How old were your kids when you started home daycare

[loads'o'kids]

I am just curious how old everyone's own kids were when they started daycare. I just started in June and I already feel burnt out. I find the long days of daycare plus dealing with my own kids 24/7 is really tiring! My daycare kids are 13 months, 14 months, and 3 years. My own kids are 3, 4, 9, and 15. Does anyone else feel like this and how do you stay rested and patient?! Thanks for any advice from all of you seasoned providers!

[playfelt]

My own kids were 4 months and 18 months so what I was doing for them I was doing for the daycare which limited how far I was extended. My next two kids were born into the daycare so basically three of my kids have never known life any other way.

Be sure that you are not expending more energy than the minimum required as far as the daycare goes in the sense that age wise a lot of free play with a few extra centres of interest set up is all the group needs meaning you can take some rest periods to sit during the day since your school age kids won't allow that to happen in the evenings.

[Inspired by Reggio]

My hat always goes off to those of you who balance both full time parenthood and doing childcare ... I honestly cannot imagine doing what I do all day long while still having to be on 24/7 for my own wee ones.

I do agree with Playfelt .... make sure to play quiet times for yourself during the day so you are not going nonstop and get everything 'work related' done during the work day so you are not working in the evenings while wearing the parenting hat!

[apples and bananas]

My kids were 4 and 8 when I started. I also have 2 step kids that are here some days during the week, they're the same ages. I have Friday nights at 4pm until Saturday morning at noon completely to myself. (my kids go to their dads) If I don't have that time I'm no good come Monday... it's so important to have at least a few hours of kid free time in my opinion.

We took all 4 of our kids on vacation this past summer and I felt exhausted when I got back! No time alone... kids constantly! It was not a vacation in my opinion.

you need to have quiet time away from them every week.

[gcj]

My son was 3 and my daughter was 1 when I started. Introducing a 3 year old to daycare in his home was challenging...very. But, my 1 year old only knew that, so it was always easier for her.
Balance was difficult. And at first, you often have younger dcks, since they're usually the ones looking for care, but as everyone grows with you it gets easier and easier and you take one young one at a time as kids go off to school.
Lots of free play. It's good for kids to play on their own and you're no use if you're burnt out. It's real life, so like someone else said get work related stuff done during the day as much as possible to have your evening to enjoy your children one on one.
It gets easier. Trust me. Mine are now 7 and 5 and I survived the early years and am now enjoying the quiet time of less kids in daycare, since mine still count in my ratio.

[Crayola kiddies]

I have been running my current daycare for 2 years and my own kids are 3, 4.5, almost 8, 16, and 21 and my daycare kids are 4, 3, 2.5, 23 months, 19 months..... Yes it's very busy but I enjoy it

[Bookworm]

My kids were 11 months old and 2 years old. Some days I am completely exhausted but I would not change it for anything.

[ladyjbug]

My eldest turned one the week I started. Now I have two and they are three and almost fifteen months. Time flies!

[jodaycare]

I started my home daycare when my DD was 7 mths old. At the time Mat leave was only six months, so in addition to her I had a 3.5mth old, an 8 mth old, and a 9 mth old. I was working 12 hour days most days, hubby was away for work a LOT but I was also in my early 20s so I had a lot more energy than I do now. I find I am more stressed and tired now, emotionally, physically and financially.

[crafty]

Oups not 2 times a week ... I meant once every other week LOL.