Daycare Issues - Need some advice

[CupcakeKelly]

I apologize in advance if this is long, I'm just getting frustrated and need to know if I'm overreacting!

My DD3 has been enrolled at an in-home daycare (run by 1 woman) since she was 4 months old. I really feel like she is very loved and cared for, and she seems to really love it there. The issue has been with the amount of paid time off she is taking. When we first enrolled, we were told it was 2 weeks of paid vacation a year (1 week during the summer and Christmas week), paid holidays and a couple personal/professional days. Fast forward to this year, where she claims that it has always been 3 weeks of vacation a year. She has already taken two vacation days, and closed early (between 2 and 3 pm) 4 or 5 times. She still has one random vacation day planned, the whole summer week, and 8 days off for Christmas week through New Year’s. It seems to be an extra day a month that she is closing, and we get 2-3 weeks notice if we're lucky.

I’m getting to the point where I’m afraid to take vacation days for myself because I’m afraid of not being able to cover unplanned days off at the end of the year.

I’m not really sure what to do at this point, or if I’m overreacting and this is just a normal frustration that goes along with child care. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[RachaelA]

Do you have a contract?

That is way too many days for a home daycare (or any daycare!) to be closing IMO.

 

[mercydisney]

You do have a reason to be upset.
I think she should give you more notice. I am sure if you were to take off and give her a few days notice and not pay her she would not like it.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Did you sign a contract with her when you first started or at any time in the past few years? That should clearly spell out the expectations on both sides.

If not, then I'd suggest starting to look for a preschool setting for your child. At this point, attempting to negotiate a contract when she's already taking so much time is likely going to be an exercise in futility and break down the relationship.

 

[indimom]

I'm assuming there is no written contract. You need to get one and you need to both agree on the terms.

I ran a licensed home day care for 16 years. Contracts are invaluable for both the day care provider and the parents.

And, yeah, that's a lot of paid time off, in my opinion. I didn't even accept pay for my personal/vacation time (since I felt like it was an inconvenience to the parents).

 

[CupcakeKelly]

Do you have a contract?

That is way too many days for a home daycare (or any daycare!) to be closing IMO.

We had the original contract in our desk, but we just moved, so we haven't been able to find it. After just finding out about the newest unplanned days off, we will be starting another search. Thanks for making me feel like I'm not overreacting!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Wow thats ridiculous. I'd start looking for a new daycare!

 

[floridaminnie]

I would look at a preschool setting.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Like other posters said (if you even want to stick with this lady) is to sign a written contract with her that clearly outlines the vacation time.

I personally would not hire an in-home sitter who took that much time off.

 

[luvsJack]

Since your dd is happy there I would try and work it out with her if possible.

I don't know that its too many days for child care to close (we took most of the school holidays except for summer), but you need to know which days she plans to close.

I would ask her if she can give you a calendar showing all of the days that she plans to close until the end of the year. Just explain that you need this to be able to take off the time at work. She should be able to provide it.

Our center had parents sign new contracts each school year and included was a full calendar showing all days that the center would be closed for one year.

If you know well ahead of time, it will make it much easier to either take the time off or find alternate child care.

 

[CupcakeKelly]

I'm assuming there is no written contract. You need to get one and you need to both agree on the terms.

I ran a licensed home day care for 16 years. Contracts are invaluable for both the day care provider and the parents.

And, yeah, that's a lot of paid time off, in my opinion. I didn't even accept pay for my personal/vacation time (since I felt like it was an inconvenience to the parents).

Thanks for giving me an opinion from the provider's perspective! Like I said in another post, we haven't been able to locate the original contract from when we moved. I just don't know how the other families there are dealing with the absences. My hubby and I are lucky enough to each have 3 weeks of vacation a year, but I would like to see him for a couple of my days off. FWIW, I don't have a problem with giving her paid time off. She is providing me an invaluable service, I just started to feel like it's getting excessive when I'm having anxiety about taking a day off for myself.

 

[Bren's Mom]

If there is a signed contract, doesn't the DCP also have a copy? Just ask to talk to her about it, ask her to pull out her copy so you can go over the paid time off together. Let her know that you don't begrudge her the time off, but that you are worried about your job if you have to take off too many days yourself above and beyond the 2 weeks vacation.

 

[CdnCarrie]

As sucky as it is if you child likes it and you think it's a good daycare besides this issue I would stick it out for another year or so until you child moves to a school age daycare (assuming she is...). Moving would be hard on the child and if she starts Kindergarten in a little over a year it may be better to just put up with it.

 

[hereyago]

I second asking the DCP to whip out her copy right there. She is costing you money when she closes early. Kids adapt and can go someplace else.

 

[Janepod]

I second asking the DCP to whip out her copy right there. She is costing you money when she closes early. Kids adapt and can go someplace else.

This. I am sure your child will thrive in any decent setting. And at 3 maybe you should consider preschool?

Best of luck.

 

[marcyinPA]

I would look at a preschool setting.

This. One with extended care hours. I work in a traditional preschool with extended care hours (we are open from 7 am until 6 pm- kids to go a.m. preschool and then go to the extended care room) and I think it is a lot cheaper than a daycare setting. Plus, our school cuts a break to parents who contract a certain number of hours per week.

 

[brockash]

I would look at a preschool setting.

ITA! That seems pretty crazy, and your dd is already 3, so she'll be in school soon anyways. I'd look for a daycare/preschoolish place, in which you don't pay for their vacation time.

 

[CupcakeKelly]

This. One with extended care hours. I work in a traditional preschool with extended care hours (we are open from 7 am until 6 pm- kids to go a.m. preschool and then go to the extended care room) and I think it is a lot cheaper than a daycare setting. Plus, our school cuts a break to parents who contract a certain number of hours per week.

Thank you everybody for the advice! Hubby and I have some decisions that we need to talk about. I am definitely leaning towards finding her a preschool setting. She just turned 3 last week, and is the oldest at the in-home facility. The next closest in age are 10 months younger than her and 15 months younger than her. I think getting her into a facility with kids closer to her age would be good for her. I just needed a sanity check to make sure that I wasn't wrong for thinking of uprooting her. Thanks everybody!

 

[NaLisa]

One more vote for a preschool setting, which will help prepare her for kindergarten and provide age-appropriate, fun learning activities.

And I agree that the time off is excessive for the in-home provider.

 

[Disneylover99]

Do you pay her cash? Does she give you a tax receipt? If not, I would not be paying her for vacation.