Moving in 3 weeks!!! Eek! Advice?

[Lou]

Hi ladies!
Have you ever been through this? We are moving within our neighbourhood (just bigger) in 3 weeks and I'm getting nervous! I am NOT taking any time off to move as we are leaving next weekend to go on vacation (this just adds to my stress, it's an earlier closing date than anticipated so we will have to pack like crazy when we return!) and don't want to take any more time off for the parents' sake.
Anyways, my plan is to pack up the main playroom last and set it up first in our new home. Aside from that, does anyone have any tidbits of advice for me who have been through this before??
Anything is appreciated! Thanks in advance, and goodness gracious wish me luck!!

[bright sparks]

I am going to strongly advise that you reconsider taking time off even if it is just the day before and after moving day. I had a Friday closing date just over a year ago when we were in a similar situation, moving to a bigger place within town. I was back to work Monday and within a couple of days was really sick and run down. I had hives all over my face. Not to say this will happen to you of course, but I think with the stressful job of moving paired with the job of a home daycare provider and then rushing to get the house cleaned and your daycare set up, its not the smartest plan and I say this because I have done it. Never again will I put my daycare families needs before my own health needs.

[torontokids]

Whenever I have moved I always have a few boxes of essentials. All the stuff you need right away goes in there (toiletries, phone, towels, sheets etc) in my suitcases I fill them with the clothes I need everyday for the next few weeks so they are easy to find and can live out of the suitcase while I unpack. Also, get lot's of help. I had y husband and his friends moving stuff while I cleaned and unpacked. Good luck!

[mickyc]

yikes! our house is up for sale and I already told my parents in the event we sell I will be closing for a week. I cannot imagine only taking the weekend to move! Maybe I just have too much stuff.

[5 Little Monkeys]

Start now and start packing up anything that you won't be needing in the next 3 weeks. (movies, books, knick knacks, kitchen stuff that isn't used regularly, summer clothing/shoes, etc, kids rooms)

Pack up most of the daycare toys/books/art supplies. They will manage on a smaller amount of toys for a couple of weeks (you said you are going on vacation so dc will be closed for that?)

Pack up the closets, the things on the walls and the garage. Pack up anything and everything that you can. Donate what you aren't taking with you.

Good luck!!

[playfelt]

If the parents are on board let them know that tv and videos will be your best friends for a couple weeks and most will be ok with that. Start packing now anything they are not playing with so some disappears each day. Do it in front of them as they play and use the time to talk about the move and about you are moving to a new place with a bigger play room and build it up to them. If the house has already sold no reason to not start packing everywhere leaving out just what is needed. It also means you can unpack that way.

On a military move they come in and do the packing which is worse cause you don't get a chance to do what is important to you but you do have what they call first night boxes. You can do it one of two ways - pack up everything except for the basics for everyone or pack the basics for everyone and make do with the other stuff for now. The idea is when you first move you put the boxes in but only unpack the marked essential ones to get set up. That is bedding, towels, dishes, a few toys based on ages.

For the daycare make sure you are packing the toys separate from anything else in the house including your own daycare things like posters, etc. Pack just the toys and put some of each age group in a box. Then to unpack, each day open a box of toys in front of the kids and they get to play with whatever is in there. Then those things are put away on the shelves, bins, etc. or dumped back in the box and set to the side of the room. Over the week or so you gradually unpack the room and the kids get to rediscover stuff they forgot was there. It also means your evenings are spent unpacking your own families stuff.

[cfred]

I went through this in summer 2012. I didn't take any time off either. It was hard, but totally manageable. I'm single too, so did most of the work on my own. If I can do it, anyone can. However, I did carry both places for 1 extra month so I could move all the boxes myself after work every day. Someone said to pack up absolutely everything you can that you won't be using right away. Excellent advice!!! And label your boxes well! I labelled mine in detail and also with colour coding for quick identification. Leave boxes for your daycare and kitchen at the forefront. Like you plan to, I set up my daycare first. Also, get your kitchen at least somewhat functional. You'll want a few dishes, little cutlery, microwave, dishcloths, towels, facecloths and some easy foods to throw together. I ordered pizza for my family and just got an extra which fed the daycare kids lunch for a couple days (parents will understand under the circumstances), some crackers, cereal bars, raisins, fruit.

Good luck! It's going to be stressful, but those were the 2 things I found to be the biggest help. How exciting to be getting your new place!!! Have fun setting up your new daycare!

[Lou]

Thanks girls, great advice! Normally, for something big like this I would take a day or two off but the move is only a week after I have just been off for 2 weeks on vacation (something planned months ago when we didn't even know we'd be moving yet, it was somewhat spontaneous) , so I don't want to take more time off.
cfred- thank you especially for confirming that it can be done!!