-
-
I'm not ashamed to say that I do it for the money. Taking care of kids is HARD work. You should know that, you're a mom and grandma. You do it because these kids are family and you love them. But they are not my family and I don't have the same love for them so why else would I take care of someone else's children??!! There are many of us who do genuinely love kids and love our job but that doesn't mean we do it for free. Other people in other jobs might love their job but that doesn't mean that they are doing it for free either. This is the way the world goes round and many people do not have the luxury of free childcare from grandma. If it makes you feel any better, I take care of 6 kids all day every day (50+ hours a week) and get paid slave wages after you deduct supplies, utilities and everything else. So its not like I am a millionaire over here.
Also curious, why DID you think people do childcare?Comment
-
Great. More parents and grandparents should be as involved and vigilant as you.
But I'll tell you a secret. If most of us were REALLY just in it for the money, we WOULDN'T be in it. Especially those of us who work at centers.
The OP obviously isn't in it for the money because netting $120 for a month and even thinking of continuing to operate indicates a desire deeper than just money.
Also, to provide quality child care COSTS money. Food, utilities, insurance, equipment, toys, cleaning supplies, activities, employees, certifications, vehicles...it all cost lots of money. Parents expect that their children are receiving these things freely. Through some unfortunate events, I've found myself RUNNING a child care center at this time. And the fact of the matter is we regularly get stiffed by parents who will buy their kids expensive tennis shoes and not pay their daycare.
A provider who isn't taking in enough money to at least break even is not able to provide quality care for your kids. Plus, you do expect her to be able to make a living, right?? So in order to do that, a top concern must be money.Comment
-
People who do things for free purely out of love are called volunteers.
People who get paid for the things they love doing are called childcare providers.
Last edited by Blackcat31; 07-10-2011, 03:55 PM.Comment
-
I would start by letting go of your assistant. 4 FT and 2 PT don't require 5 people watching over them.Comment
-
Sorry, quoted wrong person.Comment
-
Give me a friggin' break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I started providing daycare 27 yrs ago so that I could stay home and take care of my daughters. I went through 10 babysitters, everything from neighbors to teenagers to licensed providers in a little over 2 years. My girls have the horror stories and scars to prove it. Yes, my 32 yo still has a scar from a bite to her chest.
I wanted to provide a safe, loving environment so that other kids wouldn't go through what mine did. I wanted to provide a loving home away from home so that other children would know they were cherished. My "daycare kids" were treated with the same love and respect that my own were. I never played favorites with any of them.
In order for me to not "work" I had to provide an income to help pay the bills. Believe it or not, it costs money to provide daycare. There's an increase in utilities, groceries, tp, gas for the car because I wanted to provide outings that the parents didn't have time for, wear and tear on my home, etc. 8 lunches at McD's instead of 2, 8 ice creams at the drugstore versus 2. It costs "ME" money to take care of someone else's child.
Right now, I provide care for my grandchildren. Do I want them going somewhere else? NO! I want to be an important part of their lives. I want all of their hugs and kisses and don't want to share them. I don't even want to share them with their other grandparents. (Get the picture? Yes, I'm selfish and want it all.) I do know that there are other providers out there who would take great care of them. I am in a situation where I can do it. Not all grandparents can.
I do agree that some of the members here seem to be money driven. This is a forum for providers to bounce ideas off of each other. This is a forum for providers to vent to each other. Many providers are isolated in that they are home all day with a group of children with very little interaction with adults. This forum provides them with an outlet to talk to other adults with the same interests.
Yes, please send young mothers here to read. They need to be educated to learn what they do and don't want in a provider. They need to learn the options available to them.
Oh, and by the way, there are a lot of grandparents and other family members that are caring for children who shouldn't be. The kids physical needs are being met, but the kids social needs aren't. They get wonderful cooked meals and fresh baked cookies, lots of hugs and kisses, but they also get the tv and videos all day long because grandma doesn't have the energy or desire to run and play and interact all day.Comment
-
Amen to the bold! You have no idea what a group of children who are in your home will do it. Even if you have a structured environment and well behaved kids, that A LOT of traffic in and out of the home when you include the parents coming and going as well. I have had thousands of dollars in wear to my home and little of it was intention (like kids actually destroying stuff). It is mostly flooring and repainting but also yard work from parents tramping through the lawn (when there is a walkway one foot away) and the like. A constant rotation of toys, equipment, blankets and supplies for all these kids. A new vacuum when the old one dies from overuse and other things you would never think of until you actually had to pay for it.Comment
-
I apologize for the OT tantrum, but my pet peeve is somebody stating that kids would be better off with family members than a stranger (ie daycare provider).Comment
-
You said it. :
:
Your grandchilren's doctors... they do it for the money.
Your grandchildren's teachers... also for the money.
Your grandchildren's babysitters... yep, for the money.
I'd like you to find one person in this world who chose a fantasticly rewarding career in life who provide their services for free.
You won't.
By the way - I only make $12 an hour. That's $2.40 per child per hour. After factoring in food costs, supplies, and all of my overhead to run this business - I only make about $6 an hour. That's $1.20 per child per hour. If you don't think your grandchildren are worth that - no childcare provider wants YOU!
Yup, I do this just for the wealth. ::
Comment
-
I love this!!!
I do not provide daycare ONLY for the money, but ummmm... without the money how the heck would I pay the mortgage that keeps a roof over all those little ones heads for 40+ hours a week?????Comment
Tweet
Comment