Struggling Lately

[Blackcat31]

I need to stop taking everything so personally.

This is the secret to longevity, less stress and success! 😉

[Sparkles]

I just posted a few days ago about a difficult parent. Well since then I am feeling so discouraged about doing in home daycare. My parents are so disrespectful and I don't feel appreciated in the slightest. I will text them and get no response, the kid will be out sick for days and I won't hear from them. They no call no show, which is fine but a courtesy text would be nice. I just feel like I am a babysitter to all of them and nothing more. I work so hard to teach their kids, provide a good curriculum, send lots of pictures and I feel it really goes unnoticed. I am starting to dread everyday and I don't want to feel this way. I use to really enjoy my business, I haven't even been open a year yet. Anyone else feel this way? Any words of encouragement? I just don't know how much longer I can continue this, but I also need the income.

I totally understand how you feel. We've all been there! I'm feeling it now, as well.

There is not one day that goes by where at least a couple of my dcp does something that makes me want to scream. I feel like people in general these days are very entitled and selfish. I get the vibe that maybe you are a people pleaser like me. So, thats a really crappy situation to be in. To want to go above and beyond and impress your clients, and then feeling unappreciated and hurt when they don't care. Then getting resentful.. But still keep doing it because you're a people pleaser. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

I still really struggle with it, but I've gotten better at not caring as much. I needed to lower my expectations of people and realize that they don't care like I think they should. I also take way more time off then I used to. I'm going to change my curriculum this coming year to do less than what I did last year. I'm going to make things easier for me. The only thing I'm required to do is make sure their kids are safe, healthy, and cared for while they're at work. Anything above that is a bonus.

I also think of the positives of this job. I make decent money working from home, and my own kids never had to go to daycare. I'm home when my kids get off the bus. If they're sick, it's not a big deal for them to stay home. I don't have a boss to answer to, I don't worry about getting "fired", and I can take any days off I want and make my own schedule. When I think of those things, it doesn't seem so bad 😊

[GirlMomma]

No ma’am, we don’t! 😂

[mamadaycare]

I was when my kids were in school. I have 3 and they counted in my ratio until they reached the age of 13 here. I also did not want to miss that time with them and the ratio issue gave me the perfect opportunity. Attendance is pretty low on those days, anyway, even now that I am open for them.

Now I take one week in fall (unpaid), one week in spring (unpaid), all federal holidays (paid) and a few self created three-day weekends (unpaid). That said, I figure my tuition rate based on 50 weeks instead of 52 to fully fund those two weeks off. The parents don't have to pay those weeks and since they are used to paying each week feel it is "unpaid" even though it is balance out over the year. For them it feels like extra cash available to pay someone else those weeks or in their pocket if they schedule their vacations with mine (most do).

That is genius! I need to really look at my time off for next year and take some extra days. I have three as well but only one is schoolage at the moment. Gotta sprinkle in some mental health days as well!

[Cat Herder]

Are you closed the same days as the school?

I was when my kids were in school. I have 3 and they counted in my ratio until they reached the age of 13 here. I also did not want to miss that time with them and the ratio issue gave me the perfect opportunity. Attendance is pretty low on those days, anyway, even now that I am open for them.

Now I take one week in fall (unpaid), one week in spring (unpaid), all federal holidays (paid) and a few self created three-day weekends (unpaid). That said, I figure my tuition rate based on 50 weeks instead of 52 to fully fund those two weeks off. The parents don't have to pay those weeks and since they are used to paying each week feel it is "unpaid" even though it is balance out over the year. For them it feels like extra cash available to pay someone else those weeks or in their pocket if they schedule their vacations with mine (most do).

[mamadaycare]

I’m right there with you. Lots of hugs! ❤️

If I were you, let the kids have free play the rest of the month and see how you feel come August. Seriously. Unless it rains, put all the “stuff” up. I am more motivated now to do preschool in September than I was in April. I bought a lesson plan book from Amazon and new books to read, too. Another positive, my kiddos are being CREATIVE on their own! They were playing restaurant the other day and the older ones were serving them. LOL Kids need to find their own creativity and use their own imagination too.

With my time off, I let my families know 90 days in advance as a courtesy… but I’m only required to give them 2 weeks. I send out a text to everyone and let them know. I like to give families plenty of time to plan. Next year, I’ll likely give my families my time off at the start of the year.

I don’t get paid for my time off, in my area it’s not a common practice. But I know others on this Forum that do charge no matter what.

I will try that! Kids really do need free play, they have to learn to use their imagination. I get paid of the days I am closed, unless it is an unplanned closure.
I feel like we don't get paid enough for the things we do and put up with lol

[mamadaycare]

I use a school calendar template and give it out one year in advance. I take the same two weeks and federal holidays every year then pepper in a few Friday's and Mondays for appointments in advance. I basically put mine out at the same time as the public school calendar. When my kids lived at home, I followed the public schools calendar plus added the extra Fridays/Monday's for appointments. It made planning easier that way. School Calendar 2021 - 2022 -2022 & Academic Calendar Templates (calendarlabs.com)

Using an academic calendar instead of the typical 12 months in order makes it much more functional since that is how most families actually live. It starts with July.

Are you closed the same days as the school?

[GirlMomma]

I’m right there with you. Lots of hugs! ❤️

If I were you, let the kids have free play the rest of the month and see how you feel come August. Seriously. Unless it rains, put all the “stuff” up. I am more motivated now to do preschool in September than I was in April. I bought a lesson plan book from Amazon and new books to read, too. Another positive, my kiddos are being CREATIVE on their own! They were playing restaurant the other day and the older ones were serving them. LOL Kids need to find their own creativity and use their own imagination too.

With my time off, I let my families know 90 days in advance as a courtesy… but I’m only required to give them 2 weeks. I send out a text to everyone and let them know. I like to give families plenty of time to plan. Next year, I’ll likely give my families my time off at the start of the year.

I don’t get paid for my time off, in my area it’s not a common practice. But I know others on this Forum that do charge no matter what.

[Gemma]

I agree 100%

[Cat Herder]

I use a school calendar template and give it out one year in advance. I take the same two weeks and federal holidays every year then pepper in a few Friday's and Mondays for appointments in advance. I basically put mine out at the same time as the public school calendar. When my kids lived at home, I followed the public schools calendar plus added the extra Fridays/Monday's for appointments. It made planning easier that way. School Calendar 2021 - 2022 -2022 & Academic Calendar Templates (calendarlabs.com)

Using an academic calendar instead of the typical 12 months in order makes it much more functional since that is how most families actually live. It starts with July.

[mamadaycare]

Oh and I forgot, if you can afford it — TAKE THE TIME OFF!

I allow three weeks off a year, in return, I give the same to my families. This year I’m taking 3 days next week and I decided an hour ago I’m taking 12/23/21 to 1/3/22 OFF! My kids deserve time with their momma on winter break.

I definitely need to take more time off. I had one week vacation at the end of june but otherwise all my days off are PACKED with appointments for my kids or myself. I 100% feel trapped at home. I was a SAHM prior to this so not being able to take my kids to do fun things is killing me. I am loving the idea of simpler days. I tried to do arts/crafts everyday and different sensory bins every week- they went along with the theme. And I enjoyed doing it all. But now it has all become expected and unappreciated so its time to draw back and do one thing a day. I decided the other day that I wanted to take of december 23 and 26! I didn't close this monday and i was beating myself up for it. How did you let your parents know? did you text them all? email? I need more days that I can enjoy my own kids that aren't weekends. That is the reason I started this business is because I was suppose to have more freedom with my kids and it has been the opposite. I feel so tied down and its suffocating me

[GirlMomma]

Annalee LOL that’s funny 😂

[Annalee]

Girlmomma, we are not doing 'doodly squat',,,,LOL My mom hates when I use the word 'squat' because I usually use the term 'chicken squat'. LOL

[Annalee]

Hang in there, mamadaycare! Yes to all of the above; taking time for yourself, in particular!

[Cat Herder]

Steal away. We all work better together as a team.