Taking Time Off

[Ac114]

So I informed all the families and no one seemed upset and if they did oh well. I was able to schedule 3 appts that day! Yay! I usually give as much notice as possible for appts or days off but my son’s behavioral therapy assessment could only be schedule within 2 weeks per the practice and even then they pushed it out as far as possible.

Thank you ladies for keeping me sane and making me feel better about the situation!

[Annalee]

i have found that clients can make it work if they want your services. My nurse mom contacts me every four weeks about the following months schedule for me as she plans her work schedule. While I know all jobs are not this compatible, some parents could plan better than they do. It is not my problem how they make it work; it is simply their responsibility to do so.

[DaveA]

I don't feel guilty at all. I make sure I take all my vacation days (unpaid), added birthday and anniversary as paid holidays (10 total), and close (unpaid) if I need to do something for my family. I'm very upfront/ blunt with parents that while I strive to provide excellent value & customer service I run my business to suit the needs of my family first. I tell them that some of the main reasons I've made it 15 years when a large number of providers only last a year or 2 is

1)DCPs will hear the word "no" from me if they ask me to do something I don't want to.
&
2) I take enough time off that I can get stuff done I need to and still have ample time to have a life outside of work.

Do what you need to do and don't give it a second thought. happyface

[mysonsmom1]

I have been doing this for over 12 years and it doesn't matter if you do have an assistant, some parents still get upset if you take time off for yourself. Self-care is extremely important in this industry. We spend so many hours taking care of little people that we neglect our own physical, mental and social needs. There has to be a balance between taking care of ourselves and the needs of our clients. That may look different from one provider to the next because we are all different and have different responsibilities. Having a clear policy regarding time off and making sure that you discuss your circumstances with the clients prior to enrollment may help free your anxiety in this area. If parents enroll knowing that you have to also care for the needs of your family, they cant be upset because they were informed.

Does anyone else feel guilty or struggle with taking time off and having parents upset. I know this sounds so silly but I have the hardest time making, keeping or attending important appointments for fear of taking time off. I don’t have a back up person for things like this. How do you guys overcome this anxiety? I took off July 4th and 5th. Then had a vacation schedule September 9th-13th (first vacation since I’ve started doing daycare a little over 2 years ago) and now have to take October 7th off for behavioral therapy appt for my son. My husband is not his biological parent and they said I have to be there for the 1st assessment appt and then my husband can take him to his following appts. I’ve neglected seeing an ENT (for hearing loss), my annual female doctor visit and my husband takes our children to their ped appts but I would also like to attend these appts. This sounds insane as I’m writing this out that I feel like I’m taking too much time off. I don’t have a limited amount off stated in my contract and only 5 paid days off, paid holidays and any days outside of that are unpaid. Anyone else struggle with this?

[Michael]

We have a new forum that you should say hello and participate with us on at https://forum.daycare.com/

[Annalee]

I will start on this post 'taking time off'! The past three years, with all the covid quarantines, travel issues, etc,, we took some time off but not REALLY been in a mindset to de-compress as we needed to. The year of 2022 was an awakening of self-care for me but the time-off/get-away has kicked in for me this year. In-person events have been a welcome addition as well; I do love the virtual availability, too, but now I can pick/choose personally/professionally how/what/where I want to do..

[Michael]

It’s kinda strange to move back a year in time. The topic of coronavirus was a hot topic here in early 2020.