Yep...this is why I changed my hours! I used to be open until 5:30, but I had one family who were the first to arrive and last to leave and they did not need those hours at all...the mom was a supply teacher and when she worked she finished at 3:15. She would go home and cook dinner first before picking up the kids...run errands etc. I felt like I shouldn't care what parents did with their time as long as I was being paid...but it bothered me. I am now open only until 5pm and all but one of my fmailies are gone by 4:30...now I truly don't care what the parents do with their time because I finish at a good time and have time for my family. I think the only way to avoid feeling used is to set your hours to something you are comfortable with.


Quote Originally Posted by amotherfirst View Post
I'm doing close to 10 hours and I find it to be a long day, especially since I have kids that don't nap, no break for me! I'm thinking that when my contracts are due that I will change it to 9 hours but am not sure if I should have potential new clients lined up before giving this information to my existing clientele. I am finding that they are going grocery shopping, clothes shopping, cooking supper doing whatever they like and not picking up their kids earlier when they can. Its crazy to me that children spend more time at my house then with their parents and that whatever free time the parents get they don't spend it with their little ones. Its sad really. I chose to stay home because I can't imagine not spending these precious years with my children, I really don't understand this mentality of someone else raising my children. I understand people have to work, but just because you are paying you leave them in care and spend your precious free time doing something other than parenting your lil ones?