I don't charge for any days off that I take, and I allow families to take up to 2 weeks (10 days) of vacation time that they DON'T pay for. I will NEVER again allow this. Its been awful. The loss of income is huge, not to mention the short notice when they just decide on a friday that they are taking the next 2 weeks off. Its in my contract that they have to give me 2 weeks written notice, but what I've found is that my families never read a damn thing in the contract and just do as they please...sigh...if only I was doing this just cause and didn't need the money.

I don't charge for my vacation and am taking a week off for the first time in years next month. My god did I get flack for it...so many rude emails from parents, right down to one mom emailing me 2 days ago to tell me that I damn well screwed her over for taking a vacation week...I find its never ending in this job, someone is always upset or annoyed or not wanting to do something. Parents don't want to pay for anything daycare related, yet will spend a fortune getting their hair and nails done.

Good luck in whatever you chose, but going forward parents pay for the space, no vacation time for them at all without paying. They still won't pay for days that I take off though as in my area that would never fly and I'd never have any clients...