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Need Advice
I need some advice, I've been doing daycare for going on five years about every three months I just feel so burnt out mainly how parents are. I tell myself to start looking for something else but? I was used to a steady income for years and daycare is so unpredictable, I don't know this feeling usually goes away, anyone have any ideas on what they do when they feel burnt out?
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Right about 5 years into this I started feeling that way too so I can definitely relate.
What I did was schedule a day off each month to month and a half (Friday or Monday) so I could have a 3 day weekend.
That little bit of "extra" time off saved my sanity. I made a rule that on that day, I would NOT do anything work related and would focus ONLY on my family and/or myself.
It helped ALOT!
Another thing I currently do to help me stay sane is NOT ever let parents drag me into their issues or their problems. Unless it DIRECTLY affects the care of their child or my finances...it is NOT my problem and not something I will discuss or get into.
Being able to separate what tasks and responsibilities belong to me and which ones belong to parents is the key for me.
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Thank you! I need to definitely need to change something, my hours are Monday through Friday 5am to 6 pm so maybe changing that too?Comment
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Yep... that's the same thing I did. I was 6 am to 6 pm and it was killing me.
I changed to 7:00 am - 5:30 pm.
Now, 20+ years later I work 7:30am - 5:00pm and some days only work until 4:00.
I made a lot of changes in my program. I cut difficult parents. (The money wasn't worth the stress on me and my family.) I cut difficult kids.
I didn't do it all at once, but a little bit at a time over a year probably.
I started working for ME and not for others.
You HAVE to put your family and yourself first or this business will eat you alive.
Hang in there.... I will gladly help, listen or advise if I can.
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Wow! 20 years! You are an angel! Thanks for your advice I've done this alone for my time I don't really talk to any other providers I paid a yearly fee when I first got my license for a support group
didn't get any support! Iam a people pleaser so ya I need to change things and if they leave they leave. Iam already lookin at calendar and seein what Fridays it will take !
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Well, in that case I am glad you found this forum!Wow! 20 years! You are an angel! Thanks for your advice I've done this alone for my time I don't really talk to any other providers I paid a yearly fee when I first got my license for a support group didn't get any support! Iam a people pleaser so ya I need to change things and if they leave they leave. Iam already lookin at calendar and seein what Fridays it will take !
The ladies here are so helpful and supportive! You will find all kinds of friendships here! It's nice to have a place like this because this job is very isolating and lonely at times.
I too am a people pleaser but I found other ways to appease that need rather than letting it ruin my business.
It's all in how you view things. Your daycare is your business. Your job. our income.
If you want to help others, please them and/or do nice things for them, do it in other ways that don't include your business.
I know a provider that has BBQ's for her DCF's, takes her DCK's on a weekend or evening just because she wants to. Volunteer at a nursing home a church, a women's shelter, a food bank.....etc There are millions of other ways to fill that need to help others and make a difference in people's lives.
You don't have to sacrifice your business and your financial security by connecting those things to your job.
Also, like I said...keep hanging around here. You'll find all the support, friendship, perspectives and answers you need to make it.
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Great advice!
I've done the same as some of the previous posts.
Over 20 years I have decreased my hours more and more.
Hired an extra helper to give me every Friday off.
No longer accept children under 18 months.
I put my assistants in charge of cleaning the daycare and any related daycare tasks.
The older I get the less I want to work. I figure I busted my but for years and have a nice savings and Roth it a to prove it.This lady is taking a break!
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What kind of vacation days do you have? I have found that a lot of providers don't take enough time off. I take 2 weeks off a years and all school holidays (veterans day etc). That really helps me. Other things that helps me is when the kids are all asleep I try and do something restful. (watch tv, poke around online) also I like to get away from the house on the evenings/weekends. I' am often carting my 11 yr old daughter around to softball practice and I try and treat that as time to debrief after the day. Its also important for us providers to chat with other adults when we can. Hope this helps.
DebComment
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Well I take the 2 weeks vacation but only a handful of holidays not many.then I hardly ever use my sick days probally 4 times in my almost five years.Comment
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