A few years ago, I made a post that really bothered some people, suggesting that people who have small children get first picks for holidays off, because it may be difficult (or possibly impossible) for them to find childcare. Several people suggested to me that I was a… well, I don't want to use language on this blog, but let's just say a selfish female dog who should probably be fornicating with myself.
I don't want to stir the pot but I will give my experience trying to find coverage for the upcoming holidays when I will be working:
--me: working
--husband: working
--Schools: closed
--afterschool program: closed
--daycare: closed
--babysitter 1: Will be in church and at family functions
--babysitter 2: traveling for the entire holiday
--me: screwed
I'm currently putting together a piecemeal of various elderly grandparents coming by to watch the kids, and working out a plan to come to work at odd hours. It's hard, to say the least, despite the fact that I actually have a very flexible job.
I know I can't be the only one with this problem, yet it's clear that everyone feels really angry about the idea of making any accommodations for people with childcare needs. Maybe a better plan would be for there to be some sort of reliable group childcare out there for people like us (e.g. healthcare workers) who will be working at least some of the holidays. Because right now? The options suck.
I rely on school/after school program/daycare to babysit my kids. On the days when all three programs are closed, either my husband or I are off from work. This requires quite a bit of pre-planning. Thank goodness the daycare I use only close on major holidays. This means when daycare is closed, the older kids are likely off from school too. I use the daycare's holidays schedule to request for my PTO (paid time off). Ensuring adequate childcare coverage year round can be a bear but my colleagues do not owe me anything simply because I have children. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, but if either you or your husband are getting every major holiday off from work, that means that you are presumably getting half of major holidays off from work. So unless you work with only one other person Or there is a very skeleton crew on holidays, somebody is getting shafted.
DeleteI completely sympathize. Trying to find holiday child care is the worst. Nothing more awful than having to call a friend and asking if my kids can spend the holidays with them.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, my clinic closes on most major holidays anyway so I'm not really shafting anyone. For the minor holidays like Washington Day when all my kids are off, I do ask for those days off. My work policy regarding PTO is: you put in the request 3-4 months ahead, first come first served. If you really want that day off, you put in your request early. If you didn't, and you lose out to me, well, next year, put in your request earlier. That, I feel, is a fair policy. It's been working out well for me and I haven't had any colleagues fight me over having say, MLK day off. However, I try not to hog the big holidays. Last year, I asked for 2 weeks off for X-Mas. This year, I didn't, because it wouldn't be fair. For long vacations, the kids go to camp with the YMCA, 6 AM to 6 PM. The baby goes to daycare and if it is closed, most likely my clinic would be closed too, or I ask for that single day to be off. What I am saying is, for my work/childcare situations, all I need to do is plan it out really well. I am lucky, for sure. It sounds like you have it much tougher than me due to your particular profession/daycare/school schedule etc. Still, it is our burden as parents to bear.
ReplyDeleteDo YMCAs have 6A-6P camp everywhere or is this specific to your local Y? That sounds amazing!
DeleteI don't think it's just my local Y, I think it's everywhere but you may want to confirm by googling the YMCA in your area and click on the "camp" option. It's available for ages 5-12 and in general, will cover all the weeks the local schools are off. For instance, my kids' school is off Dec 22-Jan 12. YMCA offers camp from 12/22-12/24 and then 12/29-1/12. The only day where you possibly have to scramble for childcare is 12/26 assuming you get 12/25 off. I think YMCA is pretty great!
DeleteI checked my local YMCA, and they do have a similar camp, but it's no better then the hours offered by the day care. The day of the holiday in the day just before and just after are the main days that everything is closed and nobody is available to babysit. If you have to work on Christmas? Forget it. Your only hope is a friend or relative can watch your kids.
DeleteMaybe you need to offer more money.
DeleteFizzy, there are services that offer childcare in a pinch in my area. Perhaps you could do some googling to see if they are available in yours. My physician colleague used this service where they send someone over within 30 minutes, if needed. The service has a collection of babysitters all pre-screened and background checked. Her daughter had a fever at daycare at 3 pm one day and she was able to get someone out to pick her daughter up from daycare (yes, a perfect stranger from that service) and her daughter and that babysitter hung around at the park for 2 hours. That service has holidays pricing and overnight pricing too. Of course, this is not ideal but is an option for me when I get desperate.
ReplyDeletecare.com offers the "parents in a pinch" service. not sure about holidays, but good for last minute things on most occasions. reliable and screened/vetted babysitters. maybe they have something in your area?
Deletehttp://www.parentsinapinch.com/
I'm with you Fizzy. 100%.
ReplyDeleteHoliday planning is so hard! My hubby and I are physicians and have had similar problems with schedules in the past. I am no longer working and am home to take care of my kids on weekends, holidays, sick days, etc. This has been such a huge relief to our family! I wish it was easier for working couples, especially physicians, who already have such stress in their lives.
ReplyDeleteRight up there with you, Fizzy, and to those who think Care.com etc. are simple solutions: We have done the Care.com and other internet offerings, and after our experiences, we have learned that regardless of "background checks", you are still hiring a stranger to care for your children, and very expensively, I might add. Yes, you can make an enormous time and energy investment to interview a large number of potential candidates, maybe even do a few short trial runs, and you may have better luck than we have had (though we did what we felt was reasonable vetting). Basically, I don't those are not great options, unless in case of dire emergency, and you have a close neighbor who can check in. Yes, I know that we made the choice to have kids AND to work, and I am willing to deal with the childcare quandary consequences. I am thankful that we live down the street from my mother, who is unemployed (HUGE blessing!) and that I'm in a primary care practice that values a parent's role, with ample flexibility and colleagues willing to cover. I can't imagine how doc-moms with working husbands in less forgiving practices and without family nearby can function. My heart goes out to them.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your sentiments. I am certainly bothered by the idea of leaving my children for an entire day with a complete stranger, even if they have apparently been checked out by some random agency. And oh yeah, the bum on the corner of the street isn't doing anything on Christmas either, maybe he can watch my children.
DeleteMy kids are the most important thing to me. So no, I don't feel comfortable leaving them with just anybody.