Am I In Over My Head?! First Post :)

[DisneyPrincess]

The ladies already gave great advice so I dont have much to add. To share my own experience, I have been running my daycare for a year. I have had a very rough time sometimes, but it all depends on the personality of the children and your own. For example too much noise or too much going on at once stresses me so... having loads of children at once was hard to keep calm and play quite, so I was stressed out. Some people don't mind, you see what I mean ?! Needless to say last summer I did take more then I could handle and burned myself out... and they werent all babies (I find that older kids are more exhausting).

I totally understand you wouldn't want to cancel any agreements you already took with parents, so just take it easy.

Also, be careful with parents, because sometimes... they are the ones that are more difficult. One daycare provider I know has her own niece as a parent and she is the worst of all the parents. Its easier to be firm with strangers then your family or friends.

[Monday 2 Friday Mama]

Welcome to the club Daycare Lady. I'm sure that you will have no trouble with your crew - I am currently caring for three, 2 and a half year olds (I've had them since day 1) as well as one 15 month old and a 13 month old. You'll find your groove with them, and it really is easier to plan your program, and stock the toybox with toys that interest everyone/plan activities that everyone can participate in when everyone is at (roughly) the same developmental stage. Good luck, and hats off to you - I think that it's amazing that you have just openned your doors and you're already full. Way to go !

[gcj]

Great advice from all the ladies. However, I`m going to play devil`s advocate and look at this from another perspective. That's a LOT of kids and your own will surely be the most challenging with this new adjustment. That's called diving right in. Personally I couldn't handle it. I'd be worried that you're staying home to be with yours and you're going to wear yourself thin and not be able to give them what they need.

Hopefully you'll find a way to make it work. I would be completely exhausted. Where I live we're not allowed more than 2 under 18 months and I truly believe there's a reason for that. Our max is also 6 kids, including our own...until our own turn 9. Unless schedules are worked out so that you never have more than 6 at a time in the house. I cherish this rule! It has saved my sanity. I now have 4 since my 2 are in school, but under 9 and I feel like a whole new person! I'm no longer exhausted when I close the door to my last dck in the evening....I still have something left to offer my family.

If you don't feel that you can do, then you're not doing any of those parents any favours at all by saying that you'll do something that may be too demanding. Don't forget about yourself because if you're not well, noone is well!

I don't mean to be discouraging. If you can do, more power to ya! Just wanted to look at the other side of the coin.