There is also the aspect of a mental change for the parent from being at work - the reason many left work to open their daycare was the office politics, boss demands, working conditions, etc. To begrudge someone from getting a break from that is not right. Remember it isn't about quantity of time it is quality of time with the children so just hanging out for a whole day while dad goes about resting, watching tv, painting the fence, fixing the toilet, whatever is not the same as playing and learning with friends all day, having a normal nap/feeding schedule and then spending the evening with the parent who has also finished their chores for the day. Could they have picked up early sure but again kids picked up out of order set all of them off. It is selfish on our part is it not to wish that the kids get upset because a dad chooses to pick up early. The parent on vacation has earned that time and does not owe any of it to the daycare provider and really not to their child either - the child's job is to go to daycare. Parents need refreshing too.

As a provider I get that you never get away from your kids but that is your choice. I also get that because I am home all day I can structure my day and night to make things work for me such as doing laundry at naptime or folding a basket of laundry during freeplay - I just tell the kids that is my choice of activity just like they are expected to go choose something to do and when freeplay is over we will all do an activity together. Same thing for my tea time - tea time is my choice of freeplay and if a person doesn't want to be bothered during freeplay other kids have to leave them alone so I deserve the same treatment. Then I have less to do in the evenings and could spend time with me kids - now I get to spend time with my computer and craft supplies cause the kids are older. You will all get to that point too where evenings are your own.