Sick days...

[childcare]

Thank you ladies again for your responses. I'm pretty sure anyone who knows me, including my daycare parents know that I am tough and can muscle through common colds etc... I am not sure why I feel the need to explain reasons for my sick days 4 of my sick days last year were because of something different than colds, flus... but an uncommon autoimmune disorder that I was diagnosed with a few years ago. This does not mean that I am unable to provide adequate care or the inability to run a successful daycare, however, it sometimes might mean I clearly take more sick time than most.. my question was how my fellow daycare providers handle it etc... I see now that no one that responded can relate and that is fine. That is great if most of you don't take sick days. I wrote that the days I have taken were because of fever etc I just really didn't think I had to go into detail as to why I am taking sick days, but I feel I do as I am a very strong woman and I am definitely not weak. I can muscle through fevers like the best of em!
Thanks ladies and take care!

[Suzie_Homemaker]

.. but an uncommon autoimmune disorder that I was diagnosed with a few years ago. This does not mean that I am unable to provide adequate care or the inability to run a successful daycare, however, it sometimes might mean I clearly take more sick time than most.. my question was how my fellow daycare providers handle it etc... I see now that no one that responded can relate and that is fine. That is great if most of you don't take sick days. I wrote that the days I have taken were because of fever etc I just really didn't think I had to go into detail as to why I am taking sick days, but I feel I do as I am a very strong woman and I am definitely not weak. I can muscle through fevers like the best of em!
Thanks ladies and take care!

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer in December 2016, it meant that he had to go to daily radiation in the city. Obviously he was not well enough to drive himself in and out. Once a week after his radiation, he had a meeting with his oncologist and we found that he wasn't taking information in as well as he normally would and so I needed to go with him for that.

Clearly I couldn't close my day home for several weeks because parents don't get that much time off and I was concerned if they went elsewhere, they would not want to then come back and have another adjustment for their child.

Our son drove him in and out but knowing that once a week I needed to go with him, we found someone to provide back up care.

Since you clearly know you have the potential for sick days, and since your client's clearly didn't get that message even if you tried to forewarn them at interview, perhaps you also need a plan B.

Find someone who you trust. Pay for their police checks if they don't have them. Get the children used to that person. And add a clause into your contracts that in the event of illness, you have a back up carer, that parents will be notified if you are ill and that carer will be in your place. Then all you have to do is isolate yourself out of the day care space or any common spaces.

It required a huge amount of cleaning and sanitizing to make sure that with a compromised immune system my husband didn't catch anything from the day care children. The same amount of cleaning will be required for you to ensure you don't pass anything to the children. Same situation, different people at risk of being passed sickness.

This might sound harsh - but when you know that you will likely have more time off sick than the average person, or your availability might be compromised more than other provider's, then you plan for that. And yes, it does mean paying for someone to cover your business but the alternative of losing your business due to being unreliable is worth the expense.

All in all, my husband was in treatment for 6 weeks so 6 days I paid for cover for the day home. Yes, it meant paying more than I earned those days but that's the way it goes. He still has regular checks and in time, if nothing more is found the frequency of those will reduce but for now, we keep the same back up carer, inform client's as soon as we have an appointment and we bring in the back up carer. We also bring her in every couple of weeks anyway just so the children can maintain a relationship with her for the time being.

I can relate - I just don't compromise on my reputation of being a reliable provider with a quality program.

[childcare]

Thank you Suzie_Homemaker! I appreciate you opening up about your husband and some things that you tried and that worked for you. I have been using my mom as a backup for appointments and such. This is a great way for me to ensure clients are happy and kids are taken care of for scheduled appointments. I think the best strategy for me is to use my backup for sick days (which I haven't done yet). I think then at least if I have to take a sick day I don't have to inconvenience parents. I don't know why I haven't been doing that, but I will for now on.
Again, I appreciate all of your input and honesty!

[Peacefulbird]

..When my husband was diagnosed with cancer in December 2016, it meant that he had to go to daily radiation in the city. Obviously he was not well enough to drive himself in and out. Once a week after........

Im really sorry to hear your situation Suzie_Homemaker, I went through a similar situation with my husband on Feb, he went through a major surgery, but same as you the very same day of the surgery I was open and working (but also had arranged a back up in case of an emergency requiring my presence at the hospital; my group of parents were very supportive so, we all had open phone lines that day and one by one called after the surgery to ask and see how can they help. Having not any relatives here in Canada it really meant a lot to us.

I just cannot imagine the pain you went through, hopefully it is all ok now.

I'm sure it would have been easy to close shop but, we have a responsibility towards families that rely on us. Life must continue, I was advised to close for the surgery day but my mind and my stress probably could have driven me crazy in 8 hrs of surgery. I kept working and distracted the time went fast and at the end at the day I went to the hospital and stayed beside my husband's bed after his successful surgery.

I cannot relate how you did it Suzie_Homemaker for that lenght of time. You're a strong woman.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Im really sorry to hear your situation Suzie_Homemaker,

I just cannot imagine the pain you went through, hopefully it is all ok now.
I cannot relate how you did it Suzie_Homemaker for that lenght of time. You're a strong woman.

Thank you.

It was and still is a very frightening time. We are lucky that one of our four sons is still in this Province and fairly local but of course he has a family and work commitments of his own too. My husband has been amazing. No complaints and he really struggled some days. Not in the clear yet but he will be checked regularly and we just hope for no active cancer growth each time. We were very lucky and received exceptional care and treatment.

Fortunately my husband is a stubborn old goat so that was a big help and my client's were fantastic. Meals left at the door, offers to drive him into the city if my son wasn't able to on some days and thankfully amazingly understanding when we do have to notify them of the next appointment and bring in the back up carer.

It teaches you to value each and every day and to not take tomorrow for granted.

[Peacefulbird]

It teaches you to value each and every day and to not take tomorrow for granted.

You're absolutely right Suzie_Homemaker, and I will say to that one, AMEN.