Long weeks - a confession

[gravy_train]

I am in the middle of what I think is my most challenging time as a daycare provider. I have four children in my care, ranging in age from 14 months to 2.5 years. My own child is 2. One is with me for 8 hours a day and the other 2 are with me for 9.5 hour.
I am very quickly burning out.
My youngest is screaming (I posted about this a few weeks ago) intermittently throughout the day and then everyone else starts screaming. He is teething and drools on everything. He has also started biting the other children. My 2.5 yo is testing every little thing I say and ask. He cries when he is dropped off, cries when I change his diaper, cries when I ask him to put his shoes on so we can go outside. When he is not crying he is running from one spot to the next, throwing toys, taking toys from other kids. My own child is 2 and is also testing my reaction and I feel very guilty because I think it's because he gets the least attention from me throughout the day.
Right now I feel like my entire day is spent changing diapers and re-directing behaviour. I am not having fun doing this and I am wiped out. I feel like I need some help, need a break and need something to change but I'm not sure where to start or what to do.
Any words of wisdom?

[mickyc]

Can you afford to take a week off? If you can take a week off to get some rest and regroup. Sometimes you just need a break.

Is there one particular child that is the worst for you? Could you get rid of that child and fill that spot with an older child?

[apples and bananas]

I don't have any words of wisdom, other then... our job changes every day. It will change again and hopefully be better. The more days you do it, the better at it you are and the better it feels.

I have to applaud all of you caregivers that have young ones of your own. Mine are all school aged and I dread the last 2 hours of the day when they come home. LOL They all want my attention at once and I'm so pulled everywhere! My instinct is to give it to my kids, but I also know that I have a job and responsibility to the daycare kiddies.

So, I think it's amazing that you have your own child and devote so much of your time to 4 other ones too. I don't think I could do it.

[gravy_train]

thanks, mickyc -- i can't afford to take time off until christmas :-(. the thing is that even when i have time off i still am the primary caregiver for my own children so don't really get a break.
i think i will make an effort to get out of the house several evenings in the next few weeks and try to re-charge that way.

my 2.5 year old is particularly taxing at the moment but is otherwise a really sweet kid so i don't want to get rid of him.

maybe a book or two about toddler development and age appropriate expectations could help? does anyone have any book suggestions?

[torontokids]

OMG, you are singing to the choir! I feel your pain, I think we have all had these times. Luckily for me they are short lived for a day or 2, not multiple weeks, yikes!

Things that I do that really helps me. My day is super structured. This helps as the kids know what to expect at all times and I have less battles on my hands as they know what they need to do. I have a lot of free play. I have struggled with this one as I feel I should be doing more but the kids are happy. The trick is that it is freedom within a structured day. This allows me to do the things I used to do at night which made my day longer e.g. chop fruit, prep lunch etc. We spend a lot of time outdoors, the kids like it and if not, they get used to it. I find the fresh air is a savior for my mental health. I go to bed early now (this I struggle with but I at least go upstairs to read). I started feeding the dcks the same things a couple times a week. They don't care and the parents don't ever ask/care and this has taken a lot of the pressure off of me. I started a sewing class one evening a week (sometimes it is very hard to go to it as I have "more important things to do" but I make myself go. Lastly, I let my husband take my girls to soccer every Sat morning and do what I like (usually cleaning) so I can relax the rest of the weekend. This was hard for me because I felt guilty not going but I got over it!

[gravy_train]

awe thanks apples :-). have to remind myself that bad days and weeks happen at any job. i jfeel like i am lettign my own children, the kids in my care and the parents down because i am so drained.

[torontokids]

Our kids are the most work for sure. Another savior is video monitors. I never even go down during naps anymore because I can see them if I need to. I feel like my break is actually a break now

[gravy_train]

thanks, torontokids. free play is a big source of guilt because i worry that the parents expect me to 'do more' even though they are learning so much through free-play.
i like your suggestion of taking a regular class, and the thought of having a morning in my house alone sounds like pure heaven.
when i decided to open my daycare i expected it to be more fun but i wasn't prepared for how much work and stress it is ...

[5 Little Monkeys]

I agree with mickyc, if you can afford a week off or even half a week than do that and take some time to re-energize yourself. It is like any other job and holidays should be taken so that we can avoid burn out.

Sounds like some of the behaviour is age related but could it also be boredom? I know it's time to do a toy change up when the kids start to get restless,argue and just aren't playing nicely. I do a half toy rotation about every 2 weeks and a book rotation weekly.

When I'm feeling in a rut, I check pinterest for some new fun ideas and art activities. Maybe try that?

Keep telling yourself "this too shall pass!" .....it sorta helps lol

[torontokids]

Heh heh, my husband doesn't know it but I am finding another class/program that runs on Sat mornings when this one is over...I've had a taste of the freedom!