If You Have Done FCC Long Term

[Unregistered]

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
What are your longevity secrets?

[MyAngels]

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
What are your longevity secrets?

1. The fact that I have infinite patience when it's necessary - mostly when dealing with parents .

2. Realize that this is a business and not a personal calling, and run it accordingly.

3. See #2.

[morgan24]

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
What are your longevity secrets?

1. I am patient, I like to be around kids (except school age) and I am not afraid to speak up if something bugs me.

2. Some people in my area who didn't last long, their biggest complaint was the long hours and parents taking advantage of them. I don't mind the longer hours and I don't get taken advantage of because I won't let it happen.

3. I've been doing it for 18 years. I managed a small store with 12 people under me and worked long hours the pay wasn't very good. I got tired of it when the raises were small and vacation time was limited. I decided I wanted to put my all in to a business that benefited me.

[crazydaycarelady]

I think to do this long-term you have to have a separate area in your home for it. Absolutely.

You also have to have a really good routine down for mealtimes, nap, and activities. My kids know exactly what is going to happen next based on what we are doing at that time.

A good contract is needed and it needs to be followed from the very beginning.

Go with you gut and avoid families/situations that you have doubts about or that have the potential to blow up (obvious red-flags, watching for family/friends.) *I learned this the hard way.

22 years and counting.

[dalman]

1. What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
It was born out of necessity. I needed a good income to enable me to stay home my five children. I have been a licensed childcare provider for twenty seven years in various counties in Minnesota. I homeschooled my children for eight of those years while doing daycare.
I love children and would rather deal with children's games than adult/children's game playing in the corporate world.
I kept a grateful heart, thus enabling me to keep my attitude right (most the time:.

2. What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
I run a quality home daycare. I have always had a waiting list due to that fact. I love the children and they know it. Most of the children do not want to go home with their parents.
This is a HOME daycare, not a daycare center. I do not run it like a center.
I confront the issues that need to be confronted and let the others go, aka, pick your battles with the parents.
I do not take every child that comes along. My husband and I interview the parents and child for two to three hours. This is the most important relationship. We are, in essence, co-parenting. I have them ten hours a day. The parents have them two to three hours a day and then they go to bed. I need to know that we are all on the same page.

3. What are your longevity secrets?
I am very disciplined and run a tight ship. I am consistent and I do not let the children rule the roost. This creates a peaceful, calm environment (most of the time) for them and for me.
I get up an hour early every morning to have my coffee, read my Bible and have some time to myself.
I make my weekends special. Every weekend is pretty much a mini vacation.happyface
I pursued other options outside of daycare. I took night classes and online classes.
I have a busy life outside of daycare. This helps to keep a right perspective and a good attitude.
I take all of my vacation time. Every year.

I will probably think of more. These are some excellent questions to ponder. Thank you.

[Laurel]

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
What are your longevity secrets?

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
What are your longevity secrets?

I am retiring in June after 20 years of doing child care. A few years part time and 18 full time.

-I don't think I could have done it if I wouldn't have had my husband's salary to supplement mine or the related health insurance.

-I think my laid back kind of personality helped.

-My family was on board. Well kinda of... not at first, but my husband got on board early.

-I had a few important rules but not a ton of them. That gave me the freedom to not have to stick to things I later would regret making a rule about.

-Sounds obvious but I really enjoy being around children...for the most part. Some providers see it more from a big money angle (which in most areas it is NOT). In fact, I saw some stats that it is one of the lowest paid professions.

-I started with basic equipment and added to it. I know a provider who spent a LOT of money making the greatest playroom ever and outdoor area and then found out child care wasn't for her.

-I tried not to be in debt to the point that I couldn't take less children if I wanted to.

-I tried to pick clients carefully. Backfired a few times though.

-I had someone to vent to. First it was my husband, then forums like this one and other providers.

So far, that is all I can think of.

Laurel

[nannyde]

https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/the-long-haul.htm

[Laurel]

Here are the stats from 2012 on childcare workers that I saw on the Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care...kers.htm#tab-5

Like nannyde said, a second income stream is good. I never needed one for job satisfaction (but it is a good idea). Mine was my husband's salary.

Laurel

[crazydaycarelady]

-I don't think I could have done it if I wouldn't have had my husband's salary to supplement mine or the related health insurance.

Totally agree!

Concerning Nannydes blog about this opic: There is NO WAY I could have done this, raise a family, AND have another job, any other job. Fifty very busy and draining hours per week is really all I could ask of myself. I think that is why it is easiest if you have a working spouse also.

[My3cents]

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?a love for the job! I picked this as a career job, not to stay home with my kids, but as something I wanted to do.
What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do? policy/hand/rule book, contract. Having a back bone to carry out your rules and not negotiate them-
What are your longevity secrets? above, and also having good outlets to chat with other providers, friends etc....this job is very isolating and also being good to myself. I work hard- so thus I must play hard- I look forward to my weekends because I have worked hard all week. I take good care of myself so that I can care for others- my secrets~

I responded above

[Lucy]

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
What are your longevity secrets?

1. I have lasted for 20 years as of this summer. I started because I was burned out on office work. I was bored at a desk all day, and sick and tired of office gossip and politics. My work started to slack off noticeably, I was "talked to", and knew it was time to go. I figured that being my own boss without catty, gossiping women around all the time would suit me better. It has, and that's why I've done it for 20 years. I do NOT want to go back into an office job ever again! I've often thought about finding something outside the home so that I could have better hours and benefits, but I dread having a boss and being told how to do something. Ugh.

2. I don't really interact with other providers in my area, so I'll just say that I think I've been able to sustain my DC career because I don't take it so seriously like some do. Please don't take offense, but I just don't put the pressure on myself to make this a strict, stringent, by-the-book job. I take each thing as it comes, learn from things that went really bad, and move on. Also, I don't do preschool, and I don't have a strict schedule other than meals at a certain time. I like to say that having the DC kids here is just as if my nieces and nephews came over for the day. There are all the important rules in place and I insist on manners and respect - not only for me, but for each other - and I don't let them go hog wild. Not even close. But I don't have a list of 100 do's and dont's like "some people". I'm easy going and take things as they come, and I think that fact has sustained me. I could never do the time schedule thing, the preschool thing, the endless "rules of play" thing, etc. Ugh. I have ZERO interest in the stars quality program. I don't want to be certified in early childhood education, I just want to have people pay me to provide safe, loving, fun care for their kids. That's all I ask.

3. I think I pretty much answered "longevity" in my long-winded answers above. So I will merely add that I'm also too lazy to get out and look for a job outside the home, so here I sit... 20 years later!!

[e.j.]

What do you think enabled the long-term bit?
There are so many things that factor into why I've stuck with child care for so long - (18 years). I think the biggest thing was just personal determination. I wanted to be home with my own kids and child care was the only way I could do it and still help to support my family. There were many times I wanted to quit but the thought of having to leave them off in someone else's care kept me going. I've also had the support of my husband. I couldn't have stuck it out so long without him behind me.

What did you do or not do that providers you know who dropped out early did or did not do?
I do have a dedicated room for child care and as someone else mentioned, it definitely helps. I also worked around my own kids' schedules as much as possible. I opened after they left for school and closed just as they were getting home from school. I think it helped them not to have to share their home/mom with the day care kids all the time. They did have to deal with my dc business during the summer but they also were allowed to go to their own rooms for privacy and quiet if they needed it.

Also, I also started to take Fridays off so I could have a day to schedule dr and dentist appointments, IEP meetings, etc... If I didn't have appointments scheduled, it gave me an extra day to catch up on housework so my weekends weren't so hectic. Now that my kids are young adults and are either working or at school, I often have Fridays to myself. Knowing I'll have the house to myself for a day gets me through some of the more challenging dc days.

What are your longevity secrets?
My dd told me to type, "Drugs and alcohol"::

I think the most important thing is to learn not to sweat the small stuff. I try to keep some perspective; not take things personally. I provide a service and the parents pay for it. I don't expect anything more so when the things I do aren't as appreciated as maybe they could be, I'm not upset. When they are appreciated (which is more the norm because most of my dc families have been pretty wonderful), I'm thrilled.

When I go through those times when I feel like I can't do this job any more, I tell myself that it's temporary and then I take it one day at a time until it gets better. I go through cycles when I love my job and then have to drag myself through the days until I start to love it again.

[Lucy]

What are your longevity secrets?
My dd told me to type, "Drugs and alcohol"::

That cracked me up! I like your daughter's way of thinking!

[Play Care]

Totally agree!

Concerning Nannydes blog about this opic: There is NO WAY I could have done this, raise a family, AND have another job, any other job. Fifty very busy and draining hours per week is really all I could ask of myself. I think that is why it is easiest if you have a working spouse also.

Agree. I've said many times there is NO way I could do this job without the fact my husband has good, professional employment with excellent health benefits.

[Laurel]

1. I have lasted for 20 years as of this summer. I started because I was burned out on office work. I was bored at a desk all day, and sick and tired of office gossip and politics. My work started to slack off noticeably, I was "talked to", and knew it was time to go. I figured that being my own boss without catty, gossiping women around all the time would suit me better. It has, and that's why I've done it for 20 years. I do NOT want to go back into an office job ever again! I've often thought about finding something outside the home so that I could have better hours and benefits, but I dread having a boss and being told how to do something. Ugh.

2. I don't really interact with other providers in my area, so I'll just say that I think I've been able to sustain my DC career because I don't take it so seriously like some do. Please don't take offense, but I just don't put the pressure on myself to make this a strict, stringent, by-the-book job. I take each thing as it comes, learn from things that went really bad, and move on. Also, I don't do preschool, and I don't have a strict schedule other than meals at a certain time. I like to say that having the DC kids here is just as if my nieces and nephews came over for the day. There are all the important rules in place and I insist on manners and respect - not only for me, but for each other - and I don't let them go hog wild. Not even close. But I don't have a list of 100 do's and dont's like "some people". I'm easy going and take things as they come, and I think that fact has sustained me. I could never do the time schedule thing, the preschool thing, the endless "rules of play" thing, etc. Ugh. I have ZERO interest in the stars quality program. I don't want to be certified in early childhood education, I just want to have people pay me to provide safe, loving, fun care for their kids. That's all I ask.

3. I think I pretty much answered "longevity" in my long-winded answers above. So I will merely add that I'm also too lazy to get out and look for a job outside the home, so here I sit... 20 years later!!

Oh wow, your number 2 really speaks to me. Yes, yes and yes!!!! I agree. I'd be nuts if I had to worry about every little thing.

Laurel