I do early starts but I roll out of bed just before. I am dressed but that is it. The child comes in and plays - comes fed. I eat my breakfast, check emails, get my daughter up, dressed and fed. I do all of the things I would be doing anyways if child wasn't there.

I take the same approach at the end of the day in the sense that I start cooking supper, put in a tub of laundry - whatever I want to do.

My daycare day is the same as the school in the sense of 9am - 3:30 (morning snack to afternoon snack). Before and after that is freeplay and I am free to be a mom in my house. I am watching them of course but not interacting with them. I am on duty till pick up but that does not mean I am their entertainer till then.