I got lucky to be on EI since we moved province and so I had the time to plan, advertise, set up and money still came in. But at my previous home, it was just too risky to leave all and open a daycare.

Plan as much as you can while still having you job. Advertise for summer/or september and see your response. If you cant have your daycare separately from your home space (basement for example) then set up as if you have a daycare already so when parents come and visit they see you are well set up. For the pool... you'll have to figure out to fence before opening of course.

My kids are older now and I had to invest in toys for all ages, strollers for more then one, playpens, high chair (kijiji, second hand store, etc... Never pay new). In the end I still invested a lot of money. I had to do all my paperwork, contract, regime, menus, have educative equipment like letters and numbers and shape that I hung on the wall, by craft stuff and coloring books and puzzles etc.. get my first aid certificate and police record etc. It was lots and lots of work and thank god I wasnt working at the same time. If you need help with any paperwork, I'm always happy to share, just send me your email.

I do find life pretty lonely. Winter season is killing me, has for other seasons I go outside more and see my co-daycare ppl. But I did work as a receptionnist/secretary and even when I was just a cashier... I miss the interaction with ppl even though I thought I wouldnt miss it. At first I was happy to just be home for my kids and of course take care of little ones because they are so precious. I thought hey, I'll have a little social time getting to know the parents, but most just come in and out !! They dont and shouldnt know my entire life anyways right ?! for them I'm just a person they pay to take care of their child. Dont get me wrong I do have a couple of parents that do talk to me and we have fun few chats, but you always have to be careful what you talk about and say !

Would I go back to work in the city... one day I will !!!