So I am working on my days off for 2017, and because of my wedding next fall I will have a total of 12 unpaid vacation days and 8 paid holidays. This seems like a lot, and I am wondering if others have taken this much time off. I guess I am hesitant because I am taking maternity leave in the next 6 weeks, and feel like I am taking a lot of time for personal reasons this year and next.

I understand I deserve this time, but I still feel guilty.

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Like someone posted in another thread, it's your business and the schedule is all up to you. You could work 1 day a week if you want, but you would be very limited in possible clients.

Sometimes it is necessary to take more time off and as long as the parents have enough notice, most of them won't mind.

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Don't feel guilty I take more time off than you do and it's all paid! I have never had a problem because of it.

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Don't feel guilty! You're not even getting paid for your vacation (I definitely would be paid for those days, and most others would, too!). 12 days of vacation is not excessive, and those holidays are standard.

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I take the 6 Major holidays off (my birthday is Labor day this year) plus 14 vacation days (unpaid)... I divide the time off into two 5 day weeks (add weekends on either end it totals 9 days lol) & add extra time off @ Thanksgiving

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You shouldn't feel guilty at all!! I think that's a very reasonable amount of time off.
I actually get 2 weeks paid vacation and all major holidays. , My parents also get two weeks that they can take unpaid (must have 1 month notice)
I have really liked this because it would be really hard to take vacation and lose a whole week of income, but to lose a week from one family here and there is a lot more managable.
My families like it too because they save a little bit on a month they are taking a trip.

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Don't feel guilty!!!! You need the time off to live your life.

The best thing about a yearly schedule labeling all of your days off is that your families will plan for them (at least mine have) and will plan their own vacations or fun stuff around your schedule.

If you worked at a 'normal job' you would have flexibility to take off days too. You deserve it!
And it's your business!

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Abolutely! My last job gave me 6 weeks of paid time off per year and 480 hours of sick leave per year. Not everyone gets that much, but MOST parents have at least 2 weeks of paid vacation and probably 2 weeks of paid sick leave, too-that's for someone new at a job. 4-6 weeks is the standard around here for someone on the job over 5 years. Most of our clients have way more paid time off than we do. I do not feel guilty for taking vacation, and I make sure my parents understand from the start that my days off are PAID, just like theirs, and that I am also entitled to some R & R time. I introduce my rates from the start as yearly tuition, just like at a private school or preschool, tuition is tuition, regardless of days closed. If I were to give unpaid days to parents or take unpaid vacation, their rates would be higher to compensate because I charge what I MUST have per space, per year. Charging full tuition weekly allows parents to pay a lower price 52 weeks a year, rather than paying a higher rate 48 weeks per year.

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I work four days per week and I will have taken off 20 paid days this year.
March 16-17 Spring Break, May 9-12 Summer Break, May 30 Memorial Day, July 4-5 Independence Day Break, Sept. 5 Labor Day, Nov. 23-24 Thanksgiving Break, Dec. 19-29 Christmas Break

My clients can take a one week vacation each year, without paying tuition, outside of our scheduled holiday closures. They just need to give a written two week notice. If you're taking unpaid days off I think you're being more than generous enough. Enjoy your days off.

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