I couldn't agree more about stating the exact dates you will be closed in your contract or whatever booklet you use for policies. Don't ever leave anything open ended for parents because that isn't really fair to them. I want my dcparents to know before the year even starts which weeks I'm using for vacations and all the way to the end of the year which days I'll be closed at Christmas for the entire next year so they can make sure they have the days all booked off, such as Family Day or Easter Monday in case they have to work, but I'm closed. I want happy clients so I'm always clear and give them lots of notice.