Did you know there was a day to celebrate the work of family child care providers, called Provider Apprecation Day? It's the Friday before Mother's Day, and I think, usually in the same week as Teacher Appreciation Week. If you work with a provider - simple acknowledgement is appreciated! And Happy Mother's Day to all...
Thanks to all who took the question just as I wrote it: "Did you know...?" Many people don't even KNOW there is a day honoring providers (along with teachers, nurses, and apparently, shrimp)! I'm not a hinter - telling people about this day is simply that: telling them. If you have a child care provider that you love (and you chose your provider, so I hope you think he/she is great!), then my hope would be that you could easily acknowledge them! Do whatever you feel called to do, a simple "Thanks for all your work with my children!" is appreciated, and a bottle of wine or a gift card would also be appreciated. It's not a "call for gifts," it's a day on the calendar. I'm guessing that most family child care providers out there are recognizing Mother's Day by helping the children create a gift for their mom - does that make Mother's Day a call for gifts?
Victoria P., I'm not sure why the link you added (thanks for that, I'm not good at doing it) brought up the 2011 proclamation page from our Governor, the one I received from the state was definitely for 2013 and proclaimed the week of May 5 - 11 as "Family Child Care Provider Week." Provider Appreciation Day is a separate day, a group in New Jersey created it in 1995, and it always falls on the Friday before Mother's Day.
Seriously, providers are like anyone else - there are good ones and bad ones out there. I'm no martyr, I'm definitely paid for what I do, but it is a job without many tangible perks. There's very little recognition, and sometimes it takes YEARS to see the "results of your work" in watching competent little people head off to school. I'm happy with my clients and they are happy with me, but if I can share some info that might help another provider have a nice day - that's why I shared the day.
It seems like every thing and everyone has a day now, and it is impossible to keep up with them and makes them all a little less special. Really, we should be showing appreciation to the people that matter all year long, not waiting for some special day.
I am my children's child care provider! I appreciate me, I guess...
ETA: and not to be rude or anything, but since I can tell, based on your past posts, that you must be a provider yourself, does this not seem a bit like shameless self-promotion for a rather made up holiday?
Our state's proclamation for "Provider Appreciation Day" was May 6, 2011. Not a recurring day, not today. Only a few states have proclaimed there to be such a day. According to http://www.providerappreciationday.org/state-proclamation... your own state recognized one week in 2011, not including this date.
ETA: Let me say, I thank my kids' teachers constantly. Three times a year, they get presents from us - not just classroom teachers, but music and art teachers as well. To spell that out, that's 5 teachers at $10-15 per present, three times per year. I write them notes and emails to thank them constantly, and I thank them to their face every day. I just spent a total of 25 hours putting together the school's poetry anthology - for free, on my own time. I got no thank you. I have taught art - for free, with my own supplies - not the school's but mine at my expense - as a volunteer for four years when my kids' school couldn't afford it. I got NO thank you. I spend a HUGE amount of time giving to my kids' school, helping the teachers both in class and bringing things home, field trips, activities, tutoring other people's children, FOR FREE! I get no thank yous from the teachers or from the students or from their parents. Nothing. So I'm tired of having it dictated to me that I should thank people and getting a snotty attitude from people when I balk at a MADE UP HOLIDAY! We are very grateful and don't need to be told to do it. It is tacky and rude to ASK for recognition. I am far more gracious to the "providers" in my kids' lives than they've been to me.
Not that I have anything against recognizing people for their hard work, but this week is both Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurse Appreciation Week, and now Provider Appreciation Day too? How are we supposed to keep track of all this? Is there some central registry of recognition days that I am unaware of?
ETA: Huh? I just found out it is ALSO National Shrimp Day! Who knew?!
Oh when I saw this I thought it was a day to appreciate our Health Care Provider. Dang...I was waaay off!
Hmmm...seems like we have way too many of these "appreciation days". I try to say Thank You most every day when I see people that help me and my family.
But it seems as though these days turn into a day you feel pressured to send a card or a gift..when a simple "Thank You" would suffice...as you mentioned above in your post.
I think we should just all focus on being more appreciative in our everyday interactions with others and it would do a greater good than all these designated "holidays".
It's a little amusing to me. I always find it interesting how so many people disavow Valentine's Day and say they don't celebrate it because they do little things all year and getting flowers from your SO/spouse just because of a date on a calendar says it's time isn't worth anything... etc etc..
Hmmm.. but whatever. I am pretty much over being "told" to appreciate people. The fact is, you are appreciated or you're not. You appreciate people or you don't. I tell people I appreciate them when I find it appropriate... and having an "assigned" day or week to appreciate someone doing their paid job just doesn't go over with me.
--ETA---
Oh, and funny... I am looking at my calendar. There is no "Provider Appreciation Day" on it. Just like there is no "Nurse's Appreciation Week", nor "Teacher's Appreciation Week" nor "Military Spouse's Day" listed for today. All of which I have seen all over FB this week btw, but no Provider Appreciate Day has shown up on FB that I have seen. Odd that.
It reminds me of the tip jar you see at the coffee shop. I am (not so subtly) being "encouraged" to tip for someone pouring me a cup of coffee and handing it across the counter? Of course, those tips jars sprung up all over the place in the past few years... even fast food restaurants, and sub shops. I ignore those, too.
And my kids stayed home with me... did I get a "SAHM Appreciation Day"? Nope. And I don't get a paycheck even.
THANK YOU! And to those that feel inundated by too many "appreciation days", so don't partake! It takes 3 seconds to tell someone thank you and will probably make them feel great all day!
I am grateful to anyone who has helped my children...coaches, teachers, friends...and personally, when I am told how much I am appreciated, I want to try that much harder to keep doing a good job!
It's not about making up another day for recognition, it's about remembering those who deserve to be thanked. So, to all you nurses, teachers, aides, daycare providers and other men and women in humanitarian type jobs, thank you!
Yes and I am SOOO thankful for the wonderful folks who are professionally TRAINED to care for and nurture the minds of my kiddos.
Now that they are not in child care, we just celebrate Teacher appreciation
Queen of the castle - Yes!:) there is a registry of all the days and weeks. lol I used to have to reference it in a past job for calendars. Just celebrate the ones that are relevant to you:)
Hmmm. I really appreciate your post.
First of all, I didn't know it was "Provider Appreciation Day." Never heard of it. There are a lot of providers in my life - none of them child care providers - but pet sitters, dog groomers, the gas company, my health insurance company, the doctor's office...
Second of all, I'm glad you're not hinting. I mean, I say thank you to the people I appreciate all the time. I might even get them a coffee mug with a "world's best teacher" with a picture of an apple on it at the dollar store. But now that you're not hinting at a bottle of wine or a gift card, I'll know precisely what NOT to get.
And third, I'm my own child care provider. I also get very little recognition. I get paid less than you do. I have great perks, like being with my own kids. But I, too, have to wait years to see the "results of my work." I'm glad I don't feel the need to ask for recognition, though. And my husband, who works 100-hour weeks lately, doesn't have a recognition day for his job.
And fourth, I live in a state that doesn't officially recognize Provider Appreciation Day. I think we here in the Keystone state are pretty appreciative of people who help us on a daily basis. So glad no one feels compelled to ... uh... compel us to appreciate them.
So Happy Provider Appreciation day. Hope your little charges bring you big bottles of wine to celebrate. Cheers!
ps, love that the people supporting you here are also childcare providers. Strength in numbers! Rock on!
