The Positive Thread

[Sahm121]

I terminated a family on Monday: it is a HUGE financial hit but today I got an email that I won a $1200 grant woo hoo!

[Blackcat31]

That’s awesome! 👍🏻
I bet the stress relief is nice too!

[GirlMomma]

DH just found out he got a HUGE raise from his company that goes into effect on Monday!! Now I don’t need to fill my last spot!

[Alwaysgreener]

DH just found out he got a HUGE raise from his company that goes into effect on Monday!! Now I don’t need to fill my last spot!

That is awesome, DH got a raise in Dec and Jan, plus I filled my last spot, that's probably why I haven't considered raising my rates.

[GirlMomma]

I will probably still raise my rates for the three families still on my old rate just because I deserve a raise 😂 But they’re both also late pick-ups… one kid is usually my first one in and last one out.

[fivestarday]

I saw a dcg18months at an event last night. The moment she spotted me, she ran up to me with a huge smile, and I scooped her right up. That felt really nice. She was so happy to see me despite all the times I tell her "no" while in my care.

[Annalee]

As stated in many posts over the last 3 years, I have been in what feels like a dungeon....but today, I scheduled a couple of future visits with personnel from child care entities, some during daycare hours, some after hours.....need the in-person vibes! I'm very picky with who comes in here but I've been offered such great empathy over the past 3 years from two persons, in particular, and plan to further some work I would like to accomplish with their help/services. No pretense with these two persons and that is what drew me to them in the first place.

[Kajada]

A daycare kid's mom is in labour today and I'm just SO excited and happy for them! I hope it goes well - they're the loveliest family.

[GirlMomma]

DD2.75 is POTTY TRAINED!

[Blackcat31]

Yay!! That is definitely a wonderful milestone!! Congratulations!!

[Alwaysgreener]

I Fb stalked the family I had earlier this year were the baby had water on the brain. I had called CPS for medical neglect and I have never heard anything from CPS, the letter that says we can't tell you anything. So I went and looked at the mom's account and there is a photo of baby with a knitted hat on. But there's a gap between the hat and her forehead which leads me to believe that she finally got the helmet she should have had. So either CPS checked up on them or they reconsidered my letter stating that she should have a helmet and special equipment. Either way I see it as a win for the child.

[SandBox]

Yes that’s great!!!

[BaileeB]

I finally feel like I’m building a business I want to run! When I opened in November 2021 I was excited but so naive. I thought parents would be thankful and grateful (as I was when my daughter went to daycare) and I didn’t have the backbone I needed. I felt awful every time I had to close for my childrens needs and I let a DCD talk poorly about me, in front of me, to another DCM. I ended up closing in March for some of my families needs and because I was having a hard time with my own personal happiness with my business. Well I came on here and read through so many of the posts, asked for a lot of advice and did a LOT more research. I realized what I was doing wrong and talked to my husband and bounced ideas off of him and my best friend (who worked in a daycare center for years). I decided to reopen in July and convert my garage into my classroom. I created a 25 page daycare policy handbook that outlines my expectations of the families and even put in some specific examples that will result in immediate termination. The renovation is about to start and I have been interviewing families all week. I have a new level of confidence that has made the interviews less awkward and the families seem to have more respect for me and are seeing me and my home as a BUSINESS! I am also able to be more picky because there are more families interested than I have spots available. It is the BEST feeling and I am SO excited to reopen and I am determined to stick to my guns this time so that I can enjoy what I do and not experience the level of burn out I did the first time in such a short amount of time. I have given myself a fair 2 weeks of PTO (which I thought the parents would be annoyed with but they are actually super understanding and supportive!) and I overall have just made so many positive changes and actually made a “rule book” that parents have no excuse not to follow. This feels like such a huge win! Woohoo!!!

[Annalee]

I've been purchasing every basket I could find as I am planning a nature classroom by August.....I know I can't change everything but am trying hard to develop a more calming/natural color base for my daycare room. I did find a lady who is getting me a price on the words made out of wood I would like displayed around the room. While so much is moved out and gone, I still have too much....the old QRIS was such a materialistic guideline and it's hard to un-brainwash yourself. I've been picky but have utilized certain persons from daycare entities across the state as there are freebies and they LOVE to give to those who actually want/use these freebies. It's been exciting/frustrating/fun/overwhelming but it's getting there.

[Cat Herder]

That sounds fun. Ebay has lots of great sellers for those things right now, too.

I kept my bright, happy, colors but donated everything that can't be submerged, machine washed or sprayed with bleach and wiped. I refuse to ever tape play rugs down to my linoleum floors again so I can mop daily and wash the rugs weekly (why did they think that was healthy to begin with??) I got rid of all soft seating requirements, gross, and replaced with bleachable bucket rockers.

My playroom is about being fun, bright and most importantly, clean. The way I want it. QRIS is out the door and I don't miss them.

[Annalee]

Thanks, I will check out what is on eBay!
FYI...I also have $2000 in grant money to use as an incentive for completing some programs recently.

[BaileeB]

Opened back up starting yesterday. I have one DCG1.5 that I had before (who I love and DCM is wonderful) and DCG2.5 who is the cousin of DCG1.5! This family is so sweet, always telling me how much they appreciate what I do, always pay on time, never argue about my closings, ask about me and my family. Well both DCM have asked for my Amazon wishlist so I sent it to them and they both have ordered things off of my wishlist to be delivered this week. It’s so sweet. They don’t know this, but depending on what it was they will be getting a $5-$10 discount off of next weeks rate for doing that. It’s so nice because it’s all stuff that benefits their children (as well as the rest of the group) and it also makes my life easier!

[Annalee]

Two schoolers just got picked up for the last time Sorry, NOT sorry!!!! For all of you who think I'm mean; do this 30 years and you will KNOW that THIS IS A BUSINESS!!!!! Nothing more, nothing less! Sure there is a lot of passion surrounding my work, but I can't dwell on which familes REALLY LIKE ME???

[Annalee]

AGAIN, a wonderful feeling knowing the last schooler's last day is June 30. These kids outgrow us and we outgrow them.....I have had these three since they were 1.5. The were now 5, 5, and 6. One parent held the oldest out of school a year so they had REALLY outgrown my program and were always 'picking' at someone, something, or all of the above. LOL

[e.j.]

I understand completely! I have two 5 year olds. I love both of them dearly and there's a part of me that dreads this coming September because I will lose them both to kindergarten. There's another part of me that is looking forward to the day they move on. They are so ready! They're both great kids, helpful, sweet, intelligent...when they are here separately. Together, they're the best of friends and the worst of enemies. Their relationship with each other changes minute to minute. The constant play wrestling, bathroom talk, tattling, the angry words thrown at each other... I'll be happy to close the door to all of that when they go!

Two siblings just left yesterday. The family has been with me for 4 years. I was sad to see them go but incredibly relieved at the same time. They both have something going on - in my view ASD with a strong dose of ADHD - and my program has been in an uproar for the past 2 years. (The oldest came back after the pandemic lockdown a very changed kid from the one who left here. The youngest was born during the lockdown.) As much as I love them both, I felt like the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders when they drove out of my driveway for the last time. Dcd was very nice and thanked me for all I had done for them as a family. I haven't heard a word from dcm who usually picked up but didn't yesterday. I'm guessing she's not happy with me because I couldn't continue to accommodate their schedule and that's unfortunate but like you said...this is a business. I bent over backwards for them for the past several years and just couldn't continue to do it for liability reasons. I'm sorry I couldn't continue to help but not sorry that the rest of the kids and I will enjoy some peace and relative quiet for the rest of the summer.

[Annalee]

ej, I see so many sisters to ADHD, ADD, Autism, on and on and on but I'm beginning to think most of this is NOT this at all, but it is the environment with this generation of families.....there just can't be that many diagnosed ADHD, ADD, Autism kids.....there is simply NO structure, boundaries and there are no expectations for kids nowadays.....everybody lets their kids run and run and run with the thinking 'what goes up must come down'. It's is scary to think about the future....

[GirlMomma]

My favorite and first client ever is going back to work… at the same time that my spots are opening!!!

[Rockgirl]

My youngest dc baby turned a year old, and he will officially be my LAST infant, ever. EVER. He’s also happier lately, probably because he’s mastered some new skills. I think I’ve made it to the other side of my most difficult daycare year ever.

I will have two new toddlers starting, but not at the same time. By fall, I should have a full group of toddlers. I’m getting excited to give the playroom an overhaul to prepare for the new school year.

One more thing: my newest daycare family bought me a Toniebox. I had only briefly heard of them before, but it’s pretty cool!

[Cat Herder]

The very last kid to bite someone in my daycare turned 18, today. Cool milestone.

Cool in that there have been no bites since. Weird in that they were also the last kid I termed. It seems like just a few years ago, not 15.

I remember when we were all plagued with "ragers". Now it has been 15 years since I had one. I am so curious as to what changed, that I barely even noticed.

[Annalee]

Oh wow, that IS a milestone.....I remember my worst two biters......never forget that