I love my job.....today.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I am often one of those providers accused of having rainbows shooting out my arse by other providers on forums ... and I am cool with that I can joke about it ... it is not that I am not realistic to the negative aspects of my job and that the challenges working with children can have ... it is just that I am a firm believer that we attract the energy into our life by our FOCUS in life and the self talk and so forth we engage in.

IME if I focus on just venting about how challenging things are than chances are I am going to have more challenging children and client behavior ~ if I accept that yes that sucked and put strategies in place to minimize those challenges for the future than I have 'less challenges' .... so basically I prefer to keep my focus on what I have to be grateful for to keep my energy balanced on positive aspects of my job and put action plans in place to deal with the negative so they are not so 'negative' for me and just become small aspects to the over all day.

I personally am not lying or fooling anyone about my own reality of daycare cause well what good would that do anyone ~ we are here to support each other and grow our business and learn to thrive as professionals?

[Crayola kiddies]

Reggio .. I think we were separated at birth !!!!

[kidlove]

I have learned on this forum even in the daycare world, there are MANY diferent types of people. There are the always downers, the always uppers, the cynical, the stupid, the experienced, and the unknowing among many more....I know at one point or another I have been all of the above and then some. however, i do try and base my life on the positive and attempt to stand firm on "if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all"....I am very grateful for this forum I have learned a lot about people, I have learned what to be more like and what NOT to be like from chatting with everyone. Most of all though I have learned a ton about my self, and after hearing the way some providers think and feel about their jobs in general? I come out pretty sure I am on top of who I aim to be and who I need to be to keep my kids and families happy with my service. Thanks to OP for having the "truth" to post in the first place. If there is one thing I have picked up on this forum...you have to brace yourself to type some posts because just like anywhere else is our sometimes jaded world, there are always the nay sayers with the atta-boys! just take it all in stride OP, and know some of us feel the exact same as you, and are proud and happy to admit it.

[mimi]

Very well said kidlove!!

[daycaremum]

Okay, so I'm waiting to hear from Cocoon to tell us what she charges for 2 kids that she can support two adults on that income alone. Come on Cocoon, now that you said it, we all want to know
As for pay being a perk, nope. I get that it was a tongue in cheek comment, I really do. But it does perpetuate the myth that as women we should love being home looking after children simply because we are women. The comment, although not intended to, does undermine our careers. Also, for those of you saying you make great money doing this job, that also sends the wrong message. I hope you don't tell non-daycare providers such things. I don't personally know anybody that makes a great living providing daycare. A decent living maybe if full all the time. I realize that different markets will support different fees. But if you do make a killing, don't advertise that fact because it is not the standard. I wouldn't want people to think I'm making gobs of money because I'm not. I live in a small community and it would be harder to find clients if people thought I could be charging less since I make so much money.

[Spixie33]

I think people are over-reacting to Daisy's comment. I get what she means.

When you work outside the home you usually get your wage put into the bank by direct deposit and it is almost like 'virtual money'

It is a different feeling to get handled a bundle of money by several people. It just feels different and that is that. For a moment every week I feel like I have money. lol

There are weeks where I am putting in extra time cooking healthy meals at night for the daycare or cutting out items for the next day's craft and feeling like I am doing a 14 hour day and exhausted....then I get paid from a parent and I see the little bundle of money and it does make me feel happier and keep my refocused again and determined to do well for the kids.

Having cash handed over and available to you without going to an ATM could be a perk

[sunnydays]

I chose this career because I DO love being home with the kids. It's not that it isn't hard work (actually it's the hardest thing I have ever done) and it certainly isn't that I don't expect to be paid fairly for my time and effort...but I don't believe that I am somehow betraying feminist thought (or maybe I am, but I don't care) because I LIKE being home with the kids. If I didn't like it I would be out rushing to and from work outside the home like everyone else. I think as a society we have gone way too far in the other direction...now it is terrible to even say that you want to stay home with your kids. Somehow you are less of a woman. Well, personally, I think THAT kind of thinking is what perpetuates the thinking that daycare providers are less worthy, less intelligent, just doing it because we can't do anything else. Nobody said we should love doing it just because we are women....but if we do love it...what then? So are we supposed to put on a facade and pretend we hate what we do lest we harm feminism in some way? I just don't see this a path to peace and happiness for anyone.

Okay, so I'm waiting to hear from Cocoon to tell us what she charges for 2 kids that she can support two adults on that income alone. Come on Cocoon, now that you said it, we all want to know
As for pay being a perk, nope. I get that it was a tongue in cheek comment, I really do. But it does perpetuate the myth that as women we should love being home looking after children simply because we are women. The comment, although not intended to, does undermine our careers. Also, for those of you saying you make great money doing this job, that also sends the wrong message. I hope you don't tell non-daycare providers such things. I don't personally know anybody that makes a great living providing daycare. A decent living maybe if full all the time. I realize that different markets will support different fees. But if you do make a killing, don't advertise that fact because it is not the standard. I wouldn't want people to think I'm making gobs of money because I'm not. I live in a small community and it would be harder to find clients if people thought I could be charging less since I make so much money.

[Mamma_Mia]

I think people are over-reacting to Daisy's comment. I get what she means.

I can ONLY seak for myself...Daisy's comment didn't bother me at all. It made me laugh in a "yeah right <eye roll> a "perk"...." kinda way

My personal question is for Cacoon who claims with only 2 daycare kids can support '2 adult family'.....I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong?! I agee in keeping a positive vibe but I also agree in not letting someone new go in with blinders on! NO it's not GREAT money....it's money. We all need it but it's not like we can drop $1000 when we feel like it because we're rolling in the cash.

That's all that bothered me. Be happy, Be positive but Be HONEST (or at least back up your statements).

Sorry for causing your positive thred into chaos Daisy

[Daisy Duke]

Well Hello, good morning! What have I started?

I have felt so happy since I started up my day care again this summer. I tell my husband almost every day. The other days I am usually complaining to him.

I love the fact that I am able to make a living working from home - with my family.

I do believe this thread is getting silly now.

[kidlove]

Not trying to continue the chaos, but just want to say...I admire ALL women who have the ability to stay home and make a living, I do believe that is the intent God had in mind when he made man and woman. Not saying I don't agree with a Mother having to work outside of the home or choosing for that matter, to each his or (her) own, it's not up to me to judge the choices of another, however...I did work away from home for the first few years of my kids lives and I carried a lot of guilt, I don't think anyone made me feel guilty and it was definitely not society (society pushes in the direction of two career minded parents pulling in equal money) I felt guilt because what I was doing (leaving my babies in the hands of another) was against how I felt I should have been raising them. I know, seems I am a hipocrit ? I am....the very thing I rely on to make money and keep my business going is also the one thing I find hardest to come to terms with, Mother's going off to work and leaving the Baby with another. This is a job a hard one, and it earns a paycheck, but it is also second nature to most women, because we were made to nurture and love children. When I do my job, it really does feel like a blessing, because although it at times is quite difficult and stressful, it is also like second nature.(how easy do you think life was for farm wives years ago with 8+ kids and responsibilities around the farm to boot, and they didn't get paid) I was meant to be a mom, and a wife, all I do is open my doors to others children and do the same thing I do with my own family and earn a paycheck on the top. A blessing is what it is for me plain and simple. Wouldn't trade any outside job for this, ever!