I know my limits! Now what?

[erinalexmom]

I used to be full everyday.This was 5 kids and my nephew and my 2 kids and my daughter is home schooled. So many days I would have 8 kids in my house in a day. For me personally that is way too many. I have been spoiled this past month because I had different kids out for various reasons and oh it was wonderful! Some days I would only have 1 some days I would only have 2. I thought I hated doing this and really regretted my choice in leaving my job to do this. Well, its really not bad at all when I don't have very many kids. I kind of enjoy it and my kids are happier and I get things done around my house and I can help my daughter with school more.
So, have any of you reduced your numbers and how did you afford to do so financially? Also, how did you decide who had to go? I have different ideas. Such as only doing part timers (for me personally the parttimers are better behaved because thier parents are spending more time with them) I do get paid more per day for part timers. I would also like to open later in the mornings but not sure that could happen.
What would you do?

[cheerfuldom]

I think you need to figure out what you have to make financially and work around that. Even cutting one or two kids could make a big difference for you. I agree, 8 is too much when you are also homeschooling. I will be homeschooling my oldest next year and will be taking 3 daycare kids max (plus I have 3)

[Meyou]

What worked for me was taking the chaos out of my schedule. I stopped offering pt care, period. My clients had to go ft or go elsewhere. Now I have the same kids day in and day out, less families to deal with and a consistant paycheque each week.

If you want to just reduce kids I would start with who causes the most chaos when they're there. (Except for your own of course! One of mine is the worst offender.) I would also look at the most pt kids and consider those. I found having the same kids everyday was much better for me and for them. I can handle larger numbers because I've trained my ducks well.

[erinalexmom]

One positive is my sister quit her job in December to become a stay at home mother. So she has my nephew with her now. So then I am down one. Its also good cause I wasn't getting paid to keep him anyway.
I currently have 3 part timers (which are all kids I LOVE who have really great parents) and I have 4 full timers (one out of the 4 is a great kid. The other 3 have alot of issues) and I have 2 school age.(who are great kids but they are siblings to one of my problem full timers)
One option is that one of my full timers can become a part timer because the parents bring him here on thier days off. I would rather not have the money from mom and have mom keep him on her days off.
Thus why I have thought of saying I will not be taking full timers anymore? But the one good fulltimer is the best kid and parents I have. So I am not sure where to go with this.

[erinalexmom]

I like the idea of who causes the most chaos. I'm going to think about that. I will admit that I am one who likes to run around. I HATE feeling stuck in my house! That's one reason I thought of only keeping the part timers that way I may have a day off here and there and on the days I do have them we can get out of here. Go to the park,library,grocery,wherever. I will say in my experience my part timers are the best behaved because thier parents are the ones who invest the most time in thier children. I'm sure its a case by case basis but its just my personal experience.
But the idea of just taking 3 full time and being done with it does have its appeal. So your responses are echoing the very thoughts I have ::

[lil angels]

Do you have any leaving for school next fall? Or anyone that leaves for the summer. You could tell parents that you no longer can do SA as of next fall. And as other leave just don't fill the spots. Then you will have a slow drop off and you can adjust to the money better and you don't have to be the bad guy terming anyone. That is more long term. I have been doing this to I hope to have my Fridays off in the summer it worked out last year we shall see what happens this year.

[cheerfuldom]

You don't have to commit to full time or part time. Just keep who works for now and tell the others that you are downsizing.