Your Misconceptions About Doing Daycare?

[MarinaVanessa]

Think back to when you first started daycare. Was there anything that you had envisioned in your mind about what running a daycare in your home would be like that turned out to be completely different?

Like for me something I hadn't considered about running a daycare from home was that my family wouldn't be entirely on board. It wasn't that they weren't supportive, just that they didn't realize how important it was to follow licensing regulations. My husband, mother & sister constantly left cleaning products out, knives on the counters, glass within reach, wouldn't latch baby gates, left the front door opened, left purses/wallet laying around. They didn't think it was a big deal. I used to do daycare upstairs too before but stopped because it was too hard for me to keep two floors baby proofed.

Just curious if you all had any misconceptions about what it would be like which turned out to be completely different than what you thought.

[Blackcat31]

I thought most parents would care more about their child than I do.

[finsup]

So many of the issues that come up with the parents. I really thought I'd have appreciative families who would want to spend as much time with their kids as possible since they were in care all day when they got done. I never envisioned parents who want you to keep their child for 12+ hours, ones who will fight you on being paid, the sick kids that arrive etc. I guess it's just an overall lack of respect that I didn't expect at all. I thought I could be "nice" and "help" and that it wouldn't be taken advantage of. Yet it has been, every time. As a result I am also much stricter on policies etc then I was at the start. I didn't think I would need "all that" when I started. Boy was that first year a wake up call!

[Snowmom]

I definitely had the rose colored glasses on.

I had the "it takes a village" mindset and thought the families I enrolled would respect and appreciate me, my home and the fact that I was caring for their most precious gift in life.

That was beaten outta me by year 2.
I'm now all business, all the time.

[MarinaVanessa]

Yes, very true. That's another for me. I knew I'd need a contract but I hadn't considered just how many policies I'd have to include. Things that were common sense to weren't for some parents. Like being paid on time, sick kids and bringing supplies.

I'm so glad I have great clients right now.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I didn't realize how undervalued childcare has become.

I didn't realize how the high cost of childcare led to the devaluation of us by parents.

I didn't realize just how much the state wants a hand in this business and will do whatever it takes to get it.

I didn't realize that the difference between daycare and being a nanny would be so huge.

I didn't realize that after I had my own children, I would get burnt out so quickly from doing a job I have been doing for years.

I didn't realize the impact it had on my family's privacy.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Not quite sure what I pictured as far as cleaning. I cleaned minimally when I worked in daycare centers while obtaining my teaching degree but not at all while student teaching....
I guess I didn't factor that in AT ALL. It was strictly a "work during business hours" job. But, that's not how I operate 100% here...I would never get teaching time if I did all my work during business hours.

But, holy cow. The amount of cleaning this job requires is truly crazy!

[Baby Beluga]

I did not realize there was so much back end business tasks. Sending out emails, receipts, pictures, updating the FB page, keeping track of paperwork, etc. It took me by surprise.

I also did not realize how life consuming this profession is. I am always thinking of/about my clients, classroom, upcoming lessons, activities, etc. Even when I try not to.

[Mom2Two]

I didn't realize I'd still be doing it 4.5 years later :-D

There's such a list of things I didn't realize that I hardly know where to start.

I definitely thought that other parent would always want to spend as much time with kids as possible. I didn't realize that those few parents who have "easy" kids would believe that parenting was actually easy. It's not--they just lucked out to not have serious problems. Most of us do have some serious problems.

Licensing's list of dos/don'ts was amazing--I thought my home was well child-proofed, but apparently not.

[Josiegirl]

The reason I stayed home and started caring for other family's kids was so I could spend more time with mine. That was my first misconception; never had time to actually just be with them.
And I never imagined the state would be as involved in our business like it is now or how can they come up with such ridiculous time-consuming regulations 'for the sake of the children'. :confused:

I also never believed I'd see 10 years in this business, let alone 35.

[Ariana]

I thought most parents would care more about their child than I do.

This exactly! It was very shocking and eye opening for me. I literally thought parents would be super concerned about the things their kids are doing, eating, sleeping etc but most don't care!

[Mike]

I thought most parents would care more about their child than I do.

I learned that one in my babysitting years. ::
One family was even considering letting me adopt one of their kids one day, for about 30 seconds. Oh well, that was a happy 30 seconds anyway. ::

I didn't realize I'd still be doing it 4.5 years later :-D

There's such a list of things I didn't realize that I hardly know where to start.

I definitely thought that other parent would always want to spend as much time with kids as possible. I didn't realize that those few parents who have "easy" kids would believe that parenting was actually easy. It's not--they just lucked out to not have serious problems. Most of us do have some serious problems.

Licensing's list of dos/don'ts was amazing--I thought my home was well child-proofed, but apparently not.

I'm hoping to be going part time by this fall and full time by next spring, and if it does work out, stay in it for about 12 years while I prepare for retirement. :: Then probably just cut back a little, but keep going as long as I can.

[CityGarden]

I am still new but I did not realize how significantly difficult it would be for dd (10) or myself to share our space. I love teaching but realize it could not be in my home long term --- I wish California allowed a set up like Black Cat's.

[Blackcat31]

I am still new but I did not realize how significantly difficult it would be for dd (10) or myself to share our space. I love teaching but realize it could not be in my home long term --- I wish California allowed a set up like Black Cat's.

I will always admit; Iwould have quit sometime in the first 3 years if I did this in my home.

Kudos to those of you that do! happyface
Double for those of you that do AND have your own kids still at home!! happyface happyface

I couldn't do it.

[trix23]

I didn't realize how much time goes towards diaper changes, checking diapers for poop, and hand washing.

Or the fact at how much paperwork and record-keeping is necessary, though I don't mind it.

I went in with a solid handbook and etc but have found my voice and don't mind telling people no or that I can't do that. Or that their payment is past due with late fees accruing.

I have 2 young kids (3.5 years and 7 months) and do this in my home. Oh the cleaning.... . I do floors weekly and clean the kitchen after every meal.