Rethinking opening a day home

[nschildcare]

This is my second go round with daycare. I took a break when I had my own children and have come back to it now that they are all in school. I love it. The saving grace for me has been to really decide what *I* need, set my policies around those needs, and then enforce them from day one. This def. has gotten easier as I go It is too easy to burnout otherwise.

I have a great group of kids and work hard at maintaining that greatness. I have learned the hard way to be very choosy about who I accept into care, which families I can work with, etc. I have key points that I won't waiver on (behavioural expectations from kids, well care, on time pick ups, etc) and emphasize those in interviews. The families that won't agree won't sign on and that's ok because they won't work out in the long run. I've also come to accept that I can't be everything to everyone and that's ok, too.

If you can set your expectations and your needs before you start, then stick to them, this can be a very rewarding and enjoyable business