Am I Crazy???

[jen]

I've been doing daycare for 9 years and I've been very fortunate to have been successful at it, especially in this economy. There are ALOT of peole who have lost their job and figured, "Oh, I'll just take care of some kids for extra money!" They are dirt cheap and don't provide nearly the care that most of us do, but people will snap up CHEAP.

My advice is to think really, really long and hard about working 10 to 12 hour days...summer's too. It can be hard on your house, people aren't always as considerate of your time or your property. How comfortable are you confronting people, charging late fees for late pick ups and non-payment? How will you feel when you have to stop someone at the door because they are trying to get a clearly ill child past you?

Not to mention the financial risk and the loss of benefits...

Oh, and really make sure dh is on board. It is hard on everyone when suddenly your personal space is taken over by 10 little people with runny noses and dirty diapers...

Daycare definitely has its upside, but I think it's like being married. You really, really gotta know its downside or you'll be disillusioned in no time.

[Kaddidle Care]

I wouldn't leave that Teaching job because of the benefits unless your spouse has you covered well. Do weigh the pros and cons for a while before you quit that job!

Middle school is tough I'm sure. Rough ages of kids. Any way you can transfer to the Elementary School?

[Live and Learn]

If I were you I would network with your fellow teachers. Somebody at your school must need childcare.

I work exclusively for teachers and it is awesome. Summers off. Pick up at 4:00. Spring Break, Winter Break, and holidays off. Great hours!

I adhere to my local school district's schedule and am only open when the teachers are working.

It works because my daycare families are well educated, dependable, and child-centered.

Good luck. You will never regret staying home with your young children..... you never get those years back.

[Missani]

How did you manage to fill your daycare up before you were licensed??

I have two kids of my own (so there's 2 spots right away), and I started doing this because my friend was having a baby, so I have her child. In my state we are allowed 1 unrelated family, so I started with my kids and her baby. Then I started advertising by word of mouth. I got a call right away from a family from our old child care center. They loved the center but wanted a smaller setting. Their son was my older son's age and they came for an interview and "signed up" their 2 kids on the spot. Then, that mom passed on my name to her friend, and now her 2 kids are here as well. Finally, I have another acquaintance's child and I am full. I also have 2 kids waiting to start soon and a few more on a waiting list. Some of my current kids will likely have siblings on teh way soon, and we would like to have another baby...so it's just more job insurance.

I think it helped to be "open" with just my friend's baby. That was legal in my state so I was following the rules and making some income while I finished the licensing process. But, by being open and running my space just as I would when I was full, it gave interviewing families something to come and see. I think they loved seeing the environment and really picturing how we would do things.

I have been licensed just over 6 months and am already in the process of expanding my license to be able to accept more children. I will likely add an assistant in the fall. I know I've been fortunate, but for me, my business has really taken off. I think it helps to know some people that might be interested right away. I had 5 or 6 families say that they would love to come to me for daycare. In reality, only 2 of those families came and the others made other arrangements, but at least I had a base to start with. As soon as I passed the word along by word of mouth, the rest fell into place.

Good luck! Are you still thinking this is what you are going to do?

[Sprouts]

***update****

Well I decided to go through with it, got my lisence and have 3 kids registered so far! So I am totally happy about my decision. Thank you all for your input and insights, now I am trying to get more teachers in here so I can follow the same schedule!

[Holladee]

Good for you! Congratulations!

[beachgrl]

Well good luck with everything, I decided to do the same last spring after dealing with some craziness at work and with the school system. I am working on my graduate degree so I took a plunge toward the end of the year and a leap of faith and put in for ed leave. I figured I could get licensed and be busy with knowing so many teachers with kids but although many were interested, they would rather plop their kids in a bigger center that they say they are not that enthused with than to drive 10 min to my side of town for their child to be in smaller setting.

I have had a hard time filling spots and have only been able to get two drop ins so far. Have had a lot of interest but no spots filled yet and looks like I will be having to try to get back into the school system or look for a lower paying and less benefits job in a daycare, blah! I keep holding out hope that if just a couple more kiddos would come along I could make it work but its looking worse and worse. One lady near me has done it over 20 years and she usually stays full but has two spots open and others around charge a good bit less so it makes it hard.