I'm just curious if those of you out there with kids have any special rules or ways of being with them to help them cope with having a daycare in their home? I have two munchkins, one is just under 2, the other is just under 3 (yup, i was pregnant the 3mth after having my son!) So lately, we have had two little munchkins start, and they cry sometimess and drive my kids insane I think. But on top of it, I hear my little 2 year old daughter stating "my mommy!, my mommy" so it shows me that she is jealous and feels threatened by having these other kids around.
Overall, I think having the dayhome is a really good thing for them because they get to learn how to share, and be social with many different types of kids, etc, but there is always that part of me that feels guilty that I am not providing them with a "normal" home setting where they get to have their moms all to themselves. I do make sure we do family things together every single weekend, so that they know that this is just their time. But I was thinking that I may need to do some one on one time with them individually as well, I would love to, but I am just so tired by the end of the day that I don't know if I could commit to doing any more things...Which once again makes me feel guilty again.
So far I have tried to keep their room closed off to any of the dayhome kids (though sometimes there is an exception just for them to all have some renewed kind of fun), and my own room has a tv in it, so I let my kids have their own quiet time there on my bed and watch some shows together on their own or with their sibling. I started doing that because I had some parents very anti tv, and me personally, I don't think its that big of a deal because I know they are stimulated and engaged and learning throughout the day. I also grew up with tv and it was no big deal. Sometimes we watched it, and sometimes we didn't and it was just an enjoyable part of my childhood memories. I also loved reading books, went to the library every two weeks, and read like 2-3 novels each time and have always had a passion for learning. I could be in school forever if I could afford it! Minus the homework of course