Any childminders had problems with parents when it comes to holiday ???

[happyfaceschildcare]

Hi all,
Don't know where to start really a little bewildered by it all !
Basically I mind 3 children full time 2 are siblings and the other is their next door neighbour, last night I gave them some holiday dates I want off for the year one is for 7 days and one is for 5 days and another odd day in March, we have contracts which they have signed saying I have 5 weeks holiday, I don't know how you work but I charge for their absences but charge nothing for my absences thinking that they will need to find alternative care or take unpaid leave so thought this was quite fair but unknown to me last night they all got together and discussed how my holiday requests were unacceptable because they don't want to use their holiday to cover mine and they don't mind using 2 weeks of their holiday to cover mine but they want the other 2 weeks of their annual leave to book as and when they see fit which I do understand but at the same time I am entitled to my holiday surely one of the parents has got quite stroppy and literally left this morning not speaking to me I have tried to explain that when they book their holidays I am still working and as much as they want to book their holiday to suit themselves that's what I want to do to, I have managed to find another childminder near by that is happy to cover odd days but when it comes to more than that they are refusing to take unpaid leave to look after their children and are saying I cannot take more than two weeks !!! I know this is wrong but I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar situation and how they've dealt with it without upsetting and alienating the parents as I want to keep a good working relationship but I know I'm entitled to my holiday....please help !

With this type of parent you have to be strong. If they were naive enough to think they could book any time they like and you would fit around them then that's their problem - not yours. Common sense would dictate that you and they talk through things like this rather than either party going and booking what they want.

I know the type of parent you have, lots of mouth, lots of flouncing about and harumphing, lots of dark looks because they are not getting their own way... All of it is a show to try and get you to back down... so don't give in..

If they end up taking one or other (or all) of the kids out then that's up to them but it's a bit short-sighted. I'm assuming you provide good quality childcare for their children.... If they live next door to each other then you are also building strong social bonds between the two families and between their children. The holiday thing is a problem that needs resolving but it shouldn't detract from the care that the children get - that's what is important here.

Surely a compromise can be reached????

I have term time fees where I charge for every day I'm open, and holiday fees where I only charge for the days parents book. I obviously wouldn't take a booking for days I wanted to take as family holiday. I haven't had any argument about this and if I did I would highlight that nurseries usually charge year round, nannies get paid holiday etc. and they are not giving me holiday pay so they don't have any say in the matter. I would be very put out if one did try to tell me when I could or couldn't take holiday - never mind my honeymoon!

I take 4 weeks each year - not charged for - and tell the parents when they are in January. I don't give them options, don't ask what they think and won't negotiate dates! I don't have a single parent who doesn't get paid holidays - they request their holidays and get them, why shouldn't we? Don't get me wrong, if I wasn't away and a parent was REALLY stuck, i would help out if I could, but I think we are totally undervalued as a profession by parents and need to stand our ground!

A cm I know recently lost a parent, had sympathy for a few days, then had parents on the phone asking when she was back to work, because they were struggling for childcare . That was before she buried the parent

I had surgery last week - in full time employment I would have had at least 3wks off, came back today because felt couldn't let parents down and need the money to keep head above water! Knackered tonight - any thanks for working?? Nope!!!

Just make sure all terms for holidays are in your contract with parents - had parents at Christmas who said, 'Oh, you're charging?' 'Errrm, yes, it's a contracted day', 'But why should we pay you?'. 'Hmmm, are you getting paid for Christmas Day?', 'Well, yes, but that's different', 'Actually it's not, refer to your contract..................'

Sorry for the waffling on - I just get started sometimes.......

I think the parents don't realise that if you only took 2 weeks holiday when you wanted it and 2 weeks when they wanted it you would only get 2 weeks holiday in a whole year. If you are looking after children from more than one family the odds are that the weeks each family chooses would be different from each other.

I am a parent that uses a childminder and I think that your parents are being unreasonable.

CM are not nannies and you cannot specify when you want them to take holiday.I signed my contract knowing this and such have to cover holiday with other childcare.

they are being unreasonable if its in your contract stick to your guns they need to understand a cm is not their employee and that you ares self employed.
I can't believe they are being so rude!

Thank you all for your responses, we have managed to resolve the problems now and everything has calmed down which is great news.
RosieGirl I charge half for bank holidays as it is a contracted day but as neither I nor parents have booked this day as holiday it's kind of booked for us, a given day as such, I feel bad charging full price so I just request half, some childminders charge full price tho it's up to you, my mother in law charges half and half for her holidays and parents holidays as you are suggesting maybe you could try it with the next contract you raise and if it works better that way then discuss negotiating existing contracts ? good luck.
Thanks again everybody.

HFCC how did you resolve? [nosy]

oh I feel sorry for you, this parents sound awful and you are on your right to take your hols whenever you want as long as you give plenty of notice. My CM takes 6 wks a year, but I knew this when I signed the contract and am happy with it.

You are in your right to have your hols and if they want to move their children I'm surte you won't have vacancies for long. You sound like a lovely childminder and it's diffucult to find that there's lots of people looking for childminders. Good luck!