Now now, Island29, if you are not a home daycare provider then you don't understand exactly how we feel. When I worked outside the home I got a raise every single year. That's the way it is for most people. However, as self-employed business owners, we home daycare providers must remain competitive but fair to stay in business.

You may find daycare is expensive but I love something that one of my daycare Dads said to me a few months ago when he was laid off work for a few months. He told me not to worry about them ever taking their daughter out of my daycare because when they budget they put their rent, food and daycare expenses at the top of the plan since those are their most important priorities.

I'm so glad that they appreciate me enough to put me at the top of their list as one of their basic priorities, not as an annoying expense! They know that I give their child great care, nourishment, health and safety, learning opportunities and many more things, the list is endless.