My House Is Too Small!!!

[Little Love Bugs]

All of you guys talk about having play rooms and rooms that you use for daycare. I have a 3 bedroom house and 3 kids. I just use my living room for daycare..... I need a bigget house

[Heidi]

Hey...I'm in the same boat. Last time I did daycare 11 years ago, I had 800 sq ft of designated daycare space! Now, I less than that that's shared. It kind of stinks, but it's one reason I'm considering switching to infant/toddler vs. infant-5. I just don't have the space to have "centers" and art materials easily accessible. With the younger crowd, I can bring them out daily, and they can sit at the dining room table. With the 3+ crowd, they really need more within reach.

[SilverSabre25]

My family room is one playroom and the living room is the other. One bedroom is the naproom and I wouldn't trade that for the WORLD. But everything else is shared space.

[sharlan]

I understand. My previous house was only 1k sq ft - 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen, and living room. We were a family of 7. Every square inch was shared with the daycare.

[Blackcat31]

Hey, I have an entirely separate house for child care and I will admit, it is't all that wonderful at times.

More space means more stuff and more stuff usually means more "junk" and more junk means my space is just a full and overcrowded as someone who only has a living room for child care.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side.

*Plus ask my DH what two houses means..... 2 lawns to mow, 2 driveways to plow, two houses to maintain/repair, 2 mortgage payments, 2 electric bills, 2 heat bills, 2 property tax payments, etc etc etc...

[sharlan]

The problem with having a bigger house, it's a lot more work to keep it clean and organized.

I have 4x's the house I used to, 4x's the toys to keep clean and organized. I have 2x's the backyard and 3x's the outdoor toys to clutter it.

I LOVE my house and wouldn't trade it for the world. But on Sunday nights when everything has to be dusted, vacuumed, sanitized, and set up for Monday, I have to remind myself how fortunate I am.

[seebachers]

Nope....I have the same thing as you do. I love my setup!!!

[SilverSabre25]

I'm also working hard, hard, hard on paring down our stuff, taming the clutter (I've succeeded at gathering it all up and not bringing more in, plus keeping it under control in all of the house...except the parts where the gathered-stuff went to die...)

[Little Love Bugs]

I love my house but if I stick with home daycare I do want a bigger one. I just finished school to become a director so I may do that

[frugalmama4]

Do you have a attached garage or basement you can convert?

We're planing to convert our two car attached garage next year. I love working from home but hate sharing my house with the DC-business...I have four kids of my own...so you can image the DC toys never gets a rest.

My actual %100 dc space is in my formal dinning room off the kitchen and living area.

Good Luck!

[Little Love Bugs]

I do have a garage but my husband is a mechanic so there is always cars in there , I don't have a formal dining room or anything like that I could use I am in the same position I do not like sharing my house with the buisness. I wish I had a basement or something like that I could use. I need to make more money so I can get a BIG house

[frugalmama4]

Is your hubby a full time mechanic? Or does he do it on the side for extra $$$

If its a side thing I would take the garage and then take in more kiddos "if your state allows" so you can bring in more $$$ and then down the line by him a carport type thing (place on the side of the house) where he can do his car thang.

Just thinking out side of the box here, can he rent a place to do the work?

[cheerfuldom]

Totally been there. I have found it easier to combine the kids into rooms and then use one room for a playroom (even if DC kids or your kids end up sleeping there at some point) It is just too much to have the living room be where all the toys and such are.

[ABCDaycareMN]

I am with you. I have a 3 bedroom house, I living room and dining room. All but my bedroom will be used for Childcare. I know it will be tight. I can't wait to move! Oh we'll I will do with what I can for the time being.

[cheerfuldom]

I actually took on more kids so that I could move to a bigger house with a basement. I dont regret that at all. The grass IS greener on this side...at least for me. I dont have a huge issue with more stuff or more space to clean....its not that much more for me and totally worth it!