There has been a lot of "chaos" here since my assistant was my husband and I had to kick him out and file for divorce. I say chaos because it changed things and I try to keep things are consistent as possible for my clients and their children.

Shortly after that, I had to change my early drop off to be every other day instead of every single day (7:00-8:00am).

Last week, I had to change my business hours to just 8:00-5:00 and exclude early drop off and late pick up. I had 1 family give me their 2 weeks notice and their last day will be on Wednesday of next week. I understood. They need care for 11 hours each day and I'm just unable to do so. I am still able to pay all of the bills that I was paying with 2 adults in the household and my son has been helpful with doing little things here and there to keep my stress levels down.

I need to announce my pregnancy. I am starting to look fat in just the front of my stomach area despite wearing loose shirts. I know that no parent is going to comment on it, but I don't want them to wonder or feel like I'm hiding something. I'm worried that having this many "announcements" so close together (in 1.5 months time) will concern some parents. It shouldn't, but I'm worried it might. The situation I'm in now was not planned. This pregnancy was planned, but the timing became interesting when I learned I was pregnant 10 days after I HAD to kick my husband out. I am saying HAD to as a conservative Christian woman who doesn't believe that divorce is an option. So, please believe me when I say I had to. My pregnancy is considered high risk and I go to the OB every 2 weeks. My Mom has been coming in as my assistant each time I have an appointment and no parents have had any concerns or questions about why she comes. I know their children tell them, "Ms. ___ came today!" I have very outspoken kiddos here.
I plan to hire an assistant halfway through the summer, I will fully close for 1 week (unpaid) when I go into labor, and the assistant will run the business for 1-2 weeks after that 1 week maternity leave so I can continue to recover with some supervision from me. After that, the assistant will go back to being part-time. I can DO this. I can. When I started up this business last year I miscarried during the work day (delivered the baby at night, and the placenta while working) and none of my clients knew.

I'm unsure as to how I should word a letter announcing my pregnancy since I always send a letter home after I make verbal announcements to each parent. Please, please help. I have been nervous about this since I learned that I was pregnant.

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Wow! I don't know what else to say...just hang in there! You are a strong woman!

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The Lord has provided for my 1.5 children and I beyond what I could have ever dreamed.
This is my 4th pregnancy and I have made it farther than I have in any of the previous 3 (funny timing but praise the Lord!!), so I have faith that this baby will carry to term. That might explain why I feel like I need to say something now.

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I agree with the previous poster - you are a very strong woman.

What about something like:

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your support in the transition regarding the termination of my previous assistant. Mrs X has been an excellent interim assistant and I am beginning the process of hiring a new permanent assistant. The quality of care provided for your children is of great importance to me and I strive to offer the best level of care with as little change in routine for the children as possible.

I am also delighted to announce that my own family is being blessed with a new arrival in (date month). Yes - I'm pregnant! My assistant(s) will cover any time off for appointments as well as my 2 week maternity leave. The only time you should need to seek alternate care is for one week following the day of the baby's birth. This one week of closure will of course be unpaid. I will continue to keep in open communication and invite you to do the same.

Yours, ECS

Maybe this will give you a starting point - but Blackcat writes awesome letters! I have a habit of saying too much. I wish you every happiness, an easy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

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Thank you!

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you just have to bite the bullet and let things happen whatever way they are going to happen. A short simple letter that lets them know you are expecting and a brief plan regarding maternity leave (subject to change). They may leave....that doesnt mean that you cant handle this, it just means they cant. But you obviously have to tell them at some point soon and take whatever comes your way. As always, keep things short and simple, upbeat and professional. Not too many details or explanations but just an assurance that you appreciate them sticking with you during the transition and you are always doing your best to make sure that the kids have quality care.

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Maybe something to keep it positive and up beat to set the tone in a happy way(warning some of it may sound obnoxtiously perky lol so feel free to edit):

"Dear DCFs,
Some exciting changes are coming to our daycare! We will have some new faces coming soon, as I am now expecting a beautiful baby {boy/girl} (<--optional), he/she/who is due xx/xx/2013. As of now I plan on only being closed for one week, unpaid, while I welcome my new bundle of joy into the world. I will keep you posted as soon as possible to let you know when my maternity leave starts and when I will open again. I will also be happy to recommend or be a refernece for your substitute care (<--optional if you are willing to help but not required too) you may need for that week.

In addition, I will soon be hiring a new daycare assistant who will be helping me regularly during this transition. As of now, I do not plan to change any services at all other than previously mentioned. I will continue giving the same quality child care I have been providing your families as before. If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. We can't wait for you to meet our family's newest member!
Thank You for your understanding, FCCP"

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I don't really have anything to add besides giving you a virtual hug. Please let us know if you need anything!

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I think you are an AMAZING woman. God bless you and your family as you go through this stressful time.

Any daycare parent who has a problem with you needs to take a hike anyway.

Hopefully, they will realize what a gem they have in you and will be as supportive as they can.

You are in my prayers dear lady......keep strong and you will get through all this because of your wonderful attitude and faith.

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Thank you!
Some daycare families have been especially sweet since they are aware of the basics. Offering to help me, be a shoulder to cry on, etc. I really do not wish to/like to cross personal and working relationships so I haven't taken them up on any offers but I think it is very kind to offer those things nonetheless. Some of them gifted my son and I with Christmas presents which was very generous, and I have received a "tip" for helping out a family since I helped them out.
I also had one Mom come and check on me after hours just to say she was praying for me. Very sweet!

The obnoxiously happy e-mail sounds like me, except when a parent tries to continuously break my rules. I try to be pretty upbeat with them otherwise.

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I don't have any advice except short and sweet. Hang in there! It will all work out-if they don't like it and leave, then it is probably for the better. You don't need any extra stress. Hugs and prayers coming your way over the next few months!

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Question for you all:

At what point would YOU announce a pregnancy to your clients?

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I didnt announce until like 14 or 16 weeks and even then two people were shocked. I am tiny, gained a minature amount of weight, and my baby was 2 weeks late and 7lbs so I "hid" it well apparently.

And good luck with all your "life hiccups". I say dcp come and go, if they don't support you and your family then they belong elsewhere.

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I'm going to wait a bit longer. I'm really scared and trying to cast my anxiety upon the Lord concerning this situation.

I run a Preschool program and while 6 use it as a daycare as well I do have 4 that use it JUST for Preschool. So, I'm worried that they may think I won't be able to run my preschool program still with an infant since I don't even accept infants.

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Newborns usually need lots of naps through out the day so you can try to schedule him/her to nap when you have the instructional ("sit down") part of your preschool and when he/she is awake and you need a free hand or two you can get a sling/pouch/ carrier and wear your baby.

http://www.babycenter.com/2_baby-wea...aby_1486841.bc

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I'm actually planning on wearing the baby in a moby wrap strapped to my body (baby will be content and can easily be breastfed in this manner while still carrying on with business as usual).

I just worry that the parents may think, "Oh the instruction time will go out the window now." despite me planning on hiring an assistant mid-summer before baby is even born.

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so you only have 6 kids total?

there are so many programs that are A LOT bigger, with or without infants. i really dont know why a parent would worry about you adding your infant when you are also adding an assistant. i really think that you are over thinking this! i would be surprise if any of the parents cared at all about this announcement. i bet they will care a lot more about the maternity leave and "what if she does into labor during daycare hours?" than about afterwards, when the baby is added. as long as you appear confident and steady, they will feed of that and be fine with everything. i was surprised that i really had no issues with any of my pregnancies and my daycare parents. i even had one parent begin care two weeks before my maternity leave started! she would rather start with me and wait out the maternity leave than lose her spot.

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No, I have 9 daily (some are part timers and so they change out).
I will have 2 going into Kinder RIGHT when I am due, so I plan to make my number back to 9 or making it 10 again. It used to be 12 when my husband was helping me.

I hope I am overthinking this. A mom friend of mine told me she would pull her kids if she had them in my program for Preschool and that really stung. I didn't set out to conceive this baby to raise as a single Mom. This situation came about and was totally out of my control. I'm just trying to do the best I can for everyone, but mostly for my own kids.

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What were her reasons why? I just don't really see how having a baby in a family child care home pre-school setting would have this effect on other families or why she would personally make this choice.

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Many people are sending their children to preschool for learning/routine/structure/like a mini school.

When providers offer this and then have a baby, many parents (I can't blame them) may believe that the newborns schedule will not coninscide with the programs schedule. What if the baby needs to sleep during outdoor time but the provider doesn't want to take baby out, what if the baby needs to eat when she usually is doing lunch for the kids, diaper changes when its reading time.

Thats why alot of preschools, everyone has to be a certain age, potty trained, etc. I guess they want to make sure they are getting their money worth and a baby isn't upsetting the daily routine.

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LOL that baby will be sleeping in a moby wrap on me. Baby will be worn quite a bit with floor time when we are inside.

Country Kids, that's why I think PERHAPS one family will leave. They want Harvard Preschool however, they might not leave due to the length of my Preschool hours. Twice the amount of hours for the same price as the Preschools 20+ minutes away.

The children here are NOT the same age. They range in age from 2.5 to 5. Just two 2.5-year-olds, and the rest are 3-5.

It almost makes me want to send explanations as to how things will be done but then that falls away from "the shorter the better." So, I won't.

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Because it might change our schedule. But, shoot. Sometimes I just change the schedule anyways by 10-15 minutes if kids have arrived late for the day, they are really enjoying the beautiful weather outside, etc.
She was really rude about it and said she would absolutely not stay so I told her, "Good thing your Preschool teacher isn't having a baby then! "

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Oh, I understand about kids being different ages in a home childcare. In preschool setting (at least here), the children HAVE to be potty trained and then broken up into age setting. Some start here at 2 but they have to be potty trained. Most are three though and there will be a 3 year old class, 4 year old class, and a 5 year old class (for those odd bdays).

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Preschools held in buildings here are the same way.

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Ahh ok I guess I could understand that but if you are already offering some sort of a pre-school program (kinder readiness like alphabet, shapes, numbers, colors etc) I don't see how having one infant would be a problem or could hinder that. Babies sleep alot anyway and you can wear the infant during activities. But it is a different perspective.

Just be glad she isn't your client. Some friend you have .

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That's what I figure but after she said that I went into panic mode.

We will see, I guess! I'm a nervous nellie until then.

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