Ok I Finally Admitted It

[Blackcat31]

Yeah I agree it is mainly the parents that I have given an inch and then expect a mile. Which this is just one of the changes I'm making.

Good for you!

I LOVE when providers choose to make a career out of this verses just doing it while your own kids are young.

My kids weren't in school yet when I first opened but are now 23 and 26 and I agree with Amy when she said it's easier when you don't have your own kids in care....because it is true for many of us.

If I had to choose ONLY one piece of advice to give someone looking to make this a life long career it would be to decide at the VERY beginning of a parent-provider relationship what things are parental responsibilities and what things are provider responsibilities. While those two things can appear blurry or as if some things belong in both categories; they don't.

I will support, educate refer and encourage a parent in any way I can but I will NOT do things for them.

Being a parent IS hard....

I survived my own children (and trust me, one of mine is the WHOLE reason I am here ) so I refuse to take on responsibility that is not mine. Even if doing so make my job easier because it "might" be easier for now but won't be in the long run.

[Thriftylady]

I quit when my kids were still in school and am starting again. Much easier now that DD is older she had a hard time sharing me when she was 2. I enjoy it much more that she is on board.

[DaveA]

I told everyone I would go back to centers when my daughter went to kindergarten- she's 9 now. I'm sure I could go back to centers and enjoy it. I just don't want to.

Personally I think it's easier when your own children are in school.

Agree 100%

[SSWonders]

I did the same thing, only for me it was after three years of nursing school nights and weekends, while I ran my daycare during the week, and 30 K later that I told hubby I didn't want to give up the daycare, even though the income would be a lot lower and my own kids would be in school. After much head shaking on his part he agreed that I should choose whichever I wanted. Here we are 26 years later and no end in site any time soon.

[Cozy_Kids_Childcare]

Good for you!

I LOVE when providers choose to make a career out of this verses just doing it while your own kids are young.

My kids weren't in school yet when I first opened but are now 23 and 26 and I agree with Amy when she said it's easier when you don't have your own kids in care....because it is true for many of us.

If I had to choose ONLY one piece of advice to give someone looking to make this a life long career it would be to decide at the VERY beginning of a parent-provider relationship what things are parental responsibilities and what things are provider responsibilities. While those two things can appear blurry or as if some things belong in both categories; they don't.

I will support, educate refer and encourage a parent in any way I can but I will NOT do things for them.

Being a parent IS hard....

I survived my own children (and trust me, one of mine is the WHOLE reason I am here ) so I refuse to take on responsibility that is not mine. Even if doing so make my job easier because it "might" be easier for now but won't be in the long run.

I'm learning the lesson of parent/provider relationship right now. My husband tells me I have too much of a southern heart. I'm very soft hearted and not business minded at all. Im slowly taking his advice of saving my soft side for the kids and being only professional business person with parents.
I never thought I would do this after my youngest went to school and 6-months ago I was counting the days till I could go back to work. Then I got rid of my stressful baby and started taking a few classes regarding daycare and it really has opened my eyes to what it could be like. I don't hate to see the kids come in the morning and I'm not in a bad mood anymore by time my kids get home. Plus I think my husband working now took a lot of the anxiety away.

[Cozy_Kids_Childcare]

I did the same thing, only for me it was after three years of nursing school nights and weekends, while I ran my daycare during the week, and 30 K later that I told hubby I didn't want to give up the daycare, even though the income would be a lot lower and my own kids would be in school. After much head shaking on his part he agreed that I should choose whichever I wanted. Here we are 26 years later and no end in site any time soon.

Yep... I've been going to school FT for a degree in paralegal. I wanted to work in the Jag office on base. Well that was my plan. I'm still a year out from finishing my 4-year degree. After this semester I'm going to switch to ECE. I think it can only help. Especially with all these new programs coming out.