I know there have been past posts on this, but I really just need to vent to my daycare girls:

have just received my THIRD email from potential clients in my new town claiming that they can get more affordable care elsewhere. The worst part is that every time I read one of these emails, it reads nastily, and I feel like they are accusing me of gouging them somehow. What am I asking for, except what any other type of worker wants - a reasonable wage and an occasional day off?

I have done my research, and I am charging middle of the road rates for REPUTABLE daycares. Problem is, I am starting to get the feeling that there are a lot of warehousers and kraft dinner slingers in my new area.

I just sent the following email - Unfortunately, with daycare, as with most things, you get what you pay for. Hot dogs and Kraft dinner are cheap and easy meals. Many of the cheaper home daycare providers will give inexpensive processed foods and snacks, and do very little with the children outside of making sure they are safe. I do more than this, and without wishing to sound arrogant, I feel that every child I care for deserves more than this as well. I run a quality program, and am very proud to be able to say that. In order to provide quality care as well as healthy, nutritious foods, I have to pay for it, making my overhead higher than those providers who charge $25 or $30 per day. I take the children on outings which often requires petrol for my van and sometimes admission charges, all of which I absorb into my daycare budget. I also provide craft supplies, baby wipes, playpens, safety certified car seats, BPA-free bibs and dishes, and everything else a child will need in the course of a day, outside of clothing and diapers. I have additional insurance on my vehicles and on my home and business as well, should anything (heaven forbid) ever happen. I do this for added parental peace of mind. I also provide full tax receipts, as I claim every cent that I earn from my home daycare. I don't think very many of the lower priced daycares do much, if any of these things. If I charged $30 per day, I'd go broke. When it comes to certain things, I think what's best is not always necessarily available for the best price.

I'm starting to get nervous. I am also starting to worry that I am going to get a bad reputation as the bitchy overpriced daycare lady.

I have five interviews lined up, but one is for summer care only, one is for before/after, and two are part timers. The other doesn't want to start until November.

I need hugs.