When Did YOU Know You Could Do This Job?

[gracepatiencelove]

My daycare has been open for 2 months now, and I provided unlicensed care before that... so I've been doing daycare for 4 months in total. Recently I have felt like I can really handle it... I remember when I first opened, I was worried about taking care of one other toddler in addition to my son. Could I possibly do it??! Now, I only have three kids (all under 2) some days. Recently, I told a parent that those days were my "quiet days", and they looked at me like I was crazy. Honestly, I have been getting a little bored with just 3 kids here. Other days, I have 5, and that is also totally do-able... although with more challenges, of course.

When did YOU know that you could really do this--take care of multiple little kids at once by yourself? Was there an ah-ha moment?

I recently advertised for kids 2+ and am adding one or two more kids to the group... so I'll have 4-5 kids each day.

I don't know. I guess I've never really thought, "I can't handle that!" until I hit 7/8 kids (6 in my state + my own two when SO is home). Oh, yeah, and this PT infant who cries for me only and makes me feel like I **** at this. She is currently the only one here (+ my own) so I know its not me - it is that I am not going to carry/walk with her while she takes her naps

[KiddieCahoots]

When I was a mom with my first three, and my house was "that house" that all the neighborhood kids ended up at. Me in the middle of the activities with them in the yard, playing all sorts of games, fixing snacks, and just having fun!
When there was a neighborhood block party, again.....the kids would all naturally gravitate to my house, where all the neighbors knew and trusted me with every one of them.
Family, friends, and neighbors suggested I go into the business.
Fifteen years later and still kicking... ::

[LoraJenkins]

I guess I never though about not being able to do "it". I had 5 of my own children by the age of 23 (yes, I started young). And started caring for 2 newborns when my third was 2 weeks old. Since I was a SAHM, everyone who needed care that knew me asked, and I accepted. I always looked at it as just adding another child in the mix. I have been caring for children since I was a child (my first was born when I just turned 15 years old), so It is just natural for me I guess. I have a harder time when I only have 1 or 2 children, the days seem too quiet. Lol.

[Heidi]

well, today honestly, is one of those days when I wonder if I CAN do this job!

crabby, crabby kids!

[Shell]

I've worked in centers and public schools for about 12 years or so, but I always had issues with authority - I can't stand bring micro-managed when I am quite capable. So opening my own daycare is a no brainer. Juggling multi age groups can be challenging, but I had my "ah ha " moment this week when a parent said, "I don't know how you do this job, but you do it well! " I'm sure some parent will create some drama soon, and it will ruin the great feeling I was having ::

[SignMeUp]

well, today honestly, is one of those days when I wonder if I CAN do this job!

Me too! Mine's not the kids Mine are having a great day today in spite of cold and rainy weather. And it's not most of the parents. But I am amazed that after all of the things I've tried to protect myself against, once in a great while somebody manages to circumvent my contract and/or rules.

Why do some people seem to take such pleasure in this? I will never understand that. Or why they would want to do that to the person who cares for their child.

[cheerfuldom]

Probably around when I really called out a rude parent and got the money owed me and thought "yeah I just did that" LOL Around two years into the journey and stopped putting up with parents, assistants and kids that ****ed the energy out of me. Now I have up to 9 at my house (including my kids) and 6 years down the road and sometimes things get a bit hairy but overall, everyone is safe, fed, napped, diapered, and supervised and my current set of parents is kept on a tight leash. I know I might seem a little mean and I am okay with that.

[Josiegirl]

Hah! I've been doing this almost 32 years and I still don't think I can do it.
Just when I think I've got it down to a science, the dcks throw another wrench.

[Maria2013]

When did YOU know that you could really do this--take care of multiple little kids at once by yourself? Was there an ah-ha moment?

.

I've been working with young kids since I was 10yrs old, been licensed for 9yr and for the most part, I can say that I love this job, and feel it is what I was meant to be doing....but all it takes is one bad fit and I find myself questioning my career choice::::::

..Thank goodness in the latest years I learned what it takes for me to keep happy, and that's to part with families as soon as issues arise, rather than stress myself out, trying so hard to make things work

[DaisyMamma]

My daycare has been open for 2 months now, and I provided unlicensed care before that... so I've been doing daycare for 4 months in total. Recently I have felt like I can really handle it... I remember when I first opened, I was worried about taking care of one other toddler in addition to my son. Could I possibly do it??! Now, I only have three kids (all under 2) some days. Recently, I told a parent that those days were my "quiet days", and they looked at me like I was crazy. Honestly, I have been getting a little bored with just 3 kids here. Other days, I have 5, and that is also totally do-able... although with more challenges, of course.

When did YOU know that you could really do this--take care of multiple little kids at once by yourself? Was there an ah-ha moment?

I recently advertised for kids 2+ and am adding one or two more kids to the group... so I'll have 4-5 kids each day.

Sadly it was when my own dd went to preschool. It's so peaceful without her here bossing every kid around.

[Unregistered]

I knew I could do this job when I was 18 years old and worked for my sister's licensed daycare. We are only allowed 8 kids here, but she had 16! She started building an apartment in her basement and worked on that all day and night long. So she hired me to watch her daycare kids. I realized that if I could handle 16 kids by myself, then opening my own daycare and watching the legal 8 would be a breeze!