Describe An Average Work Day

[Cat Herder]

These posts are making me wonder. Everyone is up between 4:30 and 5:30. That's the only real negative I see about opening up daycare.

For me, it was not really about daycare. It was about having breakfast alone with my family before school/any DCK's arrived and getting my housework done in the mornings so that I was "off work" when the last DCK left. I also don't have any housework on the weekends this way.

[Mike]

For me, it was not really about daycare. It was about having breakfast alone with my family before school/any DCK's arrived and getting my housework done in the mornings so that I was "off work" when the last DCK left. I also don't have any housework on the weekends this way.

True. I'm single, so don't need family time in the morning. Just get up, shower, and be ready for the kids.

[debbiedoeszip]

Up at 6am and depending on the day will drink coffee and surf the net until 6:40 or 7am. Thirty minutes to shower, other hygiene, dress. Bring laptop downstairs to daycare room (to stream music). Make another coffee and bring it downstairs. Putter until first dckid arrives (7:40-8:10 depending on day).

Indoor play until 8:30
Morning snack 8:30 to 9am
Outdoor play 9-10am
Indoor play 10-11:30am
Lunch 1130-12pm
Rest/Nap (in nap room) 12-2pm (non-nappers or early wakers can be in playroom quietly playing)
2-2:30 Indoor play
2:30-3pm art activity
3-3:30 afternoon snack
3:30-4:30 outdoor play
4:30-5:15 indoor play
5:15 last child leaves.
5:15-6pm I vacuum and mop floors, clean bathroom, wipe tables and counter, load and start dishwasher, bag up some toys in laundry bag and throw in washer with some towels (and start washer)
6-9:30 my time (kids are adult); make supper (enough for lunch next day), laundry if necessary, sweep kitchen floor (only part of main house that can be seen by clients), watch tv
9:30-10pm read in bed
10pm lights out

[sharlan]

I get up at 6:40, shower, dress, and head down before 1st one comes at 7. Next two come between 7 and 7:40.

I start breakfast at 7:15 to 7:30.

I leave to drive older girls to school at 8:20, back at 8:40. Come home a do a few activities with 3 yo.

If my toddler is coming, she comes at 9. If not 3 yo does her own thing or we do a craft.

I start lunch between 11:15 and 11:30. Have lunch and then naptime at 12. We leave at 3:00 to pick up older girls.

Dh leaves to pickup grandkids at 2 and gets home at 3:30.

We get back about 3:30 and everyone has snack and then I get the SA kids (daycare and my grandkids) started on their homework. 3 yo does her own thing.

Kids all leave between 4 and 5:30 except for 7 yo. If it's Mom 's week she gets picked up at 5:45.

I get dinner on the table for my family by 5:45. We have dinner, clean up kitchen and pick up the rest of the house.

I head upstairs and read or sew until 9:30 or 10. Then it's lights out.

[Lovisa]

I make sure the house is totally ready for the next day the night before so that I can have my 30 minutes in the morning to get properly caffeinated and have nothing else to do

Up at 5am.
Drink coffee till 5:30am. First kids arrive.
Other kids arrive between 7 and 8.
Between 7 and 8 I get my own kids up and out the door by 8.
Breakfast for kiddos 8am
Outside play time for a few hours and snack
Back inside at 10 for either coloring or painting, or maybe a craft.
Lunch around 11:30
Nap from 12-2:30 for all kids
Snack and 1 tv show after nap
Kids start leaving at 3 and all are gone by 5

We do mostly free play all day. I am not structured at all (except for meals and nap times).

[daycarediva]

These posts are making me wonder. Everyone is up between 4:30 and 5:30. That's the only real negative I see about opening up daycare. :: Right now, mostly because of winter, I have trouble getting up before 8. I've never been good at getting up before 7. I will definitely be doing most of my prep work the night before.

I am up at 4:30 because it is the ONLY alone time I get, 4:30-6 is ME time. I get to work out alone, take a HOT shower ALONE, and get that first cup of coffee ALONE. Nothing to do with daycare. I also really hate trying to get myself ready and get my kids ready at the same time. I have always liked to wake before them, then wake them up. Makes for a more relaxed, family oriented morning.

None of my dck's are regularly scheduled to arrive until 8. If I was single, I would be up at 7:30, shower and open the door at 8.

[AmyKidsCo]

My "Me Time" is after my boys get to bed, between 8:30-9:00.

I get up at 6:10. By 6:45 I switch laundry and start tidying up and vacuuming. Children arrive anytime between 7:00-8:30. In between greeting them and caring for any needs I help my own boys get ready for school (they leave at 7:30), unload/reload the dishwasher, do dishes, and switch/fold laundry. My kitchen is open to the dining room/playroom so I can monitor the kiddos while I'm in there.

[childcaremom]

I wake up at 4. Caffeinate, clean, shower.

Yoga and meditation.

Wake my kids. Breakfast. Get them organized for school. Dd on the bus.

My kids now arrive between 7:30 and 8.

Our day is mostly free play.

Free play until snack
9 morning snack
art/sensory
Outside
1130 lunch
12-230 rest
Afternoon snack
Outside or free play if our gear is soaked

Kids are gone by 430-5

I chill for 30 mins or so. Get dinner organized. Kids homeworked, showered, played, bedded down by 8.

Chill with my son. He is in bed by 9ish.

Hubby and I chill for a bit.

Bed. Anywhere from 9:30-10.

[childcaremom]

I am up at 4:30 because it is the ONLY alone time I get, 4:30-6 is ME time. I get to work out alone, take a HOT shower ALONE, and get that first cup of coffee ALONE. Nothing to do with daycare. I also really hate trying to get myself ready and get my kids ready at the same time. I have always liked to wake before them, then wake them up. Makes for a more relaxed, family oriented morning.

None of my dck's are regularly scheduled to arrive until 8. If I was single, I would be up at 7:30, shower and open the door at 8.

This X 10000000 ::
There's 5 of us now, my oldest is away at uni, and 1 bathroom. I dread my girls hitting puberty. ::::

[kendallina]

Holy cow you all get up sooo early! I have a one-year-old at home and I still get days where I can sleep in until 6:45/7:00.

6:30-7:30am up with baby, make breakfast and coffee, watch tv, play on phone, RELAX!

7:30-8:30am get DD up (8 yrs old), breakfast for her, help her get around for day, get baby ready for babysitters (goes to a morning sitter while I run preschool), finish getting preschool room set up

8:30-9:00am get preschool ready. Relax and drink my coffee if there's time! Kids start arriving a little before 9am.

9am-noon Preschool activities-lots of fun, all play based and hands on. Love this part of my day, very busy.

noon-3pm Lunch then nap. I usually relax during nap, do paperwork, pay bills, etc.

3pm-4pm Kids get up from nap, most kids leave by 4pm.

4pm- walk to bus stop with whoever's left and pick up my daughter

4:30-5pm Snack for kids, playtime or outside. Everyone gone by 5pm.

[Josiegirl]

Up anywhere between 4-4:30. Hit the on coffee button. Stumble through my a.m. bathroom routine, bring dogs out, feed dogs, turn on computer, guzzle coffee and open my eyes. By now it's 5:30 and with luck I've done a load of laundry. Still to do....sweep, vacuum, garbage(if not done the night before), check to make sure I have everything for my daily menu(last minute planner here), paperwork, bring dogs out again(oh how I wish I could simply open the front door for them). Wash tables, check bathroom, all that good last minute stuff. Anywhere from 7-8, dcks arrive. And the fun begins.
8-5 is mass bedlam, hysteria, chaos, laughter, fun,sprinkled with a few quiet moments and baby cuddling.
5....shut the door and deflate, zone out here on the computer, dog stuff, and get ready for bed by 7-7:30 so I can read and be asleep by 9. At night I'm not good for much. I have no kids of my own here anymore so I just have to worry about me and my pups.