What Do You Do And How Do You Feel When You Have Made The Decision To Not Continue?

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

I have been doing daycare for a few years now, and while I do enjoy it and it has allowed me to stay at home with my kids, I feel that this is not my calling.

I have always wanted to work with animals ever since I can remember.
But silly choices that I made during highschool and the choice of not returning afterwards to continue my education, then life carries on and the next thing you know you are raising a family, ect, ect.

So as of June 2014, I will have the oppertunity to go back to school and get my so badly desired career.

My daughter will be of age to be at home alone with my son for a short amount of time until me or my husband gets home. We will also be able to afford the payments at that time as well.

But part of me feels really guilty for feeling this way, that I do not wish to continue daycare forever.

Has anyone felt or feel this way and what did you do?

[sharlan]

Yes, I've been doing daycare on a temporary basis for over 28 years.

My youngest grandson starts K next Sept. I plan on quitting when he starts 1st grade. Let's see what happens then. I really do enjoy the kids 90% of the time.

[littlemissmuffet]

I love my job. Love my daycare kiddos. Even love some of my daycare parents. But I don't plan on doing daycare forever either. It *is* my calling, and I do enjoy it... but I probably want to change careers before 40.

Do what is right for you, no feeling guilty

[wahmof3]

I have been doing daycare for a few years now, and while I do enjoy it and it has allowed me to stay at home with my kids, I feel that this is not my calling.

I have always wanted to work with animals ever since I can remember.
But silly choices that I made during highschool and the choice of not returning afterwards to continue my education, then life carries on and the next thing you know you are raising a family, ect, ect.

So as of June 2014, I will have the oppertunity to go back to school and get my so badly desired career.

My daughter will be of age to be at home alone with my son for a short amount of time until me or my husband gets home. We will also be able to afford the payments at that time as well.

But part of me feels really guilty for feeling this way, that I do not wish to continue daycare forever.

Has anyone felt or feel this way and what did you do?

I could've written this post! Word for word (working w/ animals & all)- not kidding

I cannot close my business.

GOOD FOR YOU!! I AM VERY ENVIOUS!!

[Soccermom]

I have been doing daycare for a few years now, and while I do enjoy it and it has allowed me to stay at home with my kids, I feel that this is not my calling.

I have always wanted to work with animals ever since I can remember.
But silly choices that I made during highschool and the choice of not returning afterwards to continue my education, then life carries on and the next thing you know you are raising a family, ect, ect.

So as of June 2014, I will have the oppertunity to go back to school and get my so badly desired career.

My daughter will be of age to be at home alone with my son for a short amount of time until me or my husband gets home. We will also be able to afford the payments at that time as well.

But part of me feels really guilty for feeling this way, that I do not wish to continue daycare forever.

Has anyone felt or feel this way and what did you do?

The idea of being at home and doing daycare is great...the reality of it is something completely different.

I dream of being in an office somewhere answering phones or something, away from sticky, needy, whiny kids..

My DD is 10 and when she turns 12, my DS will start school and I will be done with daycare for good. I am couting down the days .

I plan to return to work PT so I can be here for my DS in the afternoons.

I can't wait to own nice shoes again..or have my hair and nails done.

You should NOT feel guilty. You made it! Your oldest is old enough to be home and care for your youngest. It is time to take time for you now. Do what you want to do with your life.

I think if a Mom can be home for the first 5-6 years of her child's life it is ideal. Those are the years that count the most

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

You do what you need to do for yourself and your family and DO NOT FEEL BAD! happyface

[cheerfuldom]

I am happy for you and cant wait to be where you are at down the road. I was going to school and working toward my dream job and life and babies changed that plan. It has been a huge sacrifice for my whole family to keep this daycare going. I was super super close to quitting and then we had surprise baby #4 (well, he is due in Nov) so here I am.....contemplating having to do this for at least another 3 to 5 years.

Really I dont know of a single provider that says daycare is their dream job. I am sure there are people like that out there, I just dont know of anyone. I know of about a dozen local home providers and every single one is doing daycare to stay home with their own kids or because they have been doing it so long, it is too exhausting to figure out what else they would do. This doesnt mean that these arent good people who are good at their jobs. It just means that A LOT of people are in similar situations as you OP.

Honestly how many people do we know of any profession that say they have their dream job? Most people settle in some way so its no surprise that the childcare field is similar. I dont think you have to love your job every single second to be good at it.

[jen]

I was a provider for 10 years. During that time I went back to college and finished my Community Psychology degree and went on to close my daycare for a job in an urban Jr. High working with at risk students. I am finishing up my Masters in Special Ed. It was hard... I have three kids from 9 to 18...still the best thing for us as a family and for me too.

Good luck! When it's something you love, it's worth every late night!

[MN Mom]

Yes, I've been doing daycare on a temporary basis for over 28 years.

My youngest grandson starts K next Sept. I plan on quitting when he starts 1st grade. Let's see what happens then. I really do enjoy the kids 90% of the time.

This is how I started 5 years ago......Temporary care for a family friend. I'm still watching kids. I keep telling my husband I'm miserable and want to focus on our business more. He insists I keep chugging along doing my housewife duties, the paperwork/photography/research involved in our new business, AND watch other peoples kids. My oldest DD is 13...I had her when I was 19. I fear she will be grown up, moved out, and having a baby before I can be done with daycare, thus I will continue to do it for her. You see where I'm going? I think the gods have determined that no matter how miserable this job is for me, I will do it till the end of days LOL. ::

[E Daycare]

I have been doing daycare for a few years now, and while I do enjoy it and it has allowed me to stay at home with my kids, I feel that this is not my calling.

I have always wanted to work with animals ever since I can remember.
But silly choices that I made during highschool and the choice of not returning afterwards to continue my education, then life carries on and the next thing you know you are raising a family, ect, ect.

So as of June 2014, I will have the oppertunity to go back to school and get my so badly desired career.

My daughter will be of age to be at home alone with my son for a short amount of time until me or my husband gets home. We will also be able to afford the payments at that time as well.

But part of me feels really guilty for feeling this way, that I do not wish to continue daycare forever.

Has anyone felt or feel this way and what did you do?

I'm feeling this way too and I've done this 2.5yrs! My ds is 3.5 and I've stayed home most of the time and I love doing so, but just with him. I went to mon, wed, fri schedule to get more time with him but it hasn't been that way (one needed emergency full time that isn't going to be fixed soon) and I just want to not do it at all anymore.

I'd love to go back to school for animal care too (preferably surrogate mom in the baby room at a zoo ) and plan on doing so (going to school not the zoo) next year since my son will be in preK a few days during the week and we are moving.

THis year tho, I would've loved to say NOPE. But alas, Santa is coming soon.

[Unregistered]

I am at a very similar spot in life. I had my longest term family age out when school started and gave my other family notice last week. I have a chance to go back to school now and with tuition going up every year I feel like I should go ahead and get it done. I don't know if I can afford to not do daycare but I'm gonna give it a shot Good luck to you!

[dave4him]

I know the feeling very well. As soon as my little ones are old enough for preschool i will be hopefully able to get back into a different area of work - teaching elementary kids
At least as a school teacher i will feel more euipped and have some more structure. Im pretty sure my kids will learn better that way