POLL - Are You More or Less Stressed This Year

[Michael]

We haven't had a poll in a while and over the years it seems I use to tag a lot more threads, with "stressed" and "overwhelmed", in the past than I do now. Is it just me, what do you think?

[e.j.]

Last year, I had 4 five year olds and a very spoiled 2 year old enrolled with me. The older kids were good kids but very active and like most 5 year olds, they liked to push limits from time to time. I also had a couple of parents who I liked overall but who did cause me stress. This year, I have a much younger group who are active but very sweet. They're great nappers and their parents are wonderful. All in all, I wasn't feeling all that stressed last year but I'm definitely feeling even less day care stress this year.

[KiddieCahoots]

I'm not sure how to vote, would like to vote, life's a breeze.....! Cause that's my goal this year! happyface
Last yr was my worse daycare yr yet, so knocking on wood now for a better one. At least now, I'm cutting through the malarky quicker with the help of the pro's here.

[daycare]

state was closed for 2 weeks over holiday, so all of that stuff is behind and I am trying to catch up


first of the year kicks of getting serious for prekinder, more learning, more stuff

parents screaming for income tax info

preparing tax stuff

choosing new classes

thinking about the 5 kids that will leave me in the fall so I have to start getting the word out to fill those spots.

I let go of an employee and desperately trying to fill shoes...

[Michael]

I'm not sure how to vote, would like to vote, life's a breeze.....! Cause that's my goal this year! happyface
Last yr was my worse daycare yr yet, so knocking on wood now for a better one. At least now, I'm cutting through the malarky quicker with the help of the pro's here.

You should see multiple choices to choose from at the top of this thread. LMK if you don't see it

[Annalee]

I begin the year after my Christmas break every year re-licensing and preparing for my annual FCCERS-R assessment.......My brother's family (him, wife and 3 kids) are living in my basement as they renovate their house...we live side by side anyway...the way I see stress is there is always something and each thing is significant to the person it is affecting no matter how small it seems to those looking in from the outside....My best friend's mom killed herself last week after the dr changed her anti-depressant....It saddens me that life can make people need anti-depressants to begin with and then finding the right one becomes a struggle for, not only the person, but the family around them...My heart aches for my friend especially when she told me she is taking the same thing...but she would not tell me what the anti-depressant was called. I am not saying persons do NOT need these drugs but it is scary finding the right one! Life is moving so fast that many see meds as the only alternative....Personally, I walk in the evenings or use the treadmill....it does help me unwind and clear my head....my husband and brother tell me I smile more and seem more jolly since I started walking....??? ::

[KiddieCahoots]

You should see multiple choices to choose from at the top of this thread. LMK if you don't see it

Had to vote.... the same. My good mojo hasn't quite kicked in yet. ::....
BUT....the yr is still young!

[Sunchimes]

Now

For most of last year, I was a special needs child care, just me and 3 special needs kids. One was behavioral, one is severely delayed and on the spectrum, and one was a stroke survivor. I spent the year getting the first ready to deal with school, trying to get the second to join us in the world, and teaching the last one to walk, eat, swallow, and control his rages. I didn't even know stress until the last month.

I took a micro-preemie when one of my kids left for pre-k (the behavioral issues). She was 5 months old with an adjusted age of 2 months. I learned to tube feed, (piece of cake) and deal with other issues. All nothing conpared to the last month. She had bronchiolitis and quit eating enough. Anything over 4 oz (tube or mouth) came right back up. She was already failure to thrive and this week was declared a nutritional emergency. I'm basically spending 2 and a half out of every 4 hours trying to get her to eat. I have 2 weeks for her to gain weight before they look at other, less positive options. Definitely more stressed now.

[Janiam]

I have a very full house right now which is great financially but it is money hard earned. I have two families that are more work than most. Their very spoiled children add a lot of stress to my day. My DS is in his first of college, DD is in HS with first romantic heartbreak, dog was very sick last week ($700 vet bill), and it's tax time. I am feeling more stressed this year for sure. I wish I could lighten my work load a bit but the reality is working less would add money worries to the list.

[Janiam]

For most of last year, I was a special needs child care, just me and 3 special needs kids. One was behavioral, one is severely delayed and on the spectrum, and one was a stroke survivor. I spent the year getting the first ready to deal with school, trying to get the second to join us in the world, and teaching the last one to walk, eat, swallow, and control his rages. I didn't even know stress until the last month.

I took a micro-preemie when one of my kids left for pre-k (the behavioral issues). She was 5 months old with an adjusted age of 2 months. I learned to tube feed, (piece of cake) and deal with other issues. All nothing conpared to the last month. She had bronchiolitis and quit eating enough. Anything over 4 oz (tube or mouth) came right back up. She was already failure to thrive and this week was declared a nutritional emergency. I'm basically spending 2 and a half out of every 4 hours trying to get her to eat. I have 2 weeks for her to gain weight before they look at other, less positive options. Definitely more stressed now.

Your a saint in my book, that's a lot to take on.

[Sunchimes]

I'm no saint, believe me. I didn't choose this route, it chose me. There aren't many kids available in a small town with lots of illegal babysitters. I took the first 2 kids before the delays or issues showed up. By the time they became noticeable, I loved the kids. Then I discovered that I sort of have a knack for this and really like it. This last baby is sort of scary though.

[CraftyMom]

The same so far. Last year had it's own set of issues which are resolved, but now I have a few new issues...so the same

[Ambrocia]

More stressed. I got back from vacation this week to find out my office manager hadn't deposited any of the December checks or sent out any of the January invoices February invoices are supposed to go out in 4 days. Parents are irate, I am irate. Plus we got an inspection while I was gone too. We got written up for a few things (broke class in the yard, Christmas lights hanging in the play area (who the heck put those up?) Obviously my workers were slacking while I was gone. I pray it gets better.

[Sunshine74]

At the moment, less stressed, but we are about to start the food program, and I am the one in charge of doing all the computer work for it. So we'll see how that goes, I might need to change my answer.

[Josiegirl]

I voted less stress(maybe it was a good day??)
I think back to 18 months ago and having 2 dcbs that were impossible; they disliked each other immensely and competition was a minute-to-minute challenge. Plus 1 of them had some issues anyways. But that problem solved itself when school started and I only have one of them when school's out now.
All my spots are filled which became a HUGE help and I've been getting bonuses here and there which also helped financially.
BUT on the downside, one of my dds graduated college and moved many states away. The other is due to graduate college in May and move across the country. College debt is facing them and myself and that is indeed extremely stressful. I started having major panic attacks again when my older dd moved away so asked for an increase in meds. I hate to rely on them but without them, cannot function. Hence, the less stress I guess.