CM Club: Am I right? Taking holiday

[DJGemini]

Hi fellow CM's,
Taking Holiday quandry...

I have not had any disputes previously, with regards to taking holiday. I always give MONTHS of notice. However I find myself feeling really awful with this situation, taking a day off but parents can't get any cover.
I am very sympathetic to these situations, been there myself when I wasn't minding. Generally, I only take a week off a year, at most. Everyone understands and is able to call upon a friend or family, or something, to help.
Current mindee has not been effected by me taking holiday so far since being with me. I made my policies clear at the start, and I have given months and months notice.. It's only effecting one session which isn't a full days care.

It is as per my contract, policies and procedures, that I give at least 4 weeks notice, suggest alternatives and make it clear that I do take holiday occassionally.

Despite making this really clear, I find myself wanting to be too kind and retract the day off.. but my business head says I am within my rights and correct procedure followed. Also it is a very important that I do not work that particular day.
Any thoughts? Thank you very much

dont feel guilty about taking a day off, like you said, 'Generally, I only take a week off a year, at most'
if you were working for someone else and wanted the day off you would get it, it shouldnt be any diffrent because you work for yourself.
the parents should understand and as you've followed all the procedures dont let them guilt you in to working, when you clearly cant.

Yes, thanks, you said it 'guilt' working overtime! I am not expected to be paid for it. I will of course refund (but it is a bit more complicated than that bcos the parents have it paid for, they don't pay themselves . . ) but I can forward the fee to another childminder if required.
I thought most people have a friend or two who they can ask a favour to? If they wanted to ask that it.

As a CM using parent, I find it hard to believe that they can't find time to be with the child between them or make some other arrangement in a 4 week period - is their child never ill?

I don't think that everyone necessarily has a friend or two that they can call on when their cm takes holiday etc, and I don't think that it's down to not asking, some people just don't have the backup. I personally take time off work to cover when my cm is on holiday, not brilliant, but it's what i signed up to, and I most definitely don't make my cm feel guilty

I advised 8 weeks ago, and thre is still have another 8 weeks to go, So far no sickness.

Yes I agree, I have no back up, hence why I chose to CM, I appreciate it's difficult, I'm asking fellow CM's if they can help..

Oh dear

You must have adequate time off, regardless of the circumstances of the families that you work with.

Please don't feel guilty - to remain at the top of your game you must allow yourself 'me' time.

A knackered CM cannot be an effective practitoner.

HTH

Children are the parents responsibilty... NOT the childminders (or nannys )

It seems that you have given 16 weeks notice which IMO is LOADS of time to make alternative arrangements...

they MUST be able to make arrangements with this amount of notice, and if they cant they must learn to.... what if YOU were sick / in an accident / had to attend a funeral etc?.... they will NEED to have alternative care (with no / limited notice) and perhaps now with lots of notice is a good time for them to think about it.

You have followed your procedures and need the day off... its now up to the parents to make arrangements for that day (and i agree, surely most parents would jumpat the chance to do something / have a special day with their DC )
And dont feel guilty about it either

Thank you everyone, it's not that I do not care or understand families situations. I myself don't have a well numbered back up plan for my DS, but I know that in this case, there is a possibility there, it's only 4 hours, the first and only in 6 months for this mindee.
nannyL I agree, the notice that I have given and the fact that one day an emergency may arise is very much the point. I don't want to go into too much detail, about the familys situation, but for me it is my DS birthday, DH has booked time off and we are going out for the day.

I consider myself to be very flexible, having children late when required with no notice,and no charge, arranging meals too, on the day, if packed lunches are forgotten.

I'm ringing around childminders I know well, to see if they can squeeze mindee in as a favour, but as you say, it is not my responsibilty.

Amendment to policy required, to make these situations doubly clear me thinks

I was so close to giving in earlier until my DH stopped me!

Why dont you post a new thread on here asking the childminders if they can provide the one days emergency care for you if they are in your area?

That way, you could meet up with them a couple of times before hand to get the child used to them?

I sometimes do this for my other childminding friends and they for me...

What area are you in?

Hi, good idea LucyTownsend, thank you.
I have a few CM friends locally that I think can help, also I have a specified back up one for my emergencies.. However, this is not an emergency.... so I will recommend some names to parent, she can after all, freely call to arrange.
I nearly did this myself, then I wondered why am I..? It is not my responsibility, albeit I like to help out and always go out of my way to help people (perhaps too nice isn't always the best policy, as some folk take advantage)
Mindee has, on occassion, already met several of my CM buddies, so He will be comfortable, I'm sure.
It's just that knot of guilt that rose up when I felt like I was leaving someone in the learch,