What Keeps You Doing Childcare?

[Country Kids]

This is more for people with children that are in school or out of the house. What keeps you in childcare? Do you ever think what it would be like not to have to deal with so many families, keep an immaculant house, actually be able to walk away from work, not have to have so many rules/regs within your own home, etc.

I started out doing this to be home as most moms do. Now all my children are in school and don't need me at home all day long. Then when they are home I'm so busy with the daycare kids that my own can never just have my attention. I had one day where it was jus me, one of my own, and one dck. My own said it was so nice to be home during daycare hours but to have it so quiet and that I could actually spend time with them.

Looked at working with the schools but I would lose so much money it wasn't even funny. Great days, hours, benefits but no money what so ever.

I know everyone says but your still there before and after school. Mine all get themselves ready and out the door. My hubby takes care of any problems because I'm with the dcks. Then after school they all grab a snack and head to their rooms or something. I can't help them with anything till the kids are gone because I can't be in other parts of my house. Then in the evening I'm busy getting things ready for the next day, weekends we are busy getting things ready for the week.

How does everyone else find a balance for having a family with older kids and not letting childcare take over their life?

[GoodKarma]

I started when my kids were little. They are out of the house now. I still do child care because I enjoy working with children and I like being my own boss! As my children grew older and eventually moved out, I changed my program to suit my needs. I've varied the ages of the children in care and the number of children. Currently, I keep 2 infants at a time.

[wahmof3]

This is more for people with children that are in school or out of the house. What keeps you in childcare? Do you ever think what it would be like not to have to deal with so many families, keep an immaculant house, actually be able to walk away from work, not have to have so many rules/regs within your own home, etc.

I started out doing this to be home as most moms do. Now all my children are in school and don't need me at home all day long. Then when they are home I'm so busy with the daycare kids that my own can never just have my attention. I had one day where it was jus me, one of my own, and one dck. My own said it was so nice to be home during daycare hours but to have it so quiet and that I could actually spend time with them.

Looked at working with the schools but I would lose so much money it wasn't even funny. Great days, hours, benefits but no money what so ever.

I know everyone says but your still there before and after school. Mine all get themselves ready and out the door. My hubby takes care of any problems because I'm with the dcks. Then after school they all grab a snack and head to their rooms or something. I can't help them with anything till the kids are gone because I can't be in other parts of my house. Then in the evening I'm busy getting things ready for the next day, weekends we are busy getting things ready for the week.

How does everyone else find a balance for having a family with older kids and not letting childcare take over their life?

I ask myself this EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

My kiddos are in school and I still stay home and deal with everything you mention.

I think what keeps me going:
* I am my own Boss
* I make a decent living and can either add more or reduce as needed
* I can set my own schedule
* I can be creative
I know there are other reasons but I think the main reason is I know I cannot go anywhere else around here to work & make the $$ I make plus the tax deductions.

But yes, sometimes I feel like I'm in a "trap" no adult conversation, no personal days, dealing with parents, my missing backbone and the list can go on & on.

[daycare]

because who else is going to love me looking the way I do every day?

when I worked out of the house I spent hundreds of $$$ maintaining my appearance and grooming my nails.

People always jugde me and made my life miserable. I hate commuting and I hate having to be on someone else time clock.

What can I say where else can you laugh, cry, scream act like a nut and still be loved at the end of the day.....DAYCARE....

[christinaskids]

I do it because it works for my family situation right now. My husband has irregular hours and with a one year old and two older kids, it might be hard to juggle getting them all to school. I love being home with them watching them grow, helping with homework, and getting a good meal on the table everyday for supper. There are some days where i am tired of taking care of kids almost all hours and think hard about quitting but i am pregnant right now would not be great timing and daycare will be expensive. I also make more money doing this then any other entry job i could get. My kids often get stressed out and do not want other kids here. My one year old is a much different child and much happier when they arent here. I graduate from nursing school in a year so i am planning on doing this until then and hopefully getting 12 hour shifts but i dream of coming home to my own family and their mess then.

[Sunchimes]

Well, it isn't the money. Prices are so low here that with just the 3 I'm allowed, it isn't a living wage. But, the deductions at tax time are a tremendous incentive.

I started when I had to close my business. Except for the 2 years I taught school back in the 80's, I haven't worked for anyone except my husband or myself since 1980. I learned that being self employed for over 30 years does not translate into the modern job market. I couldn't find a job of any kind except Walmart, which is only part time. Home day care has been my back-up plan for decades, and here I am.

I may have a chance to re-open my business next year. I may have to for the money, but honestly, my heart doesn't want to. I like hugs and shiny, laughing eyes, and being the first one to hear the baby say "Wuv oo". I feel like I'm making a difference. My first dcg came back today after being gone for 3 months. She slipped right back into our routine, and I thought what a good feeling it was to know that I made that sort of impact on her little mind.

I've said this before, but it's still true. I am over worked, grossly under-paid, and I've never laughed as much in my life.

PS. I reserve the right to continue to whine and complain when necessary-it doesn't mean I don't like what I'm doing! ::

[sharlan]

Reasons for providing daycare:

#1 - it allowed me to stay home with my kids. I couldn't handle being a working mother.

#2 - it allows me to stay home and take care of my grandkids.

#3 - I enjoy the interaction and making a difference in a child's life.

#4 - I've been out of the workforce for so many years that I wouldn't be able to get a job doing anything else.

[MyAngels]

I stay in it because:

* I do not have a college education and around here that translates into a minimum wage job.
* My DH comes home at the end of the day & talks about the battles he faces at work every day (and he has a good job : and I know there is no way I could handle working for someone else. I'd probably get fired when I gave someone the stink eye.
* I don't have to commute.
* I don't have to dress up.
* I love the kids.

That's pretty much what I can think of right now.

[PitterPatter]

Being home for my own child should he need me

Being my own boss

Making a difference in underprivleged kids lives

The smiles and the playdoh gifts and coloring pages with my name spelled wrong lovethis

[DCMom]

I love what I do, it's as simple as that.

[Blackcat31]

This is more for people with children that are in school or out of the house. What keeps you in childcare? Do you ever think what it would be like not to have to deal with so many families, keep an immaculant house, actually be able to walk away from work, not have to have so many rules/regs within your own home, etc.

My children are 20 and 23 and are both moved out. I continue to do child care because to be perfectly honest, I am good at it. I don't mean to sound vain or egocentrical. As a matter of fact, I am probably one of the only providers I know (and maybe on this forum) that never really liked kids or even wanted any of my own....but I had them (kids of my own) and became an accidental provider.

When that happened, I found that I do like the field of early childhood and enjoy what I do. I am still not one to get all gushy and stuff over an infant as babies are just not my cup of tea. I am not necessarily a warm, nurturing person and have never been one to get stuck in the old cliche' of "Oh, I just love kids and that is why I do child care" Bleh.

That is not me.

I am being very honest here and can admit that I do this because I really am good at it. I have a very strong backbone, I understand the necessity of rules and routines, I understand the need for good sleep, proper nutrition and good care. I also have no problem telling parents what I need and what I expect from them. I am able to give the kids (and families) in my program the things they need and I feel I have a good thing going here.

I continue to stay in this field because I do get up and go to work each day and nothing daycare interfears with my home or home life. I have changed my program as I have become more seasoned, more educated (and older) to suit me and better meet my needs/wants.

I take vacation when I want, I close and open when I want. I can have a relaxing lazy day or a crazy busy day and I love the fact that every day is different. I find fun in the little things the kids do and say and find even greater joy in the fact that I have NONE of the hard issues that parents do....kids up in the middle of the night, the sickness, the whining, the bad behaviors ect ect.... for me this job is kind of like being a grandparent with out the parent part. ::

[Cat Herder]

My kids are in high school...it has become more important for me to be home over the years. I don't think I realized that starting out. Turns out the infant and toddler years were the easiest.

My number one reason for continuing home daycare is keeping a promise I made to myself. NO REGRETS, NO DOUBTS.

I still have huge regrets that cause nightmares from putting my first born in daycare (everyone knows the story). I needed to be home this time. Rational or not, I am haunted by my first experience and struggle daily with forgiving myself. Regret, Doubt and Guilt will always be a part of me. He would be 22 this month.

I love my life, now. lovethis I know that experience changed my path and ME for the better.

[melskids]

I love what I do, it's as simple as that.

Ditto. lovethis

[blessingsbunch]

I ask myself this EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

My kiddos are in school and I still stay home and deal with everything you mention.

I think what keeps me going:
* I am my own Boss
* I make a decent living and can either add more or reduce as needed
* I can set my own schedule
* I can be creative
I know there are other reasons but I think the main reason is I know I cannot go anywhere else around here to work & make the $$ I make plus the tax deductions.

But yes, sometimes I feel like I'm in a "trap" no adult conversation, no personal days, dealing with parents, my missing backbone and the list can go on & on.

I agree with this 100%. And every week I tell myself get everything done during business hours (cleaning, paperwork, etc.) so that I can enjoy the weekend with my family and every week it never happens! But there are lots of positives. One thing I have thought about is hiring someone to come 2 hours a week to clean (do bathrooms and floors/dusting) but trying to find someone to come on the weekend is tough in my area...but would be so worth the $ not to have to spend my weekend cleaning for the next week!

[KDC]

Just as in any job there are pro's and con's... the pro's outweigh the con's at this point and time. IF & when the con's beat out the pro's, it will be time to re-evaluate.

Pros...
* I have three kids under 6 & Under. Providing care and working would leave not enough $$ to pay the bills, or cut it too close.

* I LOVE that I'm able to be home for my kids. No waking my kids up way too early, struggling them to get dressed, hair, teeth brushed, traffic - YUCK

* They have a social atmosphere, friends & kids come over everyday. They learned how to share with other, be nurturing (My 6 yr. old loves to read the books for story time), treat others kindly, I can work with them on their education the way I see fit.

* I am the mushy, nurturing, caretaker that says awwww... babies! I do feel like I was put on the earth to care for others, and make a difference in their lives. They will be grown and remember fondly their Miss Kelly. I hope to stay in many of their lives and attend their weddings & baby showers =)

* Corporate World was really stressful to me. I worked a LOT and I can't imagine spending that much time stressed out, now I am able to focus on what matters... My kids.

* A corporate report will NEVER EVER be as exciting as a 4 yr. old tying their shoe for the first time =)

Cons...
* Body fluids: Puke, Poop, snot, pee pee accidents - I can handle it, but HATE what it does to my house.

* I do miss connecting with the outside & doing a good job & getting proper recognition for it. The corporate world has reviews & pay increases where someone else says, job well done. My Daycare Parents are great, but I do miss recognition for doing a good job.

* Miss out on school activities, and some after school activities because I have an obligation and a job that isn't very time flexible. I need to be here for my DCP's and sometimes my kids get the short end of the stick.

* Job Stability & No Retirement plan in place. I hate that someone can change my income within 2 weeks time. I see myself returning to the corporate world eventually because I don't want to be 60-65 and broke. I will go to school at night soon to build up my skills to return. Look for part-time virtual position soon to keep sharp.

Good Thread... enjoy reading it!