Well, guess I won't be doing that again!

[mimi]

Hi Gramma, aren't you thoughtful , but just remember, your responsibility for the children's well being doesn't diminish so IMO your fee should not either.

[angelina]

lou, *hugs to you dear*

yes, it would be nice of them to send you a thank you note.

but as many friends pointed out, they take it as business.

above all, most of us go above and beyond call of duty, we make these little munchkins muffins on their special day, buy crafts, etc. And along the way, not a single gratitude. A bit sad, isn't it? well, life goes on, we learn - choosing cheap or free craft material, use more recycles "flyers, yogort cups, egg trays" - you are still providing activity for fine motor skills, right?

I agree with gift card instead, i need my pay for supplies for the week. And i don't want to set precedence.
If I am one of your parent, i will write a nice thank you card. But then again, we are a different bunch, we are the caring bunch .... not them.

[kidlove]

Live and learn Lou! I am a People pleaser and although I do "nice things" like your offer to save the parents one full day in fees, out of the goodness of my heart..I too, like you, would appreciate a little thanks of some sort when going out of my way for others. And if I may speak honestly, although I don't do it for the thanks, I do find myself a little miffed sometimes when I feel that I have offered more of myself than needed and don't get any kind of acknowledgement. That just means that you are a kind person, who not only offers of your self but is also very aware when others offer themselves to you. I'm sure if the tables were turned you would have given a great big thanks to them. Not all people are kind and caring and to top it off, I am willing to bet (great families or not) a lot of our Day Care parents might expect to not have to pay for the inconvenience of having to take a day off work and stay home with their sick child, I'm willing to go one step farther and bet about half of those parents actually even deep down blame YOU for the sickness in the first place. You did a nice thing lou and clearly didn't have to, I don't think I would have even offered the free day, considering, it wouldn't have been my fault all the kids picked up the virus in the first place. Not only would I have charged everyone for the day, but I also would have had to charge the parents of the puker a sick child fee of 20$ per my contracts. I would have made out quite well for the inconvenience, a full days pay for the first day being closed and an extra 20$ for the cleanup and care of a sick child, plus an extra day off to boot. Your too kind. Unless it was you or one of your school aged children that was sick first, there is no way you were to blame for the illness, so why cut yourself short!?

[Momof4]

It seems all of us 'people pleasers' learn the hard way, but it's important that we DO learn our lessons and never repeat them. It doesn't make us hardasses, it makes us smarter business women who can still respect our clients who respect us in return and care for the children 100%. But our contracts get stricter with less room for errors.