I'm Tired. Anyone Else Tired?

[GirlMomma]

Amen, sister!

[Valerie928]

I was on vacation last week and when my dck 's came back this week the parents acted like they'd performed some kinda grand miracle by having to be with their kids while I was gone. Ridiculous.
I have an over 3 year old dcg that still has a pacifier at home, still poops her pull up daily and sleeps in a crib... I want to bitch slap her parents. They treat her like an infant.
I could go on.....and on..

I am tired but more physically tired because I foster orphaned neonatal kittens and just got a litter of 6 that require round the clock care. I would do this for a living if I could tho and quit daycare forever.

[Cat Herder]

The paradox.

"My little snookum's is the sweetest, smartest and funniest little darling in the whole, wide world." = Release the kraken!!! Violet Beauregard has nothing on this kid.

"My nugget is a handful. I'm just going to warn you. He won't let me put on his shoes. He's a picky eater." = Home base!! This kid runs to the door at drop-off and slams it before DCM can get to the porch to sign in. Bye. Just bye, mom. This kid needs a break and his own space, stat!!

It never gets old, that's for sure.

[SandBox]

TwinMama

I guess I detach myself for one. How they parent, what they feel and think, has nothing to really do with me. As long as no abuse to their children. So then I have to ask myself what’s really impacting my life? Is what they are doing really changing me and my relationships with those most important to me? Is there any risk to me about what they are doing? If I answer yes to any of those, I don’t want the family. And I have termed for this. Their behavior made me feel uncomfortable and I couldn’t change them, wasn’t going to try, but they had to go. If I can detach myself though and really just let it all go in ear and out the other, I just do that.

And I changed up in my mind why I do this. I don’t do this for them. So why am I expecting them to thank me and treat me with respect when they don’t get their way? Some do. Some don’t. Take in your heart the ones that do. Throw out the trash.

For you, maybe try and figure out what it is exactly that bothers you so much that they don’t want to parent? Why do you take that burden on? They may be crossing a boundary with you that you don’t realize. And it can be as simple as a mind set change, policy change, or completely term the family.

It can get deep. When you start digging and asking yourself why certain things bother you. Own it, take accountability, and see what you can change about it.

But this isn’t me dismissing your feelings. I’ve wanted to quit plenty of times. I get fearful of this job. I do find it to make me too vulnerable. I don’t trust well either. So. It’s probably not something I’ll do long term. I don’t know yet. I go back and forth. But what I mentioned above is what I do to help me keep my peace. Some stuff should not have happened and it was because of the way I was doing things. I took ownership and fixed it. Other stuff is out of my control, but if I don’t like you, I don’t have to keep you.

[TwinMama]

Please tell me how. I literally feel like my parents don't want to be parents. That they're excited to drop their kids off because they can't handle their own children. I just wish I could tell them how inept they are.

[GirlMomma]

Yep… all of this. My youngest DD goes to school in two years. If I don’t have my DC out of my home, I’ll likely close it up and work for the school system so I still have the same days off with my girls.

[SandBox]

I had to lower my expectations by a lot. That probably helped me the most.

[Annalee]

I'm going on 8 years doing this now which isn't long, but...I'm tired. This is the most emotionally draining, rewarding, frustrating, thankless job.

Why do parents want us to be the parent?

I'm taking a few days off and 3 of my families are frazzled because they actually have to spend time with their children.

I asked DH if this is a losing battle. I'm making memories for the kids that they wouldn't have otherwise, but.....it's getting worse. Parents are getting worse. I have 2 new families starting and they're literally setting their snowflakes up for failure.

I have one that thinks that they're princess is very advanced. I don't want to burst their bubble, but she's not going to be able to handle starting PreK.

I know I still have steam left in me, but.....

Anyone else feel this way?

Hang In There! I dare say everyone on this board have feelings like this at times, many times actually! Add some extra days off, or one day....feel like you are growing in your own business....I tell myself "I've been open 30 years so I get the benefits". You been there 8 years so you get the benefits.....make sure you are paid for your benefits! My mentor said you have to give yourself something EVERY YEAR..... Go somewhere! Do something you've never done! I got a pedicure this past weekend for the FIRST TIME. Can't believe I just typed that again. Most family child care providers are givers and servers but sometimes we are give out. TAKE CARE OF YOU!

[TwinMama]

I'm going on 8 years doing this now which isn't long, but...I'm tired. This is the most emotionally draining, rewarding, frustrating, thankless job.

Why do parents want us to be the parent?

I'm taking a few days off and 3 of my families are frazzled because they actually have to spend time with their children.

I asked DH if this is a losing battle. I'm making memories for the kids that they wouldn't have otherwise, but.....it's getting worse. Parents are getting worse. I have 2 new families starting and they're literally setting their snowflakes up for failure.

I have one that thinks that they're princess is very advanced. I don't want to burst their bubble, but she's not going to be able to handle starting PreK.

I know I still have steam left in me, but.....

Anyone else feel this way?