Hello!
I am a pretty new day home provider (opened Aug. 15/11) so I don't have a ton of experience but my own mom ran a day home out of my childhood home for twenty years. On her advice when I opened my day home I had a contract like most day home providers which included a very strict illness policy. Basically your child cannot come to my day home sick and especially with a communicable disease. So far in the last 3 months I did have a child get sick while in my care (They arrived seeming well). I called the little's guys mom and she gave me the same line, "I can't leave work right now". I then asked her who WAS coming to pick up her child. I did not give this parent the option of allowing her child to remain care. When I made the call to the mother I also was careful in my wording. I didn't ask her if she COULD pick up her child. I TOLD her child could not remain in care. In the end the mother came and got her son and all has been well with this family. Going forward I would suggest having a very strict illness policy for your day home as well and outline your changes to your existing families. I do sort of understand the other mother in this situation whose child has now gotten sick. I think I would be annoyed as well. I am really glad I have my illness policy in effect so I would recommend an illness policy to any provider. Good Luck!