Parents who have the day off

[gravy_train]

The only thing more annoying than knowing that ALL of my clients have the day off work and still brought their kids in today (which means that I am missing my own child's performance in a school assembly), is that ALL the kids also have a cold. Snot everywhere, sneezing on everything and constant crying.
I should have booked the day off as part of my paid holidays - lesson learned for next year.
I feel like my frustration and resentment just keeps growing and I really need to find a way to get over it!

[Dreamalittledream]

So sorry to hear that:(. The good news is being sick they will likely have good naps?! Hoping for early pick up times for you:)

[apples and bananas]

That always sucks when you know you could be off too. I have a very small group today and most mom's are off. But I don't mind working. It will be a good day to colour some poppy pictures.

Next year you should just add it to your days off, especially if you know everyone is off anyways.

I hope you get a nice long nap out of everyone today.

[mickyc]

Remembrance Day is a paid day off for me as per my contract. I would change your contract for next year. In Manitoba everything non-essential is closed today until 1 but I see other provinces have school/work today.

[Wonderwiper]

I think you really need to have a look at your contract if things like this make you resentful. Of course they all sent their kids....you are open and they have paid for the day. I'm sorry, but I don't believe you can resent them for using the contracted service. You can't blame them for you missing a school concert, you are missing it because you are working, not their fault.

This is only my opinion of course but I believe harboring negative feelings about clients will quickly lead to burnout and is generally un-productive.

Hugs, I am genuinely sorry you are having a bad day. Have a lazy free play day, a nice hot drink and think about what changes you can make to make your business run the way you want it to!

[daycaremom9]

I take stats off but don't get paid for them. I'm sending a letter home to my full-timers this week to let them know that I'll be charging for my stats.

[5 Little Monkeys]

It does suck when you know the parents are home and they still send their child. I understand that they are paying for the day but IMO, I don't understand why a parent wouldn't want to spend an extra day with their child. That is too bad that they are sick too!! Chicken noodle soup for lunch and an early nap and hopefully early pick ups!!!

I'm also in MB and it is an optional stat here. Gov't places are closed and most places open up at 1pm. I have always had parents who had the day off though so I've always closed and gotten paid. I charge $10 less on Stats and parents seem to really like that instead of paying the whole price...altho I'm sure none would complain about that either. If this is causing resentment for you I would look at your contract and change it up!

[playfelt]

That is one of the reasons I added Remembrance Day as a paid day off. Hubby is military so it is his holiday as such and it leaves us free to celebrate as desired. But more importantly I got tired of having all the kids while the mom's started their Christmas shopping, and met another mom for lunch and/or had a personal day to themselves - no more. Keep your kids and think about the day. It is not the day to start thinking about Christmas it is a day to reflect so stay home and reflect. Of course I explain it much nicer to families that question it and simply rely on the military connections to cover the bases but the I should be free to start my Christmas shopping not you is what sparked me adding the day as paid day off.

[gravy_train]

Thanks everyone! When I wrote my contract I assumed that if parents were off they would want to keep their kids home with them, but I guess that's not the case. I agree, wonderwiper that I don't have any basis to be resentful - it's still there though.
I love how the parents say, 'oh yeah i just though i would take a break today and do some shopping'. seriously??! you see your kid for 2 hours in the evening and on the weekend!!
oops... there's that resentment coming out again :-/...

[Wonderwiper]

Gravy train....I agree, I would want to spend as much time with my kids as possible. However, if I am open and they chose to go shopping I can't be resentful...it's their life and they choose how to live it. Make sure you get all your family time in and try not to let other people's choices upset you.

[jodaycare]

I have two parents off today because one works in a bank and the other works for the city and it is a day off for them but both of their kids are here because they are paying anyway! . I don't understand why this day isnt a stat across the country. Our former premier once suggested making it a stat here in Ont but he said in order to do that he would have to take away Family Day in February. HUH? Alberta gets both so why should we be different. I am not bitter about it because i am open anyway but it just doesnt make sense that government offices and banks are closed but nothing else, not even the schools.

[Lou]

I actually don't mind it when a parent sends their child and takes a day for themselves. Obviously, if it happened constantly then I might get a little peeved. But back in the day when my oldest attended daycare, every now and then I would take a day off just for myself to get whatever the heck I wanted to get done, or get NOTHING done at all :) I don't think it's a bad thing for parents to want occasional alone time, especially if they know that their children are in good hands.

That being said, I wish today were a stat too!! My husband is a gov't employee so he had today off, it would have been nice to have some quality time with him :)

The colds though...and missing your child's assembly, that stinks :( I would be frustrated too!

[Other Mummy]

I get needing some "me" time. I totally understand a parent wanting a day or partial day off to do something for themselves. It's normal. It's healthy to invest in ourselves once in awhile and I don't think it's any of our business what they do as I am contracted for the time. It's also good for the child to stay on routine. With only 5 dck's if one or two is missing, then it makes for a looong day as the other dck's miss their friends and don't have much choice when pairing up in two's or three's.

On the other hand, when a parent starts to use your daycare as a dumping ground for their child(ren) and spend most of their time not working, but still using daycare to avoid actually parenting, then I have a problem with that. Totally different thread. But that's the extreme. I've had that client as well...so on the other hand a parent taking today for some personal time, who do it once in awhile....Good for them!

[mom-in-alberta]

Oh, this discussion has been had time and time again on the boards.... LoL
Personally, I don't mind if a parent brings their child by when they are not working, IF they are in general a "good" daycare parent.If you have paid on time, shown up at drop off and pick up on time, and are generally respectful, I don't really begrudge you that extra time to yourself. Good heaven, if you have paid for the day, I certainly understand wanting to get some value out of that. HOWEVER, all of my parents understand that their fee (calculated and paid on a montly schedule) pays for a space in my daycare. I don't think I have any nickle-and-dimers right now, thank goodness.
However, I have had the type of parent that OtherMummy mentioned. The one that would rather spend the day with her new boyfriend for 9.75 hrs, and leave her 3 children (all of whom knew that Mama had the day off) with me. Sheesh, that was 3 years ago, and it still gets to me. But only because it was part of a larger problem I had with her, in that our core family/parenting values did not match up.
Hope you had an easy chicken soup and movie afternoon type of day!!

[FSD]

When I was working outside the home and had my DD in daycare, I would occasionally take a day off for myself and send DD to daycare. I didn't feel guilty about it....I enjoyed the time to myself and I knew that my daughter was having a great time with her friends. So I don't mind when my dcp do it ~ that's what they're paying me for.