Sorry if this is long.....
So I feel bad posting this b/c just last week I was raving about our in home provider. However, I am kinda ticked off at the moment with her and need some outside opinions.
Our dcp just dropped the ball on us earlier this week that she wants Christmas Eve off. That is fine since DH has it off and can take the girls. I didn't bother taking it off since up until this week, I thought we could take the girls on Christmas Eve. Now, just last night she mentions that she is closing at 3 on New Years Eve and that she will be gone all day, but a high school student has offered to watch any kids until 3pm.
This high school girl has watched DD1 on occassion, but DD1 was older...like 2ish. She has never watched DD2 and it has been awhile since she has watched DD1. DD2 has sleep issues and can be colicky at times so I am worried about what happens if she can't get her to calm down.
There is no way that I or DH can get time off on New Years Eve as we both have jobs which require plenty of notice. I am annoyed at our provider for waiting until the last minute. Would you go ahead and have the high school girl watch them, try and see if a center has an drop in opening or we do have family about 2.5 hours away that might be able to come. It sounds like at this moment, our kids would be the only ones needing daycare that day so apart of me thinks of just having her do it. WWYD?
Re: WWYD...?
If you know the HS student and feel comfortable, I would go ahead and use her. If your DD2 has sleep issues, a center or family will have the same issues as the student, and at least your kids will be in a known environment.
If you want to ask family to come, I'd make a "weekend" of it. Invite them to come on Sunday and stay through until Tuesday.
But I'd be having a serious talk w/ your DCP about this.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
Really? Where do you live where this is true?
Our DCP is only closed the 24th, 25th, and Jan. 1. Our old one was like this too. I could never use a DCP that closed for a whole week; that's crazy to me.
My son's DCP is closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. I think that's to be expected of all daycares. They're holidays in my opinion, even though my and DH's employers don't consider Christmas Eve a holiday.
I'm miffed because we got a note that said our DCP is closing at 4:00 on New Year's Eve. They usually don't close until 6:00. Not a major issue, but still 4:00 seems odd. They will also be closed New Year's Day, as expected.
I just feel with the holidays, you HAVE to put some real thought into it. The fact that both are on a Tuesday, it makes sense to me that she'd want to close on the Eve's. But this is something, as a business owner, she should have put more consideration into and made a point to let the parents know WELL before now.
While, sure, the parents could ask her what her plans are if they know they have to work, at the same time, I feel the onus is on her to give them fair warning.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
I would have the high school person watch the girls. I have yet to find drop in care for a child under 2, I would think that its difficult to do that. And at least they are going to be in a place they know, together.
And I would talk to your dcp about notice. Tell her that you need more than a week - or whatever you need.
Just to clear some things up.
Yes she licensed. However, I don't know what the rules state if the backup needs to be within her license. That will give me something to look up this afternoon. Thanks to whoever brought that up.
What threw us off is that she has always been open on Christmas Eve/New Years Eve. She had mentioned last night that she had "decided to take some time off this year to spend it with her mom". What irked me is that she couldn't have made this decision earlier and let us all know.
I think I am going to just have the high school girl watch her and maybe have a nice discussion about in the future to give us more notice. Thanks ladies for the input.
Goodbye little angel(7/22/2011)....see you in heaven
Goodbye my second angel (9/18/2011)
Live and learn. If you love her I would express the need to know upfront if possible. Maybe a lot of the parents are taking their kids out for the day and that is why she decided to close. This might sound a little odd but something like this happened to a friend of mine and she put a note on facebook asking if anyone could help her out and several of her friends jumped at the opportunity so you never know maybe one of your friends can help you out.
I wish mine was open that much! Ours is only open the 27th and 28th, then reopens on the 2nd. DH and my mom are teachers, so they have the same schedule luckily.
If you have no family as an option I would do the high school student- but have her over 1 or 2's before if you can- there is still time. That way you can observe her with them- for like an hour or two after work or something. Maybe she can be a good back up then for other times you need her.
And I agree with the one prior post about planning out your months in advance- I would go up to three months ahead to make sure I was covered.
LET IT GO!!!!
You are fortunate to have a home daycare provider that you love so much.
If you want more notice and convenience then go to a center based daycare. In a home setting things happen....