Rest Time Question/Advice

[Unregistered]

Tammy

I agree with you! I have found that 6 is my magic number, once I added even 1 more child, the dynamic in the group subtly changed. With 2 more children, there was a stronger shift, and with 3 more, I had great difficulty in managing. This is why I got an assistant. Not only is she wonderful to the children, she is just a doll and very helpful to me all around. Although I do lose out financially by having to pay her a decent salary ( I do want to keep her here and happy!), I have found that parents feel better knowing that there are 2 of us, and that I am not alone.

[ConcernedMotherof2]

As far as having time to yourself, any working mother goes through this. (did that make sense?) I realize that I do not own a daycare (simply because that line of work is just not something I am cut out for), but I work full time, go to school full time and have two children... Somewhere between bringing home the bacon, cooking it, cleaning it up, my home work and theirs (and lets not forget QUALITY family time), I have to find time to sleep and most days that can be rather difficult. Getting those little angels on a regular napping schedule will definitely do you a world of good. Unfortunately, those of us with experience with children know that there will be days when this just does not happen for you.

On the days that you do not get your much-needed afternoon chill time, is there any way that you can get a half hour in the evening that is all yours? Have hubby take care of your kids (just because you stay home all day doesn't mean that you haven't been working yourself to the point of exhaustion) or send them to Grandma for an evening... And spend that time doing something for yourself--not planning activities for the next day or catching up on paperwork.

I wish you the best of luck.

[SimpleMom]

At this time EVERYONE is resting...aaahhh. Can't tell you what a relief THAT is, nor can I believe it. Yesterday, I worked 6am -5:15pm with not much of a mental or physical break. I can tell you that right after I blogged my last post, I completely crashed on the couch for two straight hours!

My husband had my youngest grocery shopping with him and my parents have my oldest for the week. It did me a lot of good. I can't say I am completely out of the woods in the overwhelmed category, but it's a nice break from it and gave my some more energy for the rest of the day.

To the 'concerned mother of 2'. You do have a lot of work on your shoulders. THank you for sharing your story and for the advice. I used to be a single parent of one and I went to school FT and worked three PT jobs. I know that school, work, and parenting are a lot of work right there. I think the only difference I feel now is the noise level being pretty constant and sometimes very loud. It's like the fingernails on the chalkboard for me after awhile

I started home daycare right after I married, so maybe some of it is the being a wife and mom thing.

[tymaboy]

When I have older children I have quite time for them that they can play or watch a movie but they must be quite, if they are not then I do like Mac06 does & take everything away. At the moment I have all little ones, my oldest is 18 months so I am working on getting all the little ones on the same schedule. Some days are better then others. I personaly do not like taking older children, I find that I enjoy (& have better luck) with the young ones.

[SimpleMom]

screaming

Has anyone had a screamer? This little one will screach and scream when she doesn't get their way. They do it until they get their way or in this case until they can calm themselves down enough to get their way. I usually have tried talking first, am calm and use short words to direct them or let them know what the answer is. I've tried redirection to no avail (as of yet).

It may be that she is misunderstood or misunderstanding, but it's definately LOUD and goes on and on. I makes the ears ring. The little one is a year and a half old and is on day three at my facility.

My child is older and just finished a copy-cat routine of this screaming I was getting them ready for rest time. I don't allow my own kids to do that. It's hard and I feel like a big meanie, but I won't let it happen to their benefit. It's harder yet, because I know they just learned it from someone elses child and now I have to discipline my child for the lack of discipline of anothers' child. (I know it's gone the other way where my child has taught another's child something that's not ok to do either.)

I've tried a lot of different things to be proactive or calm them down. It is a little stressful at times for me and for the other children in my care.
Anyway, I would love to see this work out. It's two full-time children and the parents are really nice and willing to work with me on the issue.

[ConcernedMotherof2]

A Cheerful Goodbye

I started home daycare right after I married, so maybe some of it is the being a wife and mom thing.

Hang in there, sunshine, that was my point... the wife and mom thing is *taxing* and when you add to it the constant noise (not just literal noise... constant motion and so forth) of multiple "other people's children," you can get bogged down. Was just trying to commiserate with you, as there are a lot of similarities between being a working parent and being a working parent who's occupation happens to be running a daycare. I guess I was frustrated from reading some of the other posts in other threads and got to thinking maybe I could, somehow, bridge the gap that seems to be there? Apparently, this is *not* the place.

I am glad to see things are going well for you at rest time and that you're actually getting some rest! Best of luck to you

[Unregistered]

Has anyone had a screamer? This little one will screach and scream when she doesn't get their way. They do it until they get their way or in this case until they can calm themselves down enough to get their way. I usually have tried talking first, am calm and use short words to direct them or let them know what the answer is. I've tried redirection to no avail (as of yet).

It may be that she is misunderstood or misunderstanding, but it's definately LOUD and goes on and on. I makes the ears ring. The little one is a year and a half old and is on day three at my facility.

My child is older and just finished a copy-cat routine of this screaming I was getting them ready for rest time. I don't allow my own kids to do that. It's hard and I feel like a big meanie, but I won't let it happen to their benefit. It's harder yet, because I know they just learned it from someone elses child and now I have to discipline my child for the lack of discipline of anothers' child. (I know it's gone the other way where my child has taught another's child something that's not ok to do either.)

I've tried a lot of different things to be proactive or calm them down. It is a little stressful at times for me and for the other children in my care.
Anyway, I would love to see this work out. It's two full-time children and the parents are really nice and willing to work with me on the issue.

I'm right there with ya!! When my lil 2.5 yr old just screams and throws a fit, I just make her sit on the couch until she's done. Then I talk to her about that we use nice words and we don't scream at people to get our way, that isn't nice. It's exhausting!


How long do ya'll have nap time for?

[SimpleMom]

The nap time is allotted from 1:00-3:00. Usually, the children sleep (when they sleep) for about 1-2 hours.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

our nap is from 12 - 2 and they all sleep. Even the older ones. My own 11 and 8 yr olds, and the dog as well. We start early here,.. Im up at 4 kids start coming at 5 and everyone is up and moving by 530. I work 5a to 6 p. By 11 lunch is a calm relaxed heaven and by nap they are all exhausted, full and sleepy. I do turn on BORING TV,.. the green channel (recycling), HGTV, the science channel,.. . something learning,.. but boring and thats whats on during nap. The older ones can watch that or sleep, but I do not turn on cartoons for the children. That is a special cartoon treat saved for our once a month cartoon time. I suppose some may say thats mean but I dont consider the tv a daycare item. We dont watch videos, or cartoons,.. I did tape a special on Disney world for a child who was going once,.. and we do watch if there is something corresponding to our preschool lesson on a channel but not"kids programming". My parents know this and they also know I require a rest time each day. But I also have had the same routine, every day for 19 years.

[mac60]

Laundryduchess....you hit it when you said having the same routine everyday, for 19 years. That is definately the key. Routine routine routine, makes for a much better day for everyone.

[AmandasFCC]

I've finally just decided last week that not insisting on nap or laydown time is not conducive to my environmeny. I have 2 babies here, a 2, 3, and 4 year old. When the babies are napping, before it would be just WAY too loud, no matter how hard I tried to get the kids to play quietly, they would start wrestling or hitting each other or otherwise making noise. So enough is enough. Now they lay down, whether or not they sleep is up to them, but they have to lie down at least until the babies wake up. It was suggested to me to use TV as well, and I found that yes, they would be quiet for a little while, but I don't agree with TV being used as a crutch in daycare either. Then the kids get used to it, expect it, and throw fits when it gets shut off! not good

[Unregistered]

Of course there's always the problem of the nappers finding out that the non-nappers are watching TV during nap time - now there's NO nappers because they all want their TV fix.....tee hee - it never ends!