How Many Of You Work Alone?

[Lyss]

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

Me as well

[Play Care]

I did for the first few years of child care. Now I have someone come a few days per week.

[Brooksie]

I'm alone too! Started this business as a single mom but now my boyfriend lives with us. He works so he's not here during the day or evenings. I am required by licensing to have a back up substitute but I just use my mom and my boyfriend. Parents are also required to have back up care in the emergency situation where I cannot get coverage. I currently have 2 kids under 2 fulltime, a full time 3 year old, my dd who is 2.5 and a part time 2 year old. ALL by myself. It works.

[LoraJenkins]

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

Me too. I work alone with between 3 and 5 Littles depending on the day. If my Husband gets home before pick up, he does help so I can get Supper on.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

It is me. But we homeschool so my ds is home (16) and chases kids when necessary. In 2 yrs though he will be gone too.

[My3cents]

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

me too

and yes it is hard to adjust to the isolation of no interaction with adults during the day. Thank Goodness for you ladies~

[nothingwithoutjoy]

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. (6 kids most of the time, 8 in the summer and school vacations) When I began, all my kids were infants and toddlers (all under 2.5), so I limited it to 5 kids, because 6 felt like too many alone.

[daycarediva]

I am alone. My dh is self employed and comes/goes throughout the day, but it isn't consistent or reliable.

I do have a sub/assistant that can come in if need be.

[littleblossoms]

I am alone all day for 12 hours.

I have no sub or assistant. I thought of getting help but when you think about wages for someone it is better to close with no pay

[countrymom]

I work alone too. Sometimes when my kids are home they help out. All parents are to find their own back up. Now if there was an emergency, I can call one of my daycare moms to come and stay with the kids--small town living so everyone knows everyone.

[melilley]

I work alone as well. I can have up to 6 kids and one is my own 14 mo. old. I choose to only have 3 full time children and 2 part time children. I have my husband and sis as emergency people and my sis is qualified to take my place if I have an appointment or something.

[butterfly]

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

My husband has subbed for me on very short notice when I got the stomache flu. He just covered until everyone could get picked up and then I was closed the next day.

I used to have a couple SAHM friends that could sub for me, but they moved out of state.

ETA: I am licensed for 12 kids with just me here.

[FullHouse]

Just me too. I am licensed for up to 6 kids but I try to keep it at 4.