I Am Tired of Parents

[LysesKids]

Ugg I had an interview the other day for a sweet little boy. They let me know that they wanted to enroll so I set up for today for paperwork. Not here so I text and she says "oh sorry we had to take him to the doctor" This is the third time I have had to change meetings with them. Both other times she scheduled during school and then messaged me "oh well I can't get out of school". I am feeling this may not work out well. If I didn't need the money so darn bad, I wouldn't even do the paperwork at this point.

If she can't get out of school for a daycare meeting, what will happen if the kid gets sick & she is called to pick up within the hour?

[Ariana]

If she can't get out of school for a daycare meeting, what will happen if the kid gets sick & she is called to pick up within the hour?

. Good point!

[Laura5287]

Thanks everyone. It seems I have been in a downward spiral. A very negative one. And sharing things here seems to help quite a bit.
BlackCat....Thank you so much. What you said helped me more than you will know. My husband has been saying the same things but since I am a people pleaser, I have made this very personal. I have to take a step back and remember these are not my kids even though I have had them both for several years now. I can only control what is done here. I do love those boys. Gosh, I have really made this personal. I didn't see how much until posting on here. I do above and beyond but it is because I choose to. I don't do the things I do because I want some kind of reaction, I do it because I like what I do. I love watching them learn and love to see their faces when they actually do it themselves. We use to have a lot of fun. I feel like I am going in circles lately. Things are not getting done or planned. I have put so much pressure on myself to keep making things better or to keep doing more and more and more that I have just overwhelmed myself. I have spent so much money on these kids for birthdays and Christmas and Easter it isn't even funny. I think I set myself up for failure because I don't see how I can possibly keep up with the pace I have set for myself.
I think I need to take a step back and maybe start over. This is what a day for me is like.
7 am arrival
8 am breakfast
830 brush teeth
835-9 free play
9-915 circle....we do calendar, shapes, weather and read a book and sing songs
915-10 free play or dancing to music or on the wii with just dance for kids
10-1030 worktime....which is monday-craft
tues. fundamentals (names, letters, numbers)
Wed. science
thurs fundamentals(scissor use, fine motor
etc.
Friday math
11 lunch
1130 movie
12-2 nap/rest
230 snack
245 play outside or free play until home
530 home
It is a long day. I am tired. and the parents still expect more. :confused:

[Thriftylady]

I think you are doing plenty. I would cut back on the birthdays and such, not your job! If they are really that upset, they can leave and you can start over with new kiddos. If not, they will stay and and you will know they really aren't that upset they just want you to think they are. I get getting attached, it is hard not to, but don't let that get in the way of the business end of things.

[Blackcat31]

Thanks everyone. It seems I have been in a downward spiral. A very negative one. And sharing things here seems to help quite a bit.
BlackCat....Thank you so much. What you said helped me more than you will know. My husband has been saying the same things but since I am a people pleaser, I have made this very personal. I have to take a step back and remember these are not my kids even though I have had them both for several years now. I can only control what is done here. I do love those boys. Gosh, I have really made this personal. I didn't see how much until posting on here. I do above and beyond but it is because I choose to. I don't do the things I do because I want some kind of reaction, I do it because I like what I do. I love watching them learn and love to see their faces when they actually do it themselves. We use to have a lot of fun. I feel like I am going in circles lately. Things are not getting done or planned. I have put so much pressure on myself to keep making things better or to keep doing more and more and more that I have just overwhelmed myself. I have spent so much money on these kids for birthdays and Christmas and Easter it isn't even funny. I think I set myself up for failure because I don't see how I can possibly keep up with the pace I have set for myself.
I think I need to take a step back and maybe start over. This is what a day for me is like.
7 am arrival
8 am breakfast
830 brush teeth
835-9 free play
9-915 circle....we do calendar, shapes, weather and read a book and sing songs
915-10 free play or dancing to music or on the wii with just dance for kids
10-1030 worktime....which is monday-craft
tues. fundamentals (names, letters, numbers)
Wed. science
thurs fundamentals(scissor use, fine motor
etc.
Friday math
11 lunch
1130 movie
12-2 nap/rest
230 snack
245 play outside or free play until home
530 home
It is a long day. I am tired. and the parents still expect more. :confused:

See, you already had the answers within.

Do it for the kids.

Do it for the smiles, the giggles, the hugs, the love, the FUN!!!

Remember WHO it is you are trying to make smile/laugh (the kids)

If they go home happy and FULL of fun memories, the you did your job and you did it well.

If parents want more, THEY can do more. It's not YOUR responsibility.

Sometimes we don't see the solution because we're so focused on what others (usually parents) tell us the problem is but when we take a deep breath, step back and really look at the situation, we realize that the problem we are trying to solve doesn't make sense because it's not our problem to solve.

We can't fix things for others but we can make sure we are happy and content with ourselves. If you KNOW you made the kids laugh, made them happy, kept them safe, warm and loved then you DID IT!!!!

That's all those little faces are expecting from you. Stop allowing others to add to those expectations!

:hug: You CAN do this!!! :hug:

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

You have a fantastic program, Laura! I think most of us do this very same thing to ourselves, trying to do more and more. Then we either burn out and quit, or we take a step back and put some serious thought into what needs to change.

I try to do it all, here, too: circle time, centers, preschool, all with real motive to cover all the bases for early childhood education and development with newborns, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers while at the same time maintaining a pristine record for licensing and my food program. Whew!

When I was at the end of my rope, I figured out where I went wrong and changed it:

1. I only do preschool curriculum for those in their last year before Kindergarten.
2. I only do circle, centers, preschool M-Th. On F, the kids get to watch TV (not even turned on the rest of the week) and free play and I use that time to get stuff ready for next week. DCFs like that we only watch TV one day per week, and it is a major selling point.
3. I try to do everything for DC during DC hours, except for interviews and shopping. If it's work related, I should be able to do it during work hours.
4. I stopped buying and doing extravagant things for holidays and birthdays when I realized overall I was spending more on my 8-10 DCKs than I was for my own 3 DSs. That is really for the DCFs to do for their own children. We keep it simple and fun, and nobody misses the lavishness of yesteryear.

Those were the biggest things I did, and it renewed me. I hope you find your way to fall in love with daycare again!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

And about your original post about the big baby DCM and DCD, I agree with ignoring them. I think if you address it, they will still try to convince you to open early and unless you cave, it will only makes things even more uncomfortable. It will probably blow over in a week or so and be forgotten. If THEY bring it up, I would say exactly what e.j. and BlackCat31 said.