could be viewed as unprofessional.

I guess it's dependent on your (general you) relationship with your clients and how you operate.
I lean towards business first but to each her/his own.

So rather than saying "I'm closing to have a garage sale" it might be better to say "I'm taking 2 vacation days" and have the garage sale during those days.

To get back to the original question - Yes, I've lost families over days off. Usually they were planning to leave anyway, but decide their last day will be before my paid vacation.