My husband and I are traveling Sunday-Tuesday this week, accompanying one child to a competition in Washington, DC. We are leaving our 3 sons here (ages 9-16) and each is staying with a different family. I have drawn up letters for each family that authorize them to seek emergency medical or dental care, list medical issues, medications taken, and allergies, name and address of their doctor and dentist, name and contact info for my parents, name and contact info of everyone the other kids are staying with, our flight info, and our contact info. Each family is getting a version of the letter that has a copy of the child's insurance card on it. I also e-mailed the letters to the younger kids' teachers and school secretary, and to the school nurse at the high school for my older son because he doesn't have a teacher who is a single point of contact.
Each child's weekend bags include their backpacks and lunch boxes for school, there is money on their lunch accounts if they want to buy, they have their snow gear and hockey equipment and instruments, library books and gym shoes, medications, clothing, outerwear (more snow coming).
Am I missing anything? This is the first time that we've been out of town for more than 1 school day and when that happened, only 1 child was in school and my parents stayed at my house. I think everything is covered but would love a second opinion or suggestions for what else you have covered when in the same situation.
Also...all three families volunteered to take our kids when they heard that we were traveling, and these are families where we normally trade off sleepovers, bring a child with us places, etc. Still, two overnights is a big imposition so I'm planning on doing something to thank each family. Do you think a thank you card and a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant (where $50 would feed two adults) would suffice? Or would you spend more?
Thanks!
You have it more than covered. You've thought of everything. I think a $50 gift card is enough since you trade care with them. I'd say you're willing to reciprocate.
I think you have done a great job of planning for the kids in your absence. I don't want to cast a negative note on your trip, but do you have a WILL made out as to who would have custody of your children if something happened to both of you while traveling? And if you have one, does a trusted family member or friend or professional know how to access that in case of your demise? I think a thank you card and a gift card is a nice gesture. I would also be available to those families to reciprocate on a 2 day stay if the need were to arise. Have fun on your trip!
WOW. You can be my personal planner anytime.
Sounds like you have it covered to me. One thing I do when I leave my kids with my mom is give them $ to take their grandparents out. Makes my kids feel grown up and it's a way of their showing appreciation. I think your thank you card and $50 is generous and thoughtful.
Blessings and enjoy your time out of town.
L.
You're totally covered, enjoy your trip!
sounds like you've done a great job getting all your ducks in a row! i'm impressed!
i think a card and $50 is a terrific thank you. i don't think you need to spend more- they're not doing it for 'pay', they're doing you a favor which you'll reciprocate.
khairete
S.
The only thing I could think of that I didn't see in your post was scheduling info for any lessons or extracurricular classes or practices or rehearsals that your children would have to be at.
Have a great trip!
Legally those letters are useless. They could be writen by anyone and aren't legal. If your kids get sick and need medical attention the ER will determine how severe it is and if it's a real emergency they'll call a judge and get a court order for treatment.
Next time do a document at each doctors office for each child and each adult in the family. For instance, go to the local hospital your docs use and ask for the business office or records office. You could call them first of course and know what they have on hand and what you need to bring.
Most docs offices and hospitals have on hand forms they use. They'll have you fill them out and sign them with a notary. This way you are personally, with proof of identity, giving that entity legal permission to treat your child if they enter those doors with one of the people you have named.
Do this at the docs offices, the schools, the hospitals, and maybe even the an emergency clinic you could take the kids to on the off hours.
We learned all about this type of stuff in child care owners classes. Everyone has you fill out these forms that give them permission to treat. They don't mean anything more than it's a piece of paper and that place is going to throw a copy in the trash and call a judge for a court order.
I had my parents consider giving me a notarized letter for treatment but I also asked them to do the paper at their pediatricians office and the local hospital. They had my name, my business name, and included staff on the letter. That way if there was a field trip that staff already had a letter on file to take that child to seek medical treatment.
So take care of the legal end of the correct way. They won't do it, I promise you if it comes down to it the family they are with won't even know it but that doc will call for a court order before they treat your child so they won't get sued.
As for paying them or giving them a gift. Are you going to expect them to give you something similar when they want to go on a couples retreat for a weekend? I would rather give them a nice card that says thank you and an offer to get them a long weekend away any time and you'll take kiddos for that time.
I can't think of anything you are forgetting and yes I think a $50 GC and a thank you note is a perfect thank you gift.
It sounds like you have everything covered pretty well.
What nice friends to help you out like this!!
I'd probably go heavier on a gift card ($100 if you can swing it) because $50 wing buy dinner for 2 in many places here and 2 nights is pretty generous.
I'd also add keeping their child so they could have date night with the gift card if they like!
