Do You All Go Through Mixed Emotions About Your Job All Day?

[BrooklynM]

The one thing I really miss is having co-workers. I still keep in contact with a lot of them so when I feel that way I will text them.

Everyday after the last kid leaves I sit in my chair for 10 minutes in total silence and I call it my "commute" time!

[Soccermom]

My poor husband's eyes glaze over whenever I bring up anything daycare related

LOL Same here! His face is trying so hard to look caring but his eyes are saying - Oh my God please not this again!!! ::

[melilley]

LOL Same here! His face is trying so hard to look caring but his eyes are saying - Oh my God please not this again!!! ::

:::: Mine too. He will listen, but then says "just get rid of em" (mainly talking about a particular child)...

[melilley]

YES YES AND YES! I have my own kids so I feel like it never stops! But, when they don't have school, or I get paid, or I get stuff done I think "man Im so glad I am home" but I have realized that I dread the kids coming over because they aren't "my kids". Don't get me wrong, I like all the kids I watch. But every parent thinks I do this for fun it seems so its alot more stressful then I thought it would be. So then I start look for jobs and I get interviews and then I remind my self how nice is to be home . Its a strange circle

Same here! Before having my 1.5 yo, I worked in centers for 15 years so when I opened, I thought "this will be a piece of cake"...not so! It's totally different when you are alone! Don't get me wrong, I love being home with my child and being here when dd gets off the bus or doesn't have school, but I too go in a circle over it.

[My3cents]

I wake up in the morning dreading the doorbell, then spend the morning feeling both happy and completely frustrated. By lunch I am SO DONE with daycare and I start looking at the job bank online during naps. Afternoons are okay until about 4pm when I think - Why do I do this!?? By 5h30 once everyone is gone I think - Well I guess that wasn't that bad. By evening I think about how lucky I am to not have to commute to work like my DH and then by bedtime I am ready for a new day and we start those same emotions all over again.

On fridays when I get paid I think about how blessed I am to make so much money doing something from home but by tuesday I am praying for a way outta here!

Am I nuts or does anyone else go through this? If so, is it really worth it in the end?

yes! but I think this type of thinking would be for any job. Its like we wish our time away. I don't really but yet I do. I just look forward to my family time and off time and at the same time when I am off I think about my daycare kiddo's. I can remember when I worked a different job counting down the time till I was done too- I don't wish for another work because this is the job I wanted to do and made happen. I often wonder how I will hold up when I am older. :hug:

[melilley]

yes! but I think this type of thinking would be for any job. Its like we wish our time away. I don't really but yet I do. I just look forward to my family time and off time and at the same time when I am off I think about my daycare kiddo's. I can remember when I worked a different job counting down the time till I was done too- I don't wish for another work because this is the job I wanted to do and made happen. I often wonder how I will hold up when I am older. :hug:

I was thinking about this too, the other day. I worked for 14 years in a center setting and I frequently (especially in the later years) said that I couldn't wait until I go out of there so I didn't have to listen to anyone (corporate) and I could open my own fcc. Then I have my own fcc and sometimes wish I could go back to a center. I think not having co-workers is the biggest change for me, that's why I come here. (I really really should be doing laundry right now)

[TwinKristi]

Honestly I DID when I was watching another DCB but since he left for JrPreschool I like my job much better. He was ALWAYS sick and while mom was never really late (without asking first and 15min max) always paid on time, everything else was a PITA with her. I had another DCB last school year who was after school only and I had to get him. Well most days were torture with him and there were tears shed on many occasions. Aside from being a little slow (ideally I would like one more FT spot filled) I'm pretty happy with things right now. I'm able to make more than I did after paying daycare and gas, food, etc. working outside the home. No worry about calling in because my kids are sick. There's so many positives it out weighs the negatives now.

[Josiegirl]

You all are making me laugh this afternoon, something I've needed a lot lately.

I've quit in my mind countless times over the past 30+ years. When my kids were little and difficult to manage, I'd threaten to quit and send them to daycare. They always called my bluff by begging me to do that.
Feeling like my privacy was constantly invaded, my home, time, my kids' lives, everything...I would fantasize about just up and quitting, couldn't wait to take down all the safety gates, unplug all the outlets, give away the potty chairs and high chairs, use our home for US. I remember begging my dh, in tears, to please let me quit and just raise our own children. He got all sarcastic and said sure, I'll just go get a couple more jobs and never spend time at home.
But truthfully, over the past 5 years or so(out of 30? Haha), I guess I've found my rhythm because for the most part I like what I do. We were all up to our elbows in bubbly water play this morning and I was truly having fun. Now it's nap time and they all fell asleep. That's never a bad thing.

[rosieteddy]

I think in the winter this is so true for a lot of providers. I always say "do not make big decisions in Jan/Feb." I have been a provider for 26 years.Before that I took care of extra kids for friends. My oldest daughter just turned 40 ,so I have been a mom more than 1/2 my life. It is all relevant life is hard , just differant shades of hard. I went to a center for a year in 1998 (long story became caregiver for father-inlaw and sister-in law alzthiemers) Closed DC AND After he passed away worked in DC center infant room. Only one rocker and I wasn't allowed to sit in it . I did not like not being the boss.All the little things ---being home for your own children ,starting dinner or throwing in a laundry.to mention a few. I worked a year and then SIL was ill so took time to care for her ,she passed 6 months later. I reopened DC that spring and have done it ever since.There are certain children that you dread ,but usually with time things work out.Unless your kids are grown and you can make a decent salary outside the home this can be the best. I think we need to think spring . Nan

[Kcole1075]

I do this all the time. I have to remind myself I cant afford to not do it. I tried over summer and was working two jobs and lookibg at having to get a third.
it is much worse when I have a certain child. I haven't had him 2 days and my hating my job has stopped. I think because of how much I have liked him being gone I am going to term I need the money but my days are easier with him gone. I was trying to stick it out until the end of the summer because I feel like I am quitting but I don't think I will make it that long

I am making a lot of changes at the end of the school year. I am not taking any more school aged kids. If they weren't in school this year and are going in next year they will have to find other care. I am also loosing one of my school aged so that will take me down to two school aged kids next year. I am adjusting my closing to 5. And am cutting two spots. I am praying this takes my love hate relationship with this job away.

[Stepping]

I wake up in the morning dreading the doorbell, then spend the morning feeling both happy and completely frustrated. By lunch I am SO DONE with daycare and I start looking at the job bank online during naps. Afternoons are okay until about 4pm when I think - Why do I do this!?? By 5h30 once everyone is gone I think - Well I guess that wasn't that bad. By evening I think about how lucky I am to not have to commute to work like my DH and then by bedtime I am ready for a new day and we start those same emotions all over again.

On fridays when I get paid I think about how blessed I am to make so much money doing something from home but by tuesday I am praying for a way outta here!

Am I nuts or does anyone else go through this? If so, is it really worth it in the end?

Yes, this exactly. Every day!

[LK5kids]

I got back into fcc for only 8 months and couldn't handle the isolation! I've been done since Nov. 2013. I still get texts or facebook messages that my families miss me....so sweet. We got VERY close in a short amount of time.

At least I feel LOVED! I give you all LOTS of kuddos and credit for the wonderful jobs you are doing!!!

I have been job hunting since Nov. It was too hard to go for interviews while still operating my family child care business.

I secured a job with the YMCA in their preschool programming department in early Dec. The job didn't start till Jan. 20, but I was filling in at Y-watch. It ended up only being about 5 hours a week, so I withdrew that application

I now have been hired at a new state-of-the-art private child care center and I will start mid or late Feb.

I also have a very good friend who worked for Head Start for years, so I have a lead there. I also just had an interview with Lutheran Social Services to do what I did in my former life but have not heard back for a second interview!

It's tough out here!!!!

I admire what you are all doing and I hope things work out for you all!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have gone through periods like this.

Right now I feel really good about my job and I like it. If I have to have a career, this is the one I definitely choose. I wake up at 6:30 and have kiddos come in at 7:00. The rest come at 8:00 and leave by 5:00 with some staying until 6:00. 11 hour days and it is okay. I would love to have just 9 hour days (8-5) but that isn't what a lot of people need right now so there ya go.

[Maria2013]

I wake up in the morning dreading the doorbell, then spend the morning feeling both happy and completely frustrated. By lunch I am SO DONE with daycare and I start looking at the job bank online during naps. Afternoons are okay until about 4pm when I think - Why do I do this!?? By 5h30 once everyone is gone I think - Well I guess that wasn't that bad. By evening I think about how lucky I am to not have to commute to work like my DH and then by bedtime I am ready for a new day and we start those same emotions all over again.

Whenever I start feeling that way^ I know it is time to let someone go

[Msdunny]

I wake up in the morning dreading the doorbell, then spend the morning feeling both happy and completely frustrated. By lunch I am SO DONE with daycare and I start looking at the job bank online during naps. Afternoons are okay until about 4pm when I think - Why do I do this!?? By 5h30 once everyone is gone I think - Well I guess that wasn't that bad. By evening I think about how lucky I am to not have to commute to work like my DH and then by bedtime I am ready for a new day and we start those same emotions all over again.

On fridays when I get paid I think about how blessed I am to make so much money doing something from home but by tuesday I am praying for a way outta here!

Am I nuts or does anyone else go through this? If so, is it really worth it in the end?

My week, to a "T"!! For now, it is the best option, even if I wish it weren't. It is a good thing I don't work with the parents all day - I'd be finished by 7:30! ::