Who in this Forum is in a "Closing Countdown"?

[lolaland]

Do you have a plan to close? I know how hard it is. I don't actually HAVE a job yet, I just know that I will find one. Interviews start next month or so. I am glad you can relate to my feelings. It helps to know there are others who feel like you do ~ :hug:

My plan is:

1 - rest first
2 - take my daughter to Disney World for the first time
3 - rent the apartment where I have the daycare
4 - refinance our morgage
5 - reajust our health insurance and quartely taxes to my new unemployed status
6 - reaserch possible solutions for downsizing
7 - take classes/training for a new carrer

happyface I'm excited and scared

[lolaland]

happyfacehappyfacehappyface This! Except my last day with be June 6th. It has been great, and really good for my family, however my kids are now older and not fans of the daycare, and I was approached for a part-time RN job that will almost double my current income and require 24 hours per week instead of current 50 hours. happyface I cannot friggin' wait. I also am nervous about getting back out there as I'm sure my nursing skills are rusty, and I know it will stink to commute in cold weather / have the morning rush again. I cannot wait to get all the daycare stuff out of my house - it's completely taken over my first floor - and for our family to have living space again. I love my DCK's, but it is time to think of my family first and use my education again / return to my first career love. I was just offered this job a few days ago, so have not yet told my families. I think I will do so next Friday which will give 10 weeks notice. I'm dreading the telling them part! How'd it go for you, bunnyslippers?

Keep us updated how it went when delivering the news... It's a long countdown

[lolaland]

Logging in unregistered.

I would love to quit. I have been doing fcc for over 20 years. I so want my home back and think this year may be the time. I am losing most of my group to school this fall. Don't want to start over with families again. BUT I don't know how to replace this income. It is too good. i would have to take a paycut and can't do that with 2 of my own in high school.

For those of you that have quit, what will you be doing now and can I ask if and how much of a cut in pay you had to take?

In my case and to start I am going to cut as much as possible the amount of expences we have now... some of those expenses were caused by my daycare business and once I refinance the morgage, rent the daycare space, adjust our health insurance bill and our quartely tax payments, stop paying the extra gas/electric bill for the daycare space, stop having all the food/crafs/educational-materials expenses... I thing we will be almost even... hardly no cut in pay if any at all. But I have to wait and see if my assumptions are correct.

[lolaland]

I am 1.5 years post daycare!!! I was a provider for 10 years and while there was much of it I loved, there was a lot that drove me nuts.

I've been a provider for close to 5 years only... but I really know what you mean!!! Same thing with me!!

[mbullette]

I am actually jealous that some of you are closing. I have been doing this for a couple years and I just dont enjoy it anymore. I actually think its more the parents and kids that I currently have. I have one family that I love dearly. They have been here a year and have never once given me a problem. If only all my families were like that. We are moving in May and I am considering taking the summer off and will go from there. Maybe I just need a break and that will be my break.

Good luck to all of you!!!

[mama0609]

My countdown is officially over! Dcm texted me earlier to say that dcb will be starting his new daycare tomorrow. I did a happy dance for sure! I was all geared up for another week but I'm so relieved now. I am a little sad because I watched him for almost a year and my kids are going to miss him but it's just a relief to be able to have my freedom back. I have so many things I want to do around the house and with my family and now I have the time and freedom to do it!

[slorey]

I have been contemplating closing for the last couple of years since my youngest son was born, but more so the last year. I feel burned out and unmotivated to do this anymore. I have pretty good families for the most part I just think after 5 years I am done. I want my house back, my 3 kids want and need my undivided time. If I could afford to just be a stay at home mom I would do it in a second but, unfortunately, we have bills to pay and 3 children to take care of so I will continue to do what I need to do for now. I wish all of you who are moving on the best! Hopefully soon I will be joining you

[snips&snails]

On bad days I am definitely counting down! LOL. Seriously though, I finish my BS in June 2014 then have a 1 year teaching credential program then off to teach K or 1st.
My first couple months I really hated this job (switched over from teaching preschool in the public school system). I have adjusted & enjoy most of my days but 10+ hour days are not my idea of fun,teachers make more money & only work 10 months a year, plus I am sooo jealous of my friends who are still with the school district & have so many days off! My son starts kindergarden around the same time as I finish my degree so it works out perfectly - the daycare issue for him was the primary reason I got licensed.
I will say that I am learning so much by running my own daycare, but there are so many things that are difficult for me, from collecting money & dealing with difficult parents on down.

[lolaland]

My countdown is officially over! Dcm texted me earlier to say that dcb will be starting his new daycare tomorrow. I did a happy dance for sure! I was all geared up for another week but I'm so relieved now. I am a little sad because I watched him for almost a year and my kids are going to miss him but it's just a relief to be able to have my freedom back. I have so many things I want to do around the house and with my family and now I have the time and freedom to do it!

happyface I can only imagine how you're felling. I still have 2 weeks to go and it feels like 2 monthts I think this is the most perfect time of the year to be closing a home daycare: I'm dreaming about a proper Spring Clean-up/ being able to plant a nice garden again without thinking child-safe and "kids will ruin it all in 2 seconds"/ Put grownup furniture in the Patio/ Picking up my daughter at school and go riding bycicles/cain't wait for the next note from her school asking for parents to chaperon field trips (I was never able to go because of the daycare)/can't wait to go to all her school events/functions (missed them all until today because of this daycare)... I can't wait to go back to my life instead of taking care of other people's lives!!!!!

[lolaland]

I have been contemplating closing for the last couple of years since my youngest son was born, but more so the last year. I feel burned out and unmotivated to do this anymore. I have pretty good families for the most part I just think after 5 years I am done. I want my house back, my 3 kids want and need my undivided time. If I could afford to just be a stay at home mom I would do it in a second but, unfortunately, we have bills to pay and 3 children to take care of so I will continue to do what I need to do for now. I wish all of you who are moving on the best! Hopefully soon I will be joining you

Thank you! The right time will come for you too... Took me a long time to get ready for this moment... and now, looking back, I realised I should've/could've done this sonner!!! Once you make the dicision, the ""universe" & your brain starts providing you the answers and tools you need to take the first step and walk to where/who you want to be.

[bunnyslippers]

63 more days to go for me. I am counting down each and every second. I can't WAIT to close, and get my house and my privacy back. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[lindysmiles]

63 more days to go for me. I am counting down each and every second. I can't WAIT to close, and get my house and my privacy back. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Yay!! happyface Getting closer!!

I've told one family, and it went great. They totally understood. Going to tell the rest today...will keep you posted on how it goes. Scared!

[lindysmiles]

Keep us updated how it went when delivering the news... It's a long countdown

Meh, went as well as can be expected. I am regretting giving an 8 week notice - I have a feeling I will be out of a job in 2 weeks instead of 8. Or worse, will only have 1 child which won't pay the bills but will prevent me from starting new job early. *sigh* Most of the parents understood and said they are happy for me but sad for themselves, but some seem downright mad. Breaks my heart, because I love their children and am not good at friction situations. It's not good for any of us!

[lolaland]

Meh, went as well as can be expected. I am regretting giving an 8 week notice - I have a feeling I will be out of a job in 2 weeks instead of 8. Or worse, will only have 1 child which won't pay the bills but will prevent me from starting new job early. *sigh* Most of the parents understood and said they are happy for me but sad for themselves, but some seem downright mad. Breaks my heart, because I love their children and am not good at friction situations. It's not good for any of us!

Yes... another lesson I've learned after giving a 4 week notice: 2 weeks notice is the right amount in any situation - whoever really needs daycare will find one in that amount of time/if I'm burnout I can handle 2 weeks working better than 4 weeks (right now I feel like I can no longer do 1 more day )/if you need to keep the income for bills you have better chances with a 2 week notice/if parents feel mad they have less time to bump faces with me/like bunnyslipers said, parents tend to not follow your rules after you give notice, and who wants to deal with that for several weeks of notice/goes on and on the reasons why is not such a good idea to give more than 2 weeks notice.

... and now you gave me another good example of why 2 weeks is better - if most families move sooner to a new daycare, you might find your self stuck working with 1 kid for such a long period of time and not enough income to pay your bills

[lindysmiles]

Yep, lesson learned the hard way. Should have listened to y'all! 42 more days to go, if they actually stay that long which I doubt. Lolaland, how's your week going? I can't imagine how I will feel when I am so close to the end like you are! Hang in there - this to shall pass! :hug: I'm jealous!!