Keeping a pregnancy on the DL for as long as possible...

[carharkids]

Hi there,
I have been lurking around this site for years, getting valuable advice and insight, but finally decided it was time to make a post of my own.
I recently learned I was pregnant with my 3rd baby. This pregnancy, while not at all unwanted, was completely unexpected. We weren't planning it and certainly not less than 2 years after the birth of our 2nd baby.
Anyway, we moved just over a year ago, so my daycare is technically pretty new still (although I have been in this business for 5 years altogether). We now live in a small town where everybody knows everything about everybody else.
Anyway... I want to keep this pregnancy to myself for as long as my body will allow. I am confident I can keep it under wraps until mid July, early August - which will put me around 20 weeks. (I still haven't lost all the baby weight from #2 :o) Baby is due December 24th.
My wish is to keep all my current families (4 in total) until I deliver, but I worry that if I tell them too soon, they will pull their kids out either for the summer or in September (especially the families with school aged kids). So by keeping it to myself I'm hoping to show them that the pregnancy has not impacted the care I provide and that I am still reliable. I am very fortunate to have a husband that can cover for all appointments, which the parents have always been fine with.
I guess my question is: is this being dishonest and sneaky? You are not legally obligated to tell an employer until about 24 weeks, and I honestly feel that I need to look out for what's best for MY family right now. But I also don't want to foster an environment of distrust.
I'm not really worried about anyone hearing the news elsewhere, because other than myself and husband, no one is being told.
Thoughts?

[Other Mummy]

First off...Congratulation s!

Secondly...It's your pregnancy, your decision when to tell parents. How many times to daycare families get pregnant and have to pull their child out but tell us as late as possible so that we don't fill the spot until they are "ready" to take their maternity leave.

Do what is best for your family and your business. Heck, I would put it off telling them even longer. If anyone actually has the gall to ask you if you are expecting (which we all know we are NOT supposed to ask a woman unless you actually see the baby crowning).

I would have a course of action in place as to when I would tell the dc families. If you have a contract what does it state for notice 2, 3, more weeks? That is all you are obliged to them. fair is fair. Don't think for a second that they would not do what is right for their family given the circumstance. Do what is right for yours and your business.

[playfelt]

Congratulations. Make sure you have a plan in place before telling families so you don't scare them leaving them high and dry to worry. Know what you are planning for time off, how long, contingency plans, etc.

[ttremble88]

I JUST finished up, almost the EXACT situation that you are currently going through. I ran daycare in my old home in the Toronto area, moved further North last August and re-opened daycare here, in a much smaller town. I got a few families right away and by mid September found out that we were expecting #3. I waited a couple of weeks and told my daycare families right away.

I think the main question is, how much time do you plan on taking off? In my situation, I took off 2 weeks after my C-section, now 5 weeks ago. So my daycare families were with me right up to the night before my operation and then back 2 weeks later. Any longer then that, then I feel that I would of ran risk of losing them.

[Artsand crafts]

Same here. I'm only closing for 2 weeks and all families are planning on staying with me and come back after that. I told them when I was around 3 months old pregnant and also told them my plans. I even started Today a new dcb which family knew I was pregnant when they signed in. I'm due at the end of August. The main thing as playfelt said is telling them your plans when you brake the news.