How does being a daycare provider effect your own kids?

[Skysue]

Hello!
Ive been running an ahdc since my son was 6 months old. I have two kids 6 and 8 and I feel me running this business has been a double edged sword a bit.

On one hand they both have learned how to share very quickly and they both love babies and the new ones that come in. They make friends easily and can have a play date anytime they want because I am home for them. Sick days are not a problem here. Your sick and dont want to go to school fine not an issue.

On the other hand they have had to sacrifice so much. Their toys are played with, their rooms are used for naps and their clothes are often borrowed. They get attached to the dc kids so when they leave, they feel like they've lost a sibling and often are upset. At times of a hard day they come home to a stressed out mom and feel the responsibility to "help out".

I guess I was wondering if others have the same feeling as well?

I feel it as well and my little one is only 3, been doing this a year! Please there must be way more positives? Do me a favour and ask your kids what there favourate things are and what are there negatives! Report back if you can!

[lilac]

I just wrote a whole post and it dissappeared!!

Anyhow, Positives - being at home with my kids; being my own boss etc, etc. I belive there is a whole thread on this! LOL! Which I totally agree that all of the points listed in that thread are wonderful reasons to run a home daycare!

However, I hear you, I am experiancing the double edged sword at the moment as well. At first my daugther (3 when I started) was jealous, however, once she got over that, both my kids LOVED having the daycare kids here (they are all about the same age); besides that I needed the income, it was my number one reason why I would keep doing it, b/c my kids loved it. However, I suppose the novelty of that eventually wore off, they started to get upset that younger kids were napping in their rooms, that they couldnt have their school friends over or go on playdates of their own bc I'm always busy with a housefull of other kids. They have expressed to me more times than I can count that they wished we didnt have daycare at our house and both quite often will spend a good chunk of time playing alone in their rooms (their choice). And most recently bc I've lost most of my dcks due to my upcoming mat leave, they are devestated that their friends arent coming anymore. I've also found that my son's behaviour is very influenced when a certian other dck is around.

I feel that my kids have been so affected by the daycare that I'm considering taking the fact that I've lost most of my dcks as an opporunity, motivation (or a sign LOL!) to come up with another way of earning an income from home. My kids are so unhappy right now and it breaks my heart.