After holidays retraining :(

[playfelt]

I was only closed for the three stat days too except that all of my parents took time off so I had almost two weeks with reduced numbers and no one from end of day Fri 21 to Wed morning Jan 2. The break was so welcome but yes paid for it this week. I think we made enough progress that next week will be ok but not going to waste much time this weekend planning much and am going to just wing it. Mostly we are taking down Christmas and putting up winter and transitioning. Since the group is young they didn't really remember Christmas last year anyways so now everything Christmas is fun for them. The books make sense, the games make sense, etc.

[Serendipity]

I was closed for two weeks as well and like Momof4, mine were all so happy to be back that I think the first week back, was the best week we've had in a long time! They were all so tired from not having a routine schedule over the holidays that nap time was easy and longer than normal. Meal time was the same.

I'm starting to think I should close for a week every two months or so just so the kids can come back as happy as they did after the new year.

[fruitloop]

Yes, I hate taking holidays for that reason. It took me a month to get 1 of my newbies settled in and happy. Now he is right back at square 1. It makes it hard to want to take holidays when kids revert back but we need the break.

[Momof4]

Oh no Fruitloop, the newbies are definitely the challenge. That happened to me in the fall when I went to Ireland and I had a newbie who started over from scratch too. I feel for you!

Well, this week we are all back to reality, 5 days to work, ouch! Good luck to all of us.

[kidlove]

That's the downfall of a long break....every year when I take my time off during Christmas and New Years, I enjoy so much the peace and quiet with my family, they clean house and the freedom to go where ever when ever. BUT and a big but....when I get to the last day a vacation, i remind myself to get braced and ready...the fun is over and the hard work to begin!!! not only do I need to retrain myself, due to the peace and ease of cleaning and freedom, but I also need to step in and retrain every little child in care who has been spoiled rotten by extra time with Mom and Dad and other family to visit, Grandparents who spoil and Aunts and Uncles who laugh all day long at the childs every move. NOW, have to be the bad guy reminding that "no, you are not any more special than any other child in this room" have to retrain naps, eating habits and the need for attention they feel they are still obligated to. I hear ya! Try this one for size....my first day back I not only have a fuller than normal house, due to my two older kids home still on break, and a few more (past kiddos) come back for a day or two still on break...but, about 3 hours into my day, I get a puker........all over my daughters bedroom floor, she had the flu!!!!!! Welcome back to work!!!! Steamed my floors and furniture until 9 pm that night! I could spit in the eye of the person who says..."must be nice to stay home for a living!" ha......has it's downs just like any office job or out of home career. None the less, we dodged the flu for anyone else and the carpets are cleaner than ever.