Daycare/travel/quarantine WWYD

[purplepenguin7]

It’s me again with yet another daycare issue. It’s looking like my family (me, husband and daughter) will have to travel to another state for a family emergency. I live in NJ which has a 14 day quarantine restriction for certain states, one which is where we will have to go. I believe this means my daughter will not be able to attend daycare during the 14 days. My question is, between the 2 weeks, plus a pre-planned closure at the end of the month, my daughter will only be able to attend about 7 days of daycare for the month of August and I really don’t want to pay a full months tuition for 7 days (they don’t offer prorated anything). I’m debating on pulling her for the month of August, but I am hesitant because she just started back this month and is finally adjusting and starting to not cry at drop off. Ugh i hate having to make these impossible decisions.

[VillainV]

Jul 25, 2020 18:18:55 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

It’s me again with yet another daycare issue. It’s looking like my family (me, husband and daughter) will have to travel to another state for a family emergency. I live in NJ which has a 14 day quarantine restriction for certain states, one which is where we will have to go. I believe this means my daughter will not be able to attend daycare during the 14 days. My question is, between the 2 weeks, plus a pre-planned closure at the end of the month, my daughter will only be able to attend about 7 days of daycare for the month of August and I really don’t want to pay a full months tuition for 7 days (they don’t offer prorated anything). I’m debating on pulling her for the month of August, but I am hesitant because she just started back this month and is finally adjusting and starting to not cry at drop off. Ugh i hate having to make these impossible decisions.

If you pull her, will her spot for September be guaranteed? Will you have to pay another enrollment fee?

I’m kind of surprised they won’t prorate for a pre-planned closure.

[waverly]

If we pulled our kids for a week, we were allowed to pay half the rate to keep the spot. Could you ask them first (double check)?

[isabel]

I don't really understand how these things are connected. Being gone for 3 weeks of the month is undeniably going to set her back, but it doesn't sound like there's anything to be done about that. Her adjustment to returning really isn't a factor here unless you can avoid the trip altogether.

As for withdrawing her, I would only do so if her spot is guaranteed the following month. I'd be really hesitant to take that kind of risk, personally.

[purplepenguin7]

I think if we pulled her for August we would still have a spot for September but that is definitely something I’d double check before making a final decision.

They are only closed for 3 days and do no prorate for that time.

isabel If we pay for August she would miss 2 weeks, attend for a week and a half, then miss another 3 days. If we skip August all together she will be out of daycare for 4 consecutive full weeks. I think the former will better on her adjustment wise, though neither is ideal.

Not making the trip isn’t really an option, potentially my husband could go alone, but being that he would come home and have to quarantine. I think the same rules would apply to us anyway.

[isabel]

Ah. I would pay for it and send her.

[starryfish]

Pay and send her. We have to give 2 weeks notice to withdraw and then would have to pay enrollment fee again, do I doubt you would come out ahead if you pull her.

[goldengirlz]

First, I’m sorry you’re facing a family emergency. I know that’s stressful when you live far away.

But I’m not sure why this falls under “impossible decisions.” If you want to send her to daycare, send her to daycare. Unfortunately, this is now the world we live in — a world of strict sick leave policies and mandatory quarantines — and we’re not always going to get our money’s worth out of childcare. (Many childcare facilities are also hanging on by a thread. I’m sure they WANT to make it “fair” by only charging people for the days they use, but they can’t and also maintain financial viability.)

I’m assuming this payment is already factored into your budget — in which case, just send her and don’t give it another thought.

[purplepenguin7]

Jul 26, 2020 12:08:09 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

First, I’m sorry you’re facing a family emergency. I know that’s stressful when you live far away.

But I’m not sure why this falls under “impossible decisions.” If you want to send her to daycare, send her to daycare. Unfortunately, this is now the world we live in — a world of strict sick leave policies and mandatory quarantines — and we’re not always going to get our money’s worth out of childcare. (Many childcare facilities are also hanging on by a thread. I’m sure they WANT to make it “fair” by only charging people for the days they use, but they can’t and also maintain financial viability.)

I’m assuming this payment is already factored into your budget — in which case, just send her and don’t give it another thought.

Thank you for the response. I never said this was an impossible decision, I was just wondering what other parents would do in the same scenario. I don’t fault the daycare at all for charging, and wasn’t expecting any exception to their payment policies. And yes, while the daycare expense is technically factored into our budget, I had to take a pay cut in April through the remainder of the year, not to mention the unexpected costs associated with this trip. We do have savings, but given both of these things, if it wouldn’t set my daughter back too much, an additional month of daycare money would be very helpful.

Also, since a few people have mentioned, my care charges a separate summer registration fee and a “school year” fee, which we’ve already paid. The timing could work in our favor with the enrolling/unenrolling. They also just reopened in mid-June and aren’t up to capacity since a lot of families haven’t returned.

[goldengirlz]

Jul 26, 2020 12:39:04 GMT -5 purplepenguin7 said:

Jul 26, 2020 12:08:09 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

First, I’m sorry you’re facing a family emergency. I know that’s stressful when you live far away.

But I’m not sure why this falls under “impossible decisions.” If you want to send her to daycare, send her to daycare. Unfortunately, this is now the world we live in — a world of strict sick leave policies and mandatory quarantines — and we’re not always going to get our money’s worth out of childcare. (Many childcare facilities are also hanging on by a thread. I’m sure they WANT to make it “fair” by only charging people for the days they use, but they can’t and also maintain financial viability.)

I’m assuming this payment is already factored into your budget — in which case, just send her and don’t give it another thought.

Thank you for the response. I never said this was an impossible decision, I was just wondering what other parents would do in the same scenario. I don’t fault the daycare at all for charging, and wasn’t expecting any exception to their payment policies. And yes, while the daycare expense is technically factored into our budget, I had to take a pay cut in April through the remainder of the year, not to mention the unexpected costs associated with this trip. We do have savings, but given both of these things, if it wouldn’t set my daughter back too much, an additional month of daycare money would be very helpful.

Also, since a few people have mentioned, my care charges a separate summer registration fee and a “school year” fee, which we’ve already paid. The timing could work in our favor with the enrolling/unenrolling. They also just reopened in mid-June and aren’t up to capacity since a lot of families haven’t returned.

The last sentence in your OP literally states “ Ugh i hate having to make these impossible decisions.”

My point is that whatever you decide, this is a low-stakes decision*.

From your response, it seems like you want to take her out for financial reasons and the timing would allow you to do so. If so, do it without guilt. In the grand scheme of things, seven extra days of daycare won’t have a huge effect on her either way.

*ETA: And I’m not saying this to be snarky. I’m saying it to ease your mind that whatever you decide will work out.

[purplepenguin7]

goldengirlz, I’m sorry, you are right. I forgot that I wrote that. I think I’m just frustrated over the whole situation (daycare is just part of it). What I mean was there is no right answer, either option sucks. It’s also frustrating because we struggled whether to send her back in the first place but we did, and now this. In the long term, this will be a blip in our lives but right now it feels like a lot . COVID has just been a series of setbacks (obviously we aren’t the only one going through that).

[waverly]

There are so many sucky decisions with Covid. I’m questioning everything. (Return to work, school, buses, aftercare, sports, elearning, homeschooling, travel, restaurants). At least extra- curriculars through school were cancelled, so I don’t have to weigh that one. Childcare for many during Covid is either non existent or more expensive than budgeted. All this rambling to say I totally commiserate.

[ellipses84]

With Covid, all options suck My attitude is, as long as I’m being paid and not having to pay for other childcare, I’ll keep paying daycare and try not to sweat the money. It was considered a donation (ours is nonprofit) when he wasn’t attending even though they were open. When I got laid off, I stopped paying/ donating and they agreed to hold our spot until the new “school year” started. I got a job so he is going back, but we are currently in a quarantine period because we had to go out of state for family medical issues. It’s definitely going to suck if we have to go out of state again this year for the same reason.

[brooke77]

I would send DH alone and send DD to daycare, but that’s probably because I have had zero alone time since March.

Second best option would be pulling DD from daycare for August and all going on trip.

[sent]

My husband took a Friday off and left NJ to drive the kids 4 hours into one of the states where you are supposed to quarantine after you return to NJ. He was going to drop DD to spend a week with MIL/FIL. He drove straight to the IL's house, made no stops, and came right back to our house with DS on a Sunday. IL's have been home and not going anywhere either except the grocery store and apparently FIL went to Target because my husband forgot to bring DS's shoes.

I sent DS to daycare when he returned and did not quarantine him.

I don't know if this applies to your situation but I'm putting it out there because I'm in NJ too and the list of states is loooooong.