Considering Downsizing...need opinions

[Lou]

I have just been feeling spread so thin lately. Like, I'm 100% a wonderful daycare provider but as a result, I'm only 50% of a great mother and wife...make any sense? I love my daycare babies. Love them...and their families, but as we always say "Family comes first".
My problem is wondering how to go about it all. My husband and I have already discussed reducing our expenses, increasing his income and me going down to only 2 part time children. I hate having to choose between the families, because in all honesty I have no "bad" families or troublesome kids. Another barrier is that all of them have the ability to go down to part time as well so that doesn't help me narrow it down, lol. I considered making it a first come first serve thing...send out the notice outlining that I will only have 2 part time spaces available starting on a given date (with giving them PLENTY of notice), and the first ones to come forth will be the ones to get the spots. The will be a small fee increases as well. Is that too mean?? Is it selfish of me to not want to be the one who chooses?? How would you handle this?

This isn't a set in stone plan yet, just one of many solutions in our heads...just want some peer advice. Thank you!

[kindertime]

Would you consider asking all of your familiies to go down to part time? Maybe you wouldn't feel so stretched thin if you were only working 3 days/week, or have fewer children each day. If you started off this way, you might find parents leave on their own.

[torontokids]

I would also look at which kids may be leaving sooner e.g. I'd keep a kid that is the 2nd kid and parents aren't looking to have more babies. An only child though, I might think twice as another mat leave may be coming up

[5 Little Monkeys]

I would do the first come thing. Even though all parents might have the option to go part time, do they want too? This would eliminate picking a family who doesn't want the new arrangement.

Looking at who may be staying longer is a good idea too! I mean families can leave whenever they want but if you know a family is leaving within a year or so, I wouldn't really want them to stay over someone who is planning on staying for another 3 years.

[torontokids]

Ask who'd interested then pick from those that express interest based on who will be with you longer.

[Lou]

kindertime- they are all mostly part time flex care right now (3 part time and 2 full time). On any given day I might have 2 children, or I might have 6 (including my own son..my older 2 are in school). What I am looking for is having a day off or 2 throughout the week or at least lower numbers every day.

Also, the age thing doesn't help much either, lol! They are all between 20months- 2 1/2.

It's not that I can't handle the load, that's not it at all...I'm very good at my job, I just find I want to be spending MORE time managing the household the way a full time stay at home mom would, just personal reasons, you know? Being able to be the one who takes my kids to their doctors appointments, field trips, more time to spend on our home, etc. I love taking care of kids...it's just a family first kind of deal.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

One idea - what about reducing hours and seeing which clients can manage to do that? I used to work long hours. Now my day care is 07.30am until 4.30pm. I have max children I am allowed but for shorter hours. Sure, some clients can't finish on time but that's okay, they go somewhere different. It mean at end of day, I have family time not still working 12 hours.

[torontokids]

I love the idea of doing this job 3 days a week. I never get to do cool things with my school aged daughter on PD days or take my kids to Dr appts. I only have one client currently that could manage reduced days per week but even then they need 4 days...oh, to dream!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I love the idea of doing this job 3 days a week. I never get to do cool things with my school aged daughter on PD days or take my kids to Dr appts. I only have one client currently that could manage reduced days per week but even then they need 4 days...oh, to dream!

Wouldn't that be nice! I don't even have kids of my own but dream of only working 4 days LOL. My ideal schedule would be to be the same as teachers though. Off for the holidays and summers. My husband works for the division in the evenings and is off all summer and I'd love to be able to join him!! Maybe one day....

**actually, I'd be okay opening for the holidays to give parents some kid free time but to be off summers would be my dream!

[torontokids]

5 Little Monkeys- you would be the perfect candidate to start only taking teachers children! I would love to do this (I also live across from a school) however I couldn't afford the slow transition to wait until I fill with teachers (you could do this gradually).

[5 Little Monkeys]

I would feel terrible leaving my 4 current families though. I don't have any teacher's children right now so all 4 families would likely need to leave for another provider. It is VERY tempting though lol. I am near 3 elementary schools and really, it only takes 15 mins to get anywhere in my city and there are about 8-9 elementary schools in town and 3 within the area that have many teachers who commute. I just have a fear of not filling spaces fast enough when openings do arise. 2 months a year without income is also a bit of a problem but I would just raise my daily fee a bit to compensate. The fact that they wouldn't have to pay for 2 months would make up for that higher daily rate. I know of one other hdcp who does this so it is possible but I don't know her finances of course!

Ugh, talking about it makes me me want it 10x worse!! I did have a teacher email me today who needs care for 2016 so I'd have at least one client!!! LOL

[superfun]

Oh 5LM, the teachers around here all talk to each other. You get one good teacher parent and you'll never advertise again. Lol

[bright sparks]

I dropped to 4 days a week in Sept 2013. It was the best thing I ever did for my family but I had to turn away an insane amount of people initially who needed 5 day week care and I had 3 kids for the better part of a year. Granted I have a 2nd job on the Fridays now but it's only since September and its on my terms so for example this Friday morning my kids need to go to the orthodontist first thing so It's not worth the drive into TO for a late start. They go back to work and I'm finally going to get my hair done. Coffee with friends, housework and running errands on a Friday means my weekends are free for family stuff. It was hard to choose to take the financial hit when we rely on two incomes but overall I've been much happier since. Some Friday's I would leave at 8:30 with my kids and be out till they got home so it's not like a rest day but it gives me that flexibility.

I personally think it's harder with one or two kids than with a full house... Baring in mind though that I don't have young ones adding to my numbers. I don't think having a lighter load five days a week will leave you free to do much else. However, 4 or 5 3 days a week would leave you two full days with zero daycare. Mommy time, couple time and most importantly YOU time. I also think you should choose the families you keep that work best for you.

[torontokids]

5 Little Monkeys- I would do it if I was you. If I was doing this for the long term I would to. Start advertising now for Sept 2015. Most teachers plan their maternity leaves around the school year and there are usually a lot of teachers that go back to work in Sept (from mat leave) or may be looking for new care e.g. closer to the school they work at/home. Sign up all the families in the next few months for Sept and give your current families notice for either end of Aug or even better for end of June and take the summer off with your spouse. Just saying...

I get inquiries from teachers on occasion and I dream about taking them on one at a time until I am full of teachers and then can make the move.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Superfun, logically and deep down I know you are right!! My husband and my SIL both work in our school division and through her, I know a Principal at one and another teacher at a different one, so I have great references and an "in" with the teachers in their schools. My SIL works in 3 which is even better, she can spread the word about me! God, it is enticing!! lol My mat leave mom is also coming off mat leave this September and needs a space so that's a client there already. As it stands, I don't have room for her now though unless a current family leaves. I don't feel that this September is enough notice for my families or even for me. I need to seriously crunch the numbers and really think if this could work for us. I don't want to be off all summer but too poor to do anything haha. We got a camper last Fall though so we could spend our summer camping at different places....UGH!!!!!! I do really want this!!

Tomorrow, I'm going to seriously look at the numbers and see what they look like. My husband is on reduced income for the summer too so we have to figure all that out. I would have to be very dedicated to putting money away to pay me for the summer. On the other hand, in 2017 we have some money coming to us so it might be smarter to wait and see what that all entails and maybe wait until then to make any serious changes to my income. I mean, I could always go back to full time though if it didn't work out....decisions, decisions....somethi ng I am not good at!!

OP, I am really sorry for hijacking your thread!!! :(

[Lou]

5 Little Monkeys- That's OK!!!! I'm glad starting this thread inspired you!

Bright Sparks- that is a fabulous idea to consider!

Thank you everyone :)

[Fun&care]

I totally agree with brightsparks that downsizing isn't necessarily the best option IMO...I know that I have found that when I only have 1-2 dck they tend to rely on ME for entertainment because they have less friends to play with. It actually is MORE work. I for sure would instead consider just being open 3-4 days per week but still have at least 2-3 kids in care. I have actually toyed with this idea myself....although i am mostly considering leaving daycare altogether to work outside the home but even then, I am only looking to work part time. I, too, want to be able to do more for my family, I hate feeling so "stuck" and tied to the house all the time. I am seriously considering working until May/June, being off for the summer and finding work hopefully in August/September but we will see.

[MsBell]

a few years ago it just happened that I had every Monday off . It was heaven!!! I would love to have that happen again! I was able to schedule appiontments, do shopping, clean etc on those mondays, and the week seemed so much easier to get through. Right now I am Monday to Friday, 730-530, but I find the hardest times are when I only have one or two (especially the last one to go, all the others are usally picked up by 5, and she is never gone before 530!) So yes, If I could, I would take on a full house but just 3 days a week!

[Lou]

Update: I did it!! I gave all my families notice that as of June 1 I was going down to 4 days/week and they were all very supportive about it and they are ALL staying on! Feeling good :)

[superfun]

That's awesome! I'm happy for you.

[torontokids]

Great news!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Update: I did it!! I gave all my families notice that as of June 1 I was going down to 4 days/week and they were all very supportive about it and they are ALL staying on! Feeling good :)

That's awesome!!! Enjoy your new schedule, that will be very nice!

[MsBell]

Yay for you!!! I will admit, I feel a little green here with envy! You will feel so much better I am sure, it really made a difference to me, maybe one day I will work less.