What prompted you to leave the security of a paycheck to uncertain income?

[apples and bananas]

I worked in retail... LOL That was my inspiration.

I wanted to make my own hours, be home when my kids got off the bus, not worry about who was going to care for them if they were sick. ect. And... I simply make more money. I'm in a lower tax bracket so my child tax credit, gst ect is higher. I used to drive an hour to work every day, now i'm lucky if my car leaves the driveway at all between monday and thursday.

I didn't have to put in a request for vacation this year. I took off a week after Christmas without hasle (one of the busiest times of the year in my last profession) And when picking extra curriculars for my kids I don't have to worry about Saturday practices (when I used to have to work) Or what night's I'm working late.

For me, it was a lifestyle choice. It's really hard some days and I've felt like I don't know what I'm doing more then my share, but at the end of the week, my cheques come in and I have a great sense of accomplishment.

And, my commute is as far as my coffee pot in the morining. LOL That just might be my favorite part.

[Dreamalittledream]

I worked in retail... LOL That was my inspiration.

I wanted to make my own hours, be home when my kids got off the bus, not worry about who was going to care for them if they were sick. ect. And... I simply make more money. I'm in a lower tax bracket so my child tax credit, gst ect is higher. I used to drive an hour to work every day, now i'm lucky if my car leaves the driveway at all between monday and thursday.

I didn't have to put in a request for vacation this year. I took off a week after Christmas without hasle (one of the busiest times of the year in my last profession) And when picking extra curriculars for my kids I don't have to worry about Saturday practices (when I used to have to work) Or what night's I'm working late.

For me, it was a lifestyle choice. It's really hard some days and I've felt like I don't know what I'm doing more then my share, but at the end of the week, my cheques come in and I have a great sense of accomplishment.

And, my commute is as far as my coffee pot in the morining. LOL That just might be my favorite part.

Ditto! And as frustrating my days do get the odd day and the difficult adjustment for my 2 year old that I so did not anticipate...the good FAR outweighs the bad. My husband and all my daycare parents are teachers...wonderful to have summers, vacations etc. off together now. My last straw at my retail job was being forced to work Christmas Eve (to 10:30pm) and morning (at 6am)...which I did but spent many a moment crying in an office thinking of missing that time with my 4 boys. On opening a home daycare: I think back to this rosy picture I had back then of being able to get so much housework done and amazing meals made during nap times....bahahaha... I'm so tired at night and nap time that I soon vowed that I would try my best to take a break on off times. It's weird at my old job it was very fast paced and I was so physically drained...now I find I am more totally mentally drained come day end...anyone else find that? My previous employer called me recently to check on and to say that my old job is always open for me; I thanked her politely, meanwhile thinking...after 20+ years as a retail manager...NEVER again. I have been lucky that although I have been full (5 children + my own 2 year old), we can survive on my husband's income alone.