How Many Of You Work Alone?

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  • babylady
    Daycare.com Member
    • Sep 2013
    • 7

    How Many Of You Work Alone?

    I'm just starting out in my own family child care. I live alone (divorced) and plan to have a list of emergency subs I can call on, but most of the time I will be working by myself with three or four kids, probably including a baby. I'm wondering if this is common, or do most of you have help. If you do, do you pay someone, and how can you afford it?
  • MissAnn
    Preschool Teacher
    • Jan 2011
    • 2213

    #2
    Originally posted by babylady
    I'm just starting out in my own family child care. I live alone (divorced) and plan to have a list of emergency subs I can call on, but most of the time I will be working by myself with three or four kids, probably including a baby. I'm wondering if this is common, or do most of you have help. If you do, do you pay someone, and how can you afford it?
    Just me.

    Comment

    • Josiegirl
      Daycare.com Member
      • Jun 2013
      • 10834

      #3
      This past summer my 21 yo dd was home from college so she worked with me. But usually it's just me. At times it worries me. There was a dc woman who had a heart attack and died while serving lunch one day. Luckily her dh was home at the time. So, while I don't obsess over it, it does pass thru my mind at times what would happen if....ya know?

      Comment

      • MamaBearCanada
        Blessed
        • Jun 2012
        • 704

        #4
        Just me. No emergency subs. Parents required to find own backup care.

        Comment

        • Laurel
          Daycare.com Member
          • Mar 2013
          • 3218

          #5
          Originally posted by babylady
          I'm just starting out in my own family child care. I live alone (divorced) and plan to have a list of emergency subs I can call on, but most of the time I will be working by myself with three or four kids, probably including a baby. I'm wondering if this is common, or do most of you have help. If you do, do you pay someone, and how can you afford it?
          I work alone. We are required to have a legal sub but really most of us use our husbands or grown children to just go to an occasional doctor's appointment as our sub. They have their own jobs so can come in a dire emergency and leave work but that has never happened.

          I used to have part time help only about six hours a week and she was a home schooled neighbor girl. She came off and on till in college. When she went to a traditional high school they had to have community service hours. I wasn't supposed to pay her but still did. Six hours I could afford and didn't pay her as much as I would have had to pay an adult. I can't remember how much I paid her.

          Laurel

          Comment

          • LK5kids
            Daycare.com Member
            • Oct 2012
            • 1222

            #6
            I am required to have an emergency sub. I now have also trained someone so I can get out one afternoon per week. Otherwise I work alone, which I am having a hard time adjusting to!

            I am licensed for 8. This is the maximum in this state for family child care. I currently care for six kiddos and my grandson is coming in January when he 8 mo old and I have room for another child under age two.

            Comment

            • MotherNature
              Matilda Jane Addict
              • Feb 2013
              • 1120

              #7
              just me as well, & I don't have a backup. I require the parents to have their own backup. If my husband is home or my son is home from school, they help out, but 99% of the time, it's me. I alsokeep a smallratio of 4, including my son, so that helps.

              Comment

              • mamac
                Tantrum Negotiator
                • Jan 2013
                • 772

                #8
                Originally posted by MamaBearCanada
                Just me. No emergency subs. Parents required to find own backup care.
                Me too.

                Comment

                • Familycare71
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • Apr 2011
                  • 1716

                  #9
                  Just me. I also have to have an emergency sub but don't have anyone who can regularly fill in for me. My Mom and husband are my subs and occ will cover nap time or the end of the day for an apt.
                  I have thought too about "what if"... But sahm are in the same boat.
                  I have thought about expanding and hiring someone but after so many years I like doing my own thing . It is usually just annoying when my hubby is home while I am working ::

                  Comment

                  • slorey
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Feb 2013
                    • 199

                    #10
                    I also work alone. I do often wonder what would happen if there were a medical emergency involving myself, but hope that never happens. My husband is my emergency sub, but I hardly ever use him, unless I have a doctor's appointment. I think it is pretty common to work alone if doing family child care.

                    Comment

                    • MyAngels
                      Member
                      • Aug 2010
                      • 4217

                      #11
                      I work by myself too. Right now I have family coming and going quite a lot during the day because I have my gdd in care & they like to spend extra time with her. I don't have a sub & parents are required to have their own backup in place. As far as a medical emergency, I just keep my fingers crossed that it never happens from 7-5 m-f .

                      Comment

                      • Cradle2crayons
                        Daycare.com Member
                        • Apr 2013
                        • 3642

                        #12
                        Alone here too. Husband works out of state for weeks, sometimes months. I schedule my doctors appointments around care because I typically do afternoon care and night care.

                        No sub here, parents are required to handle backup care and honestly all is time I've never needed one. But if an emergency happens to me during care, my daughter, who is 10, is trained in what to do and who to call.

                        I watch 5 kids plus my 2 ranging in age from 12 weeks to 10 years.

                        Comment

                        • Kym2098
                          New Daycare.com Member
                          • Mar 2012
                          • 92

                          #13
                          I work alone.
                          I care for 2-3 at a time, which always include a baby 8mo or younger and sometimes 2 babies and a toddler at a time.

                          If I run into a problem I can call upon my MIL, she's my back up in emergencies or if I need extra hands on a particular day.

                          I find the biggest challenge to be infants.. Starting off with one when first starting out would probably be best.. But that's just me now I'm comfortable caring for two but when I started a year ago I was overwhelmed!!!

                          Good luck!

                          Comment

                          • TwinKristi
                            Family Childcare Provider
                            • Aug 2013
                            • 2390

                            #14
                            Just me here. Parents are to find their own backups but I also have a neighbor who does DC so we help each other out when needed.
                            I have 1 of my own plus 3 SA and then 1-3 infants.

                            Comment

                            • snbauser
                              Daycare.com Member
                              • Jan 2011
                              • 1385

                              #15
                              I have 5 kids and actually share a sub/assistant with another provider. I only have her here typically 2 mornings a week for a total of 6 hours. It gives me a little break to get things like lesson planning and paperwork done without taking so much time away from my family. When we get a second car I will be using one of the mornings to get my grocery shopping done.

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