Goodbye all!

[gravy_train]

I just wanted to write a quick post and say good-bye to everyone! As many of you know, I am pregnant, registered for Employment Insurance benefits for self-employed people last year. I have decided to close my daycare and use this time to relax before our new baby arrives, and focus on my own children. I am working on a new business plan and doubt that I will re-open my daycare after my maternity benefits end.

I am so thankful for all of the support that I've received through this forum, for all of your thoughtful suggestions, for your kind words when I thought I was going to crumble into a sobbing heap in the middle of the kitchen floor, and your beautiful words of support when I had a miscarriage earlier this year.

I learned a lot about myself throughout the duration of my daycare, namely that I love owning my own business but that I need to be part of something that offers more opportunity for socializing with adults. I also learned to stand up for myself and put myself and my family first - that we are the only people to whom I owe anything. My biggest issue throughout this venture is that my work/life balance was waaay off. The hours of this job are so long, and the needs of my family so pressing, that I found I had nothing left to give myself at the end of the day (except sleep). I lost part of myself as I had to give up the things I love to meet the needs of everyone around me. This led me to be short tempered with my daycare kids and my own children, to over-eat and gain weight to compensate, and to take my stress out on my partner repeatedly. Not my finest moments but it is all about learning in this life and when I really think about it, this had been one of the most enlightening experiences of my life.

When I was preparing my documents in the planning stages of my daycare I conducted plenty of research on here and learned to determine what works best for me in terms of routine, rate, hours, etc. and to be firm in setting those expectations. I have to say that is the most valuable advice I received as it allowed me to keep some control over the very long days and subsequent weeks.

It has been said before but I truly believe that all of you are such special people. It takes so much to open your home and your heart to these little ones every day and the rewards are sometimes few and far between.

You are inspirational!