Farewell : Closing my daycare !

The notice is out, I am closing my daycare in four weeks. I was stressed out of my mind to tell the parents, especially most have been kind to me and always followed my rules, they surprisingly took it well although a little discouraged of having to go daycare hunting again. Some actually asked me if I was OK haha, I said I was more worried about them then me !!

I have been in this business for only less then two years and I tell you, it sure is not for everyone. It has been extremely hard and stressful. Yes sometimes because of the children : the crying, the sickness, the not eating, more crying... but in the end, I had an amazing group of little girls.... no boys :O

I think the very main reason, is dealing with the parents. Like I said, I had amazing parents as well, but of course some were not all angels. I had my few hiccups with certain and the relationship was never the same. Some turned out to be backstabbers. At least I NEVER EVER had any trouble with payment, and in two year, only 2 were late ONCE during that big snow storm last winter. I always got my money on time, I dont think I would of been so gentle if not.

I think also that when I read the forum and see that most of you go through such hell and disrespect with some parents, I am beyond myself to think that grown adults can be such hypocrites especially when you are taking care of their child. I am very sad by the fact that lots of you are letting them drag you by the hair for so long. I know that often is because you need the money or its hard to fill the space cause the demand is low maybe ?! Everytime I come close to having a similar situation, I sure put on my boxing gloves if I have too. haha I have been tough but yet, most parents enjoyed my daycare and the services I was offering. Never had an empty space.

That said, I am truly grateful to have had your support and help through my most difficult moments when I was truly breaking down. I oftened wished I could have met you in person and give you a big hug. You ladies are amazing and the fact that you love doing this business and take so much care of little ones is amazing.

I am so ready to jump in that new chapter in my life and start my new job and I guess do what I am truly good at: working in an office as a more business women. In four weeks, no more changing poopy diapers... well except for when my godson soon arrives to the world in october, we have waited for him for so long.

I will keep memories of this experience and of ''my girls'' for a lifetime :)

A new adventure is for sure exciting. Good look with the transition.

For those that try daycare and then change their minds there is a saying about missed dreams and opportunities and going through life always wondering what if I had taken the other path. Glad that you are taking the road that will make you happy.

Thank you playfelt, you were always the first one with the answers, you are like a daycare provider little angel :D

Good for you for listening to your heart! I wish you all the luck on your new journey! I already know that I can not and do not want to do this job long term....I am really struggling, daily! If I can ask some advice, did you find a new job first and then give notice? Or are you planning on searching now? Also, do you have your own kids in care, and if so, will they attend a different daycare? Sorry to hijack your post!! Thanks in advance :)

I often dream about a house with out any play pens and without the smell of diapers. But for now this is my reality.

With all of this craziness in the news more and more of me wants to pack it up and call it a day. The liability we take on as providers is crazy!

Good luck in your next adventure. I wish you all the best.

Best of luck to you in the new chapter of your life! I think a wise person knows when to make this kind of change for the good of herself and those around her. I am still enjoying doing daycare, but if I ever start to feel that I am not, I will make that change too. This is not the kind of job you should be doing if your heart is elsewhere. Good luck!

I wish you all the very best DisneyPrincess in your new career. Everytime we try a new venture, we learn from the experience and I am sure what you have learned doing Daycare will help you deal with the "toddlers" most offices have. Virtual hug back to you sweetie.

Good luck in the next new chapter of your life ...I wish you all the best !

It has been good to know you DisneyP and I wish you all the best in your new career. It's too bad that your HDCP experience wasn't the best, but sometimes a change is really good. I'm on my third career choice in my life so I understand. Come and visit us!

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Originally Posted by DaycareLady

Good for you for listening to your heart! I wish you all the luck on your new journey! I already know that I can not and do not want to do this job long term....I am really struggling, daily! If I can ask some advice, did you find a new job first and then give notice? Or are you planning on searching now? Also, do you have your own kids in care, and if so, will they attend a different daycare? Sorry to hijack your post!! Thanks in advance :)

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I am glad to give you advice if I can... just like anybody you HAS a job and wants to change to a new job... never leave your job first, not good for the budget. I did find the job first and I was lucky that it starts pretty much at the time that I was ready to start at. The job interview and exam process to a while and so... I had someone cover me while I had to go interview (I just said I had appointments). I do have 2 grown girls but my youngest 8 y.o. will attend the school ''daycare'' again there... I was lucky to have a spot for when school starts. It all fell into place and I am sooooo happy now. All my parents are gonna be fine, there is spots available somewhere else not too far.

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Originally Posted by apples and bananas

I often dream about a house with out any play pens and without the smell of diapers. But for now this is my reality.

With all of this craziness in the news more and more of me wants to pack it up and call it a day. The liability we take on as providers is crazy!

Good luck in your next adventure. I wish you all the best.

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Yes it is pretty crazy, even my mom's friend who has been doing that for more then 35 years has her opinions about the biz. But what was stressing me out the most was the fact that I have no insurance, no pension plan, no unemployment if anything were to happen. My daughter had to have surgery and if I wanted the two weeks off to take care of her, I had to take out of my vacation weeks where if I had had a regular job... I claimed part of my salary out of insurance. Anywhoo... for me, its the best timing. I was actually scared of closing because of putting parents in trouble.... I HOPE that nobody hold back because of the parents... NEVER !!! ;)

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Originally Posted by mimi

I wish you all the very best DisneyPrincess in your new career. Everytime we try a new venture, we learn from the experience and I am sure what you have learned doing Daycare will help you deal with the "toddlers" most offices have. Virtual hug back to you sweetie.

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I am actually going to work for a school and I will have responsibility of taking care of the kids if they are hurt of need cuddles or something, its quite funny so yes, it was a great plus at the interview hahaha

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Originally Posted by Momof4

It has been good to know you DisneyP and I wish you all the best in your new career. It's too bad that your HDCP experience wasn't the best, but sometimes a change is really good. I'm on my third career choice in my life so I understand. Come and visit us!

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I do love ''my girls'' this morning I actually had watery eyes now that parents know, its more definitive. On my last day, I have no doubt I will be a real cry baby !! :')

Its so good to see you checking in Disney Princess after your distressed posting back in May of your then struggles. I felt for you and did post a reply expressing my concern for you and have been on the look out for you ever since, in the hopes of hearing how you are doing.

I am SO pleased to hear you are moving forward in your life. While daycare isn't for everyone, so many don't have the courage or sometimes even the option to make changes in their lives and do something else, so I am super pleased to hear that you are able to make a positive switch to a new path and direction in life, while at the same time taking what you have learned as a HDCP and your no doubt wealth of knowledge of caring for children and still making a no doubt positive impact on children's lives in a different setting.

I send you loads of well wishes and good karma that life may fill your heart and soul with happiness and joy that we all know children bring to us. Please check in with us from time to time, and if you ever need an ear to bend, I know there's plenty of us here who will always care :) :flower::thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by bright sparks

Its so good to see you checking in Disney Princess after your distressed posting back in May of your then struggles. I felt for you and did post a reply expressing my concern for you and have been on the look out for you ever since, in the hopes of hearing how you are doing.

I am SO pleased to hear you are moving forward in your life. While daycare isn't for everyone, so many don't have the courage or sometimes even the option to make changes in their lives and do something else, so I am super pleased to hear that you are able to make a positive switch to a new path and direction in life, while at the same time taking what you have learned as a HDCP and your no doubt wealth of knowledge of caring for children and still making a no doubt positive impact on children's lives in a different setting.

I send you loads of well wishes and good karma that life may fill your heart and soul with happiness and joy that we all know children bring to us. Please check in with us from time to time, and if you ever need an ear to bend, I know there's plenty of us here who will always care :) :flower::thumbsup:

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Yes I did retreat for a while, actually I was pretty busy as it was when I started applying for jobs and interviews and all... plus I was preparing my 10th wedding anniversary so was non stop.

I found also that reading the post about such ignorant parents made me more angry and more anxious to leave this business and not finding a job right away caused me more anxiety.

LADIES, WE TALK ABOUT ANTI-BULLYING IN SCHOOL, HOW'BOUT ANTI-BULLYING IN HOME DAYCARE SERVICES !! Dont you all think I'm right : PARENTS ARE BULLYING YOU !! Although I havent had that many face-off... I did and its one of the main reason I quite, for my health and safety and for the well being of my family with me being happy !!

THANK YOU again ladies, I see the one who post on this thread are all the ladies I have in my heart, really hope to hear from you as well. I'll sent you my email in messages if ever you want to share ;)

You're so right DisneyP, we should NEVER allow any parent to bully us and I sure don't allow it. That is grounds for immediate termination according to my contract, verbal abuse of any kind. It hasn't happened to me yet and I don't think it will ever happen. My first husband was abusive and the management at my last job were horrible in many ways so anytime I get a controlling type person in for an interview my hair stands on end and I know they are not going to be in my life or my daycare, nope, I am determined to work with wonderful people only for the rest of my life.

GOOD FOR YOU Momof4, lets hope that other ladies can also have that strength !!!

Did you tell parents or give a reason to parents as to why you were closing? What did you say? Thanks Disney!

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Originally Posted by DaycareLady

Did you tell parents or give a reason to parents as to why you were closing? What did you say? Thanks Disney!

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It really depends on your personal reasons for closing... although its none of their business. I couldnt face them in person so on sunday night, I sent them a very detailed letter about my sadness of closing and how I thanked them for their faith in me and how much the children will be in my heart forever (because they will). Only Monday morning when I faced them, to the parents who were just concerned of my well being and were worried (yes its possible that type of parents haha) I explained it was a mixed of emotions and worries between finances, not having any benefits, insurance or pension plan and also the anxiety I went through with some hard headed parents that I just couldnt not deal with that type of individuals.

Of course when it comes to insurance I relied on my husband's but when we had a tough year it made me think... the meds we need, the specialist we consult... we can not not have any. Plus the pension plan :O I know this is all things to be considered BEFORE opening a private business, but guess you dont think about it before actually being in that position !

Thats my story ;)

Thanks so much!! I'm in the same boat right now "should have thought about all this before opening " lol

We do what we gotta do :glomp:

Just out of curiosity, when applying for new jobs did you list your home daycare on your resume or just say you took some time off to stay home with your children? I am wondering about the gap in my resume when I go back into the workforce a yr from now and have been wondering what to say. Only because unfortunately daycare professionals are not held in such high esteem (as we all know) and I didn't want that to reflect poorly on me.

I don't think running your own daycare business would reflect negatively. Think of the skill set we need to have to be successful and I would emphasize that on your resume or if you are asked about it during an interview. Most of my clients have commented " I don't know how you do it" at one time or another and realize I am very organized and am (usually) planning ahead for the next theme, craft etc. Show you are proud of your business.:)

I JUST WROTE THAT PART ON ANOTHER THREAD ABOUT WHAT DAYCARELADY SAID: ''she said she worries that daycare is not seem as a reputable job'' I said not to think of it that way at all. ALL the people I have talked to saying I had a daycare all congradulated me has THEY KNOW it is such a hard thing to do to take care of so many little ones. The fact of MANAGING MY OWN BUSINESS, CREATING MY CONTRACT AND TEMPLATES DOCUMENTS, ORGANIZING SCHEDULES, DEALING WITH CHILDREN'S TEMPER (PSYCHOLOGY) AND BEING A ROLE MODEL AND A TEACHER TO THE CHILDREN... this is all extremely good background to have, trust me I had thumbs up during my interviews.

It is written on my resume : PRIVATE HOME DAYCARE, Self-employed 2011-2013

If you have a detail of your other positions on your resume then detail this one as well, think business wise (like I mentionned above) : Managing (schedules etc), Administrating (contract, ''legal'' documentsetc), Accounting (budgets, tables etc) maybe not mention : sing the Alphabets and 1-2-3 LOL

At my previous job, I use to hire employees and never liked it when I saw a gap in the years, even if they were staying at home parents or caregivers etc.

Plus my reasons for going so out of my field was a big move from one province to another and taking time for my family and I to settle down and get use to the big change that it was, plus not easy to look for a job at such a distance back then, so it was understandable and not suspicious from employers.

:)