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The long hours
Laurel
Laurel
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1. The Unpredictable: At one moment I can be full and the next moment (ok, well 2 weeks, but still not entirely long enough to fill vacancies), I could be scrambling to find new families.
2. The Inflexibility: I can't make doctor's appointments without cross-checking with my back-up to see if the time is ok. Considering my back-up is my dh, he has a way of making me feel bad about ever needing a back-up without really saying much. In the beginning, my back-up was my mom, but she got a part-time job so she's not always available. My dh's job is more than flexible (he often works at home), the kids know him well and he knows the routine so it only makes sense that he would be the back-up. But, noooo, he always has to comment about how it irks him that my mom is no longer always available....hello?! She has a life and personal responsibility too!
3. The Need for Constant Availability: I can't just take a day off without ample notice. The one time I called in sick in 3 years, I felt horrible because now 4 other families are burdened.
4. Inability to Take Extended Time Off: Ok, I guess we can take time off, but it's at the risk of losing clients and definitely without any income. I WAS spoiled because my prior job was in the government and I had paid short-term disability, 4 weeks of paid vacation time, 1 week of paid sick time and 10 paid holidays per year
. I understand taking this job was cutting all of that out, but I constantly worry about how we are going to scrape by if I get injured and cannot work during the recovery part. This is probably my biggest concern! Plus, I really feel like we need more than a few days or 2 weeks for maternity "leave" should we decide to have another baby; however if we do take more time, then we risk losing all of our clients...plus that time off is all unpaid 
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Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what I do and I love these kids, but all of these concerns really worry me to the point at which I know I will eventually HAVE to leave this profession. It's great when my children are young, but not so much when they are older and don't want to spend all of their time off of school cooped up in a house full of toddlers.
On top of that, it's only a matter of time before the government completely pushes us out of business with all of their "early intervention" tactics.
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I love what I do, but what I like the least is paperwork and drills...
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There are so many things I love about this job, but the long hours, paperwork, the possibility of being injured and unable to work/no benefits etc. I don't know if any of those outweighs the positives, yet.Comment
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The only thing that I hate about working in my home is that my DH, bless his heart because I love him and I don't think he means to do things that bother me on purpose, has his own ideas of how a daycare should be run and he still sometimes forgets that his home is a business during the day and that he can't come home after work to crack a beer and take off his shirt to have "a cold one" in the backyard while the kids are playing or take a nap on the couch in the living room which is our main play space and the room that the parents walk into when they first come in.
literally one of my biggest annoyances too. Or when he takes a day off during the week. Ugh. Headache for me!
Also:
Always feeling behind on tax/receipt stuff (But really I think thats an organizational issue I need to work on not just a DC one!)
High needs parents
How sometimes that last hour just drags on and on...Comment
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the long hours for little pay. I work 10 hr days and only make a few bucks an hour. It allows me to stay home with my son, but we decided last night to pay off what I owe my school and go back and pick up some medical certs or finish my degree.. I left after I had my son.Comment
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My husband tries to fall asleep on the couch too!!The only thing that I hate about working in my home is that my DH, bless his heart because I love him and I don't think he means to do things that bother me on purpose, has his own ideas of how a daycare should be run and he still sometimes forgets that his home is a business during the day and that he can't come home after work to crack a beer and take off his shirt to have "a cold one" in the backyard while the kids are playing or take a nap on the couch in the living room which is our main play space and the room that the parents walk into when they first come in. I keep telling him it is CREEPY!!! ::
I really dislike dealing with licensing... The idiotic rules just bug me!
I dislike always having people in my home and the loss of privacy.
I dislike when parents just don't get it!
I dislike that people assume I am making mad cash for little work!
But over-all:.. I love what I do and cannot imagine doing anything else! Although I COULD imagine doing it legal unlicensed!! ::
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that's the second time I read the term "legally unlicensed" can someone please explain to me what it means?
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In my state I could care for two children not my own FT, any amount related to me and any amount for less than 3 hours and not have to be Licensed. It would be legal... But unlicensed.
There are illegal unlicensed who would care for more than allowed.
States vary... Some have no legal unlicensed and some don't require licensing at all.
Hth!Comment
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I dislike not being able to call in sick.
I dislike having to find someone to cover for me if I need to make a Dr. appt.
I am so jealous of my DCM who can just schedule an appt without orchestrating an army.
I dislike the feeling of confinement.
I dislike the long hours. I counted once, and I work a full extra work day compared to my friends. Not including the nights that I set aside to do things that can't be done while working, grocery shopping - etc.Comment
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happyface
stuck
less time off than ANY other job, seriously I work 250/365 days a year, 10+ hour days
disrespect, parents AND kids
physical/immunizations (PARENTS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!)
having my home look like a preschool
interviews, gah. Sometimes you KNOW the second you see someone you won't take them, but you are pretty much obligated to waste everyones time by interviewing anyway.
Missing things for my own kids (this year within 2 weeks my kids have 8 things going on before school starts that all happen during the work day and the school gave a WEEKS notice!) My dcp's are off, or calling in, of course.
parents who linger. 8x even 5 minute conversations adds up F A S T!
parent drama. I have heard it ALL. Yup, I AM sorry that your co-workers sisters cousin got into an accident and you drove her to the hospital. Yes, you still owe a late fee because you're STILL LATE.
worrying about being paid. Even with the best of families, if they don't pay me, I can't pay MY bills. I worried MUCH less when I had a traditional job
TAXES. (I can use taxes as an expletive)
record keeping. Paperwork takes me a good hour+ per day for the daily things. Add in updates to anything, or reviews of records, that sort of thing and it just adds to my 'naptime break work'
That parents think I should do everything. Potty train, teach them the alphabet, how to write, tie their shoes, etc. when they can't manage to dress ONE kid before 8 am. PJS AGAIN!? Oh he wouldn't get dressed for you? Oh he wouldn't get dressed for ME either.Comment
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1)The responsibility and liability that goes along with caring for others' children.
2)My home isn't MY home anymore; the wear and tear to the furniture, floors, etc., etc. that happens.
3)The fact people think we play all day and don't think of it as a real job.
4)Lack of benefits.
5)Feast or famine, no steady paycheck you can count on
6)Having to please everybody and they all want something differentComment
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