As of this March I now have 5 full time children each day-3 that I get paid for + my own two, one is 3 hrs/week, and the other two are 2 and 3 days - so usually 6 per day, 7 for 3 hours once a week. (I also have hired two assistants that work with me on alternate shifts, so that i don't take care of more than 5 on my own)
Here's where it gets more complicated.
One of my full time children that just started may or may not be leaving. (the commute is turning out to be a bit much....i had warned the mom before hand but I truly do like her and her son is now fully adjusted with us.) So she was going to be looking for potential places but said that if she doesn't find anything sufficient then she will just live with having to drive. She's already met with one person and it went bad so she said she was sorry that she had even mentioned it, that initially she didn't want to start looking and me not knowing cause she felt like it'd be like cheating on me So she said the idea was dead, she has no leads, she's just not keen on trying to find anyone for now. But it could happen. I'm assuming now that it won't be until we get closer to fall/winter when the driving gets worst. So I told her she was totally free to still continue of course and to give me at least a month's notice, but longer if she could.
As this was all happening, i had another potential client contact me who one of the moms referred. She needs part time care, 3 days at the most per week which is the minimum that I would take, but I wasn't going to take anymore part time.
I know that I could squeeze her in though on the days that one of my other part time kids isn't here and make use of that last bit of space, even if my wavering full time child stays. But this would put me at my ultimate max and make it even more crucial for my assistants to not be missing any days.

So my question is should I or shouldn't I?

I have always planned on keeping the numbers small enough so that I could still handle things on my own if one of my assistants doesn't show up. With this new addition, I would have to add more time/days to my assistants positions which means more money from my pocket but also more full time help every single day of the week. Which would be real nice. But if they decided to not show up for work for whatever reason, then I would have one crazy busy day!
What would you do? would you go to the max?
I feel like yes,I might as well because it would cushion my income for when/ if the other full time child left, and it would allow me to have full time assistants every single day. But no, because we don't really need to be more busy at this time. It would mean that I would have 7 children here almost every day. seems like a lot to commit to.