No Children of My Own Yet...

[nannyde]

It's not a problem until you do have a kid. When you start... start saving for a nest egg for once you conceive.

I would advertise that I don't have kids and I would NOT discuss any future plans to have kids. If you conceive, I wouldn't discuss until you are as far along as you can possibly be without them knowing.

Less is more.

I lost half my kids when my son was born and I only took eight working days off. I was full a year later though.

[Lucy]

I've noticed that most people who have started home daycare have already had children of their own. Unfortunately, after trying for about 2 years, my hubby and I have yet to conceive. While I'm trying trying to focus on the positive and keep my head up as we continue to try to have a baby...I'd hate to think that not having children of my own would be a strike against me in the eyes of parents.

I'll be opening my daycare as soon as possible this coming year, so I'd like to hear some thoughts from an outside perspective. As a parent, would you view me as less qualified or naive? I've been around children all my life (many cousins!) and even now as my friends are having their children I'm a proud Auntie in their lives. I'm really excited, but this is also in the back of my head as a concern.

I started doing DC at age 30, and didn't have any kids (still don't at 50). In my 20 years of experience, I've never had ONE interview where it was mentioned negatively. Of course people will say, "so do you have kids?". I just say something like "I have 2 stepdaughters" (now one of them has 2 daughters!) Nobody has EVER shown that they think I'm less qualified because of it. I also grew up with my mom doing DC my whole childhood, so maybe that helps. Now that I'm 50, maybe people just assume I wouldn't have any at home, because I haven't been asked for awhile.

I wouldn't worry AT ALL about this. When they ask, just say "not yet!!" with a big smile. They'll take that as 'you're trying' .

[Lucy]

I find parents prefer you not to have kids at home, especially first time parents. they want all your energy and love on their kids. I would say that it is a plus for you in reference to daycare interviews.

Yes, this too!! I think it could be considered a PLUS. They think to themselves, "oh good, no favortism".

[nanglgrl]

I think it would be 50/50. You may have some parents that think you will be naive and feel like since you don't have children you might not know anything about them, you may also have parents that feel like if you have children you would treat them better than your daycare children. On the flip side if you say you don't have children but would like to you may have parents pick a provider who is done having children over you solely because they don't want to deal with the uncertainty of finding back up care and time off when you do have a child. If I were you I just wouldn't talk about it but that may be hard if you have a place in your contract that goes over maternity leave. It seems I always have parents that ask about that when we go over the contract at the interview. Really it just depends on the parent.

[melilley]

I think it would be 50/50. You may have some parents that think you will be naive and feel like since you don't have children you might not know anything about them, you may also have parents that feel like if you have children you would treat them better than your daycare children. On the flip side if you say you don't have children but would like to you may have parents pick a provider who is done having children over you solely because they don't want to deal with the uncertainty of finding back up care and time off when you do have a child. If I were you I just wouldn't talk about it but that may be hard if you have a place in your contract that goes over maternity leave. It seems I always have parents that ask about that when we go over the contract at the interview. Really it just depends on the parent.

[littlemissmuffet]

I've noticed that most people who have started home daycare have already had children of their own. Unfortunately, after trying for about 2 years, my hubby and I have yet to conceive. While I'm trying trying to focus on the positive and keep my head up as we continue to try to have a baby...I'd hate to think that not having children of my own would be a strike against me in the eyes of parents.

I did daycare for 10 years before having my own dd (we also tried for years and it was only when we decided to stop trying that I got pregnant :. In my case, parents LOVED that I didn't have my own child... they saw it as I didn't start doing daycare just to be home with my own, and I think some of them saw it as a bonus that their child would never have to compete with my own.

[MissKrys]

Thank you all so much!! Oh my gosh, you all made me feel so much better! Something that I felt was my biggest negative could actually be a positive to some parents, that's amazing. Some great advice too, I will definitely keep it all in mind. Nest-eggs are a priority and VERY important to me.

And so sorry to hear others having trouble conceiving too. Right now we're focusing on diet changes and healthier lifestyles. It'll happen when it happens, and when it does, it'll probably feel like all the time it took was meant to be. lovethis

[Annalee]

I've noticed that most people who have started home daycare have already had children of their own. Unfortunately, after trying for about 2 years, my hubby and I have yet to conceive. While I'm trying trying to focus on the positive and keep my head up as we continue to try to have a baby...I'd hate to think that not having children of my own would be a strike against me in the eyes of parents.

I'll be opening my daycare as soon as possible this coming year, so I'd like to hear some thoughts from an outside perspective. As a parent, would you view me as less qualified or naive? I've been around children all my life (many cousins!) and even now as my friends are having their children I'm a proud Auntie in their lives. I'm really excited, but this is also in the back of my head as a concern.

I started home daycare in '92 and had my first child in 2001..Didn't think we could have children of our own, just decided to let the cards fall where they may. DON"T GIVE UP! I had another child in 2003. Older than I planned to be before becoming a mother, but GOD KNOWS BEST! Am very thankful! :hug:

[Maria2013]

And so sorry to hear others having trouble conceiving too. Right now we're focusing on diet changes and healthier lifestyles. It'll happen when it happens, and when it does, it'll probably feel like all the time it took was meant to be. lovethis

I hope this isn't too graphic but I read an article years ago about 2 things some women trying to conceive do, that actually shouldn't:

1) not having intercourse for weeks thinking that improves sperm count....it doesn't! ...it actually slows down production of "type A" that's why they suggest having intercourse at least once every 2 days during none fertile period and more often during fertile days

2) this one was about women over washing or using internal feminine products that alter the natural mucous

[Lianne]

I've been running my home daycare for over seven years now and I have no children of my own. Everyone I've met has been pleasantly surprised. In the interview, let them know of the benefits of my not having children like less time closed for illness because I don't have my own kids to get sick and needing me, more flexibility with my open and close times because I don't have a family to feed dinner, all the children in my care are equal & receive the same attention/care/love.

As far as I know, I've never had prospective clients choose a different provider because I don't have children of my own.

[jenn]

I opened in 2006, but didn't have a child of my own until 2008. If any parent had a problem with it, I was not aware of it.
We started trying to have a baby in 2004. We gave up in 2006, as nothing was working. Doctors were not optimistic. In 2007, without trying, I was pregnant. Miracle baby!