Quitting.

[B Lou]

I have been thinking of throwing in the towel. It's been a very emotional 3 months and I'm just not sure anymore.

I still love the kids and working from home. It's just that I really miss the support I HAD from fellow local providers.

I know some of you have mentioned support groups in your areas. But I live in a small community and don't believe we have such a group.

anyway this is more of just how I'm feeling that anything else.

Throw in the towel or just stick it out. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

thanks for letting me vent.

[daycare]

I have been thinking of throwing in the towel. It's been a very emotional 3 months and I'm just not sure anymore.

I still love the kids and working from home. It's just that I really miss the support I HAD from fellow local providers.

I know some of you have mentioned support groups in your areas. But I live in a small community and don't believe we have such a group.

anyway this is more of just how I'm feeling that anything else.

Throw in the towel or just stick it out. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

thanks for letting me vent.

I know that this business can be lonely. I don't have any local provider friends. I know of some, but I can't say that we are friends.

I think of everyone here more of my friends than those that live near me. I find that the local providers really only have their own best interest at heart, not mine. Where as here, people genuinely do.

[B Lou]

I understand the providers on here are wonderful and a great support team. But some days I just need to be able to pick up the phone and vent.

The "friend" I had we would vent about not only daycare but our husbands and children as well.

I've had some personal issues lately and just a listening ear would be helpful.

Oh well what can ya do.

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I think of everyone here more of my friends than those that live near me. I find that the local providers really only have their own best interest at heart, not mine. Where as here, people genuinely do.

This is true, but it's still a good idea to have "tangible co-workers," too.

Have you thought of maybe starting a group? If you're in a community with other home-providers, I would suggest sending them an e-mail stating who you are and that you are looking to network. Maybe after a communication or two, suggest meeting at a training class (where I have also made other provider friends). I've done this from a CL ads I've seen, just saying hi, and that it's always nice to have another comrade in the business. I've had only postitive responses. Chances are, there are several others feeling isolated just like you that would love to get to talk shop!

The reality is, this business is very much on-your-own. I guess you either love it, or you hate it!

[daycare]

I understand the providers on here are wonderful and a great support team. But some days I just need to be able to pick up the phone and vent.

The "friend" I had we would vent about not only daycare but our husbands and children as well.

I've had some personal issues lately and just a listening ear would be helpful.

Oh well what can ya do.

I guess I am just lost as to why it has to be a provider? I vent on here about work issues and talk about my personal issues with my friends. I don't have a lot of friends here where I live, but I text, video chat or instant message my friends when I need to.

[BrooklynM]

I have been thinking of throwing in the towel. It's been a very emotional 3 months and I'm just not sure anymore.

I still love the kids and working from home. It's just that I really miss the support I HAD from fellow local providers.

I know some of you have mentioned support groups in your areas. But I live in a small community and don't believe we have such a group.

anyway this is more of just how I'm feeling that anything else.

Throw in the towel or just stick it out. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

thanks for letting me vent.

PM me if you want to exchange numbers. Talking on the phone isn't always easy for me because of the babies and I have a 2 1/2 year old parrot that repeats everything, but maybe we can start texting back and forth? I love this job but the isolation is hard for me as well! Maybe it would be nice to have almost a penpal type relationship since we live so far away and don't have to worry about knowing the same people so we can have a a real open honest friendship without the possibility of it getting back around to others. PM me if you are interested. I'm not a weirdo, . Well maybe a little. ::

[NeedaVaca]

I have worked from home doing a different business (not childcare) for 10 years and I didn't have a support network or co workers. It was what I did for a living and that was all it was. I do daycare now and use this forum for information. I worked out in the job force but if I had quit every time a friend left for a different job I wouldn't have lasted long. I don't understand why it's so important? If you have family and friends then you have people to vent/talk to.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I understand the providers on here are wonderful and a great support team. But some days I just need to be able to pick up the phone and vent.

The "friend" I had we would vent about not only daycare but our husbands and children as well.

I've had some personal issues lately and just a listening ear would be helpful.

Oh well what can ya do.

You can move on, not much else to do. If you are so upset about one particular friend not being there for you, then clearly you need NEW friends. I'm not trying to be harsh, but each and every one of us on this planet is unique and no one should be defined by some other person. Be yourself, and friends will find you. Chin up! Chest out! Find your confidence and move on from this "friend". Who cares what this person thinks?
Only YOU can be your best friend.

[Heidi]

You can move on, not much else to do. If you are so upset about one particular friend not being there for you, then clearly you need NEW friends. I'm not trying to be harsh, but each and every one of us on this planet is unique and no one should be defined by some other person. Be yourself, and friends will find you. Chin up! Chest out! Find your confidence and move on from this "friend". Who cares what this person thinks?
Only YOU can be your best friend.

Yeah, I can't see defining myself and my career choice based on one other person. Yes, it can be lonely, but there are many ways to solve that issue. I don't have another provider within 7 miles of me.

[My3cents]

I have been thinking of throwing in the towel. It's been a very emotional 3 months and I'm just not sure anymore.

I still love the kids and working from home. It's just that I really miss the support I HAD from fellow local providers.

I know some of you have mentioned support groups in your areas. But I live in a small community and don't believe we have such a group.

anyway this is more of just how I'm feeling that anything else.

Throw in the towel or just stick it out. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

thanks for letting me vent.

I am confused why you don't have that support anymore? Sounds like you need to make some friends. You should start your own support group for daycare providers in your area, maybe add a training to the event and meet monthly. I would not be closing my business because I didn't have friends, but would be seeing what I could do to make it a better business. Tons of online support too- Kuddo's to you if your able to just throw in the towel. Maybe a career change is what you need. I feel the grass is not always greener on the other side, but for some I suppose it is and then some.

[My3cents]

I understand the providers on here are wonderful and a great support team. But some days I just need to be able to pick up the phone and vent.

The "friend" I had we would vent about not only daycare but our husbands and children as well.

I've had some personal issues lately and just a listening ear would be helpful.

Oh well what can ya do.

sounds broken and in need of a good fix. Just keep in mind it might not be the same feelings on the other side-

There is an off topic area somewhere....

[butterfly]

I have been thinking of throwing in the towel. It's been a very emotional 3 months and I'm just not sure anymore.

I still love the kids and working from home. It's just that I really miss the support I HAD from fellow local providers.

I know some of you have mentioned support groups in your areas. But I live in a small community and don't believe we have such a group.

anyway this is more of just how I'm feeling that anything else.

Throw in the towel or just stick it out. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

thanks for letting me vent.

I think if you still like what you do, I'd try to stick it out a few more months if possible and see how you feel. I live in a part of the world that gets pretty cold and miserable this time of year. It's hard on your emotional health. Once I'm able to be outside on a regular basis again, my whole mood/perspective/outlook on things totally changes. And once it's nicer out I tend to run into other adults at the park that I can chat with while the kids play.

:hug:

[Childminder]

This is a job that is isolated and friendless. You work long hours and end up eventually with out any social life. After doing this for over 40+ years I only have family to see or talk to, and my family is pretty small. All of the friends I have had are either dead or moved to the other side of the country or "virtual" friends on forums or facebook.

If you are not the kind of person that can with out a social life I'd get out NOW!

[Scribbles]

I'm sorry u are struggling. It seems like u are having a tough time letting go of this friend. If u r thinking of closing up just because u dont have this friend to talk too any more then maybe there is more to it than just a broken friendship. Maybe u need to re-evaluate your roll in this and find other ways to fill the empty space this friend left. Focus on ur daycare kids and find the fun in them. U cant change other people only yourself.

[SilverSabre25]

Perhaps you could browse the information in the thread about Burn out. It's stickied at the top of the forum. You sound burnt out.

Consider taking a close look at your business and your life and see if there's anything you can do to improve things.

I never try to depend too much on other people to keep my happy; that's my job. They have their own crap to deal with and their own path to walk. I feel that it's important to be able to take care of myself. I may sound bitter here, or maybe cynical, but at the end of the day, the only person who truly cares about how you feel....is you.

So do what you need to do. Cut families. Trim hours. Remodel. Add a curriculum. Take away curriculum. Take up a new hobby. Read a book. Go to the gym. Drink a cup of coffee spiked with Bailey's. Whatever makes YOU happy--do it. And if what you need is to find a new person IRL to vent with, then find some way to DO it.

A lot of us aren't friends with other providers IRL. That's why we're here.