Ok Spixie I see a couple of differences I don't do cooking just for the daycare I cook extra for my family dinner so I have left overs for lunch the next day .... Spaghetti, shepards pie, stew, casseroles, whatever ..... If I don't have leftovers then I do things like grilled cheese, cold deli meat sandwiches, deli plates, homemade pizza pancakes with cream cheese ( no syrup before lunch) and then I just prepare that as the kids are doing the last of the tidy up or I sit them at the table with some fruit and veges while I make the sandwiches...... I also am not a clean freak ... I can look the other way for certain things, and I too am on time of use so like I said I throw in a load every night and fold (or not) at nap time the next day. I do my groceries on Thursday nights and then just a quick trip on Sunday aft for fresh stuff(fruits, deli meat, bread) .... And my daycare consists of 1 3 1/2 yr old, 2 2 yr olds, 1 22 month old, my own 2 1/2 yr old, my own 4 and 7 yr old (at school all day) and a 10 month old starting in feb , I also wipe up any messes as it happens and I wipe each high chair/ booster seat as each child gets out if it .... it's busy and I'm tired but I don't feel overwhelmed because I don't sweat the small stuff .... Tomorrow is another day ..... I also have 3 kids in swimming lessons one kid in hockey one kid in football and working an after school part time job ( not driving age and no busses available) and one kid starting preschool program in a few months