Do You Feel Appreciated?

[KDC]

Do you feel appreciated for all you do?

I make 101 meals a week... (5 DCK's, 3 Kids of my own, breakfast/lunch/dinner for my family)
11 loads of laundry per week (folded and put away), all the cot sheets, hand towels, family laundry.
14 hours of cleaning per week (at least), vacuuming, disinfecting, dishes, mopping, dusting...
15 bus stop trips with 6 kids (90 x's putting on coats, 90 x's putting on hats, 180 putting on mittens, 90 questions, is this the right foot?)

Countless kisses, hugs, whining, wiped noses, books read, games played, puzzles, learning ABC's, crafts, playing referee & being there for family & friends.

I love what I do, and am happy to do it. But make no mistake, I do NOT sit on my tush and do nothing but 'play' with kids all day. I am not a 'baby SITTER'. I am a dedicated caregiver & loving Mom. It takes a lot of patience and hard work.

[crazydaycarelady]

Haha....when you put it that way no!

I do get the feeling the parents think I am just at home, like they are when they are at home, except I have a few kids here. They really have NO IDEA that it is nothing like just sitting at home. I have heard a few former DCProviders who have said this is the hardest job they ever had!

[Blackcat31]

The easiest way to KNOW you are appreciated is to try closing unexpectedly and see what happens.... ::::

[Jewels]

I feel incredibly appreciated, my parents know everything we do during the day, and I know they all love me, my parents know I work incredibly hard, and they let me know, not everyday, but here and there, I don't need it all the time, They bring their children back to me day after day,,,,,,,that right there is the appreciation I need.

[Michelle]

I feel appreciated by the parents, kids and community but not by my own 17-23 year old kids..

[daycarediva]

In general, yes.

I have a super polite and happy group of kids who say thank you to me about 1000 times a day. Wipe a nose, "fan ew!", help with a block tower "Shan shoe", refill drinks "FANKS!" That really is all the 'thanks' I need!

When you put it that way though, I am 1000000x more exhausted! ::

[LoraJenkins]

I feel totally appreciated by 2 out of 3 of my DCFs. I always get thank yous from them. The other family....just normally at Christmas. But what matters most is that the kids appreciate me. I get "I love you Miss Lora" a dozen times a day. Or "We are bestest friends". That's what makes it totally worth doing for me ;-)

[itlw8]

totally. When a former student writes a paper saying you are the person who made a difference in their life, or another calls and wants you to take her child in childcare. Another contacts me on facebook for advise. Yes it feels good.

When a current parent refers someone to their great childcare it warms my heart.

[frugalmama4]

Only by my daycare kiddos...not even my own kiddos...wait expect my baby girl...she hugs/kiss and tells me daily I LOVE YOU MOMMY!

But later...I have a new crew...I feel these parents do...some what.

[daycare]

Sometimes.....

I think of daycare like a roller coaster...... there are times it feels like the parents can't be any nicer and tell me how much they are thankful for me. Of course this is when everyone is getting their way.

But if I am having to be firm and put my foot down with policies it seems like many of the parents turn on me.........Gggeeeerrrrrrr..

[CedarCreek]

Sometimes. Really only one parent tells me frequently how much their child has changed for the better since coming here.

The others..not really. But that's okay, they still have to pay me. ::

[wdmmom]

Do you feel appreciated for all you do?

I make 101 meals a week... (5 DCK's, 3 Kids of my own, breakfast/lunch/dinner for my family)
11 loads of laundry per week (folded and put away), all the cot sheets, hand towels, family laundry.
14 hours of cleaning per week (at least), vacuuming, disinfecting, dishes, mopping, dusting...
15 bus stop trips with 6 kids (90 x's putting on coats, 90 x's putting on hats, 180 putting on mittens, 90 questions, is this the right foot?)

Countless kisses, hugs, whining, wiped noses, books read, games played, puzzles, learning ABC's, crafts, playing referee & being there for family & friends.

I love what I do, and am happy to do it. But make no mistake, I do NOT sit on my tush and do nothing but 'play' with kids all day. I am not a 'baby SITTER'. I am a dedicated caregiver & loving Mom. It takes a lot of patience and hard work.

How...just HOW do you do THAT much cleaning and laundry? I do about 2 hours of cleaning a day and I have a 4000 sq ft home. I do about 8 loads of laundry a week...that's for a family of 7. Not including bedding.

There is no way in God's green earth would I do that much and by myself! I guess I'm just lucky my kids are old enough to have chores and alternate kitchen duty.

[wdmmom]

And in response to your question about feeling appreciated.

I quit worrying about it. And here's why...

I work from home and I have tons of stuff to do to keep the business up and running and clean...but so don't most families regardless of where they work.

There's always going to be cleaning to do and there's always going to be laundry to do.

I don't think daycare families understand the dedication it takes to make everything run as smoothly as it does or the creativity it takes to plan activities and make everything work out nor do I think they ever will.

I've come to accept that it's all just a part of the job and I get paid for it. Appreciation comes in the form of money.

[KDC]

How...just HOW do you do THAT much cleaning and laundry? I do about 2 hours of cleaning a day and I have a 4000 sq ft home. I do about 8 loads of laundry a week...that's for a family of 7. Not including bedding.

There is no way in God's green earth would I do that much and by myself! I guess I'm just lucky my kids are old enough to have chores and alternate kitchen duty.

Mine includes the bedding... I have a yellow labrador and a son with allergies, so his bedding is ALWAYS getting washed. I clean all bedding at I clean the daycare bedding at least 2 times a week (Even with pull-ups, someone always leaks), I have a 3000 sq ft. house, and I tell you I clean that much and then some. 2 hrs. a day is spent cleaning.

With this said, I DO feel appreciated by people who matter (Hubby, DCP's, family). I hear snide remarks from those on the outside who feel they have 'real jobs' and I do not . I have a waiting list to get into my daycare, and feel parents do appreciate all that I do. I think it was just easier when I had a corporate job. I would be appreciated through salary enhancements, special awards & company paid gift certificates, new titles, etc. I'm very blessed to be doing what I love, even though cleaning is not a love of mine in particular, spending time with these little ones is pretty freakin awesome. So regardless of what the 'outside' sees... I'm pretty happy overall =)

[wdmmom]

Mine includes the bedding... I have a yellow labrador and a son with allergies, so his bedding is ALWAYS getting washed. I clean all bedding at I clean the daycare bedding at least 2 times a week (Even with pull-ups, someone always leaks), I have a 3000 sq ft. house, and I tell you I clean that much and then some. 2 hrs. a day is spent cleaning.

With this said, I DO feel appreciated by people who matter (Hubby, DCP's, family). I hear snide remarks from those on the outside who feel they have 'real jobs' and I do not . I have a waiting list to get into my daycare, and feel parents do appreciate all that I do. I think it was just easier when I had a corporate job. I would be appreciated through salary enhancements, special awards & company paid gift certificates, new titles, etc. I'm very blessed to be doing what I love, even though cleaning is not a love of mine in particular, spending time with these little ones is pretty freakin awesome. So regardless of what the 'outside' sees... I'm pretty happy overall =)

As long as mama is happy, everyone is happy. My kids are grateful to have a mom that provides a clean home, clean laundry and healthy, nutritious, home-cooked meals. As is my husband. In all actuality, they're all that matter to me.

I just mentioned to my MIL the other day. People think this isn't a "real job" yet we work more hours than 40 per week and in order to go out into the world and make what we do now, we'd have to be paid a substantial hourly wage that most of us wouldn't find or have the qualifications to earn.