I do agree that operating within the standards set out by the government is vital to avoid issues with insurance coverage and consequences for operating illegally. I do have to say though that when I started I worked with an agency. I decided to interview other day homes within my area that were checked by my agency to advise clients as to my preferred day homes for back up care. I was astounded at what I saw. The agency only required the premises to be safe and when I went they were not safe. The providers know within a week or so when the agency is coming by to check, and apparently I did not visit in that time frame. I left that agency within a month of this experience.

There were providers that were neglectful with only a few children from what I saw. Exceptional care is not based solely upon numbers of children, but with the value system in place with the provider.

There are many parents that have twelve children or more with one provider....mom. If mom is involved with the children and giving great care, all children are maintained well. I do think that the parent would be spread quite thin in the area of quality time with each child alone, but that does not mean any children are at risk of physical harm.

I personally would not report any day home unless my child was in care there. What others do is none of my business and people's perceptions is also not my concern. How others view day homes based upon the behaviors of others is not something I can do much about. The dysfunctional thinking that creates one to group all day homes in the same category is not something I can fight against. I can try to change the status of every day home out there, but the thinking of individuals that groups all in the same category remains.

What is my concern is that I operate legally, with strong values and that I am the best I can be. If I am concentrating on what others are doing, I am robbing myself of the most valuable resource I have to grow within my self and my business......emotio nal energy.