Do Any Of You Ever Want To Just Quit?

[MamaBear]

I have been feeling this urge to quit doing daycare lately. I hate when I get this feeling. It happens occassionally and usually I get over it. But lately its getting more intense of a feeling. I dont know if Im getting burned out or what.

I love all the kids I have in my daycare right now but a couple of the parents drive me insane. I constantly catch them in lies or they try to sneak their kid here with hidden illnesses. I'm obsessed lately with bleaching & cleaning everything because of the funk these parents have snuck in here. Its so frustrating to me lately. I also started watching an infant recently and he definitely has his good and BAD days. The last 2 days he hasnt napped longer then 1 hour all day, and hes 5 months old... so when hes awake he cries & cries. At the end of the day, I'm just exhausted.

One of the main reasons why I do daycare is so I can be home with my own kids, but sometimes I feel like I still cant really spend time with them and cant go anywhere with them either. Its like I'm here for them ... but not really here for them. Kind of defeats the purpose in a way.

Does anyone have advice on how to get my daycare mojo back? Or maybe I need to change jobs. I feel bad because there are families that are calling me for childcare, but I dont even want to call them back because I'm just feeling "not into it" right now.

[Abigail]

How many kids do you have total? How old are your own children? Maybe letting the infant go because you can't meet the child's needs (cries too much and creates stress for you and probably the group). You should try to stick to ages near your children so they can progress well. As for burnout...when do you open and close? I completely understand on loving the kids and not the parents. Maybe you're due for a raise, you should review your rates and see if you would feel better with a 5% or so raise depending on what you charge. Come July you could have better pay and one less infant.....

Times will get better :Hugs:

[DaycareMama]

One of the main reasons why I do daycare is so I can be home with my own kids, but sometimes I feel like I still cant really spend time with them and cant go anywhere with them either. Its like I'm here for them ... but not really here for them. Kind of defeats the purpose in a way.

This is exactly how I feel right now myself. It sadens me everyday. I love my job and I love my DCKs. I have 2 parents who ruin the entire thing for me.

I miss my own kids more than anything and I am home to see them everyday. See them more now then ever.

I wish that I had some positive words for you. But all I can say is your not alone. I hope that in some way that helps. I know it does for me.

Maybe you just need to find some fun "family friendly" activities to do on your down time. Maybe buy a puzzle to do at night, little affordable weekend getaways, always remind your children that it may not seem like it now but you DO do this for them. I really believe that one day they will look back (our kids) and see that.

I am the worst at finding time and it makes me dislike my job more because I feel guilty. Like right now DH and DS are sitting together at the table doing a puzzle and im being lazy on the couch. Im going to make that extra effort to get up and join them tonight even though i just want to crash!

I don't mean to ramble but I understand you so much. I hope for all who feel this way that it gets better.. Stay positive. Only you can tell whats best for your family. Maybe you just need a break? You can always start up again

[MamaBear]

thanks!

I only have 5 daycare kids - 3 toddlers (ages 2-3) and 2 infants (11 months & the 5 month old). They are an easy group except the infant. I definitely notice that my "like" of doing daycare kind of diminished when the new baby started. I'm open 7am-5pm so its not too bad... But I think its a mix of the parents, the lying that I've gotten lately, the sneakiness and just worn out from the new baby.

I like your idea of the raise! Maybe I should consider that. Also thinking a vacation might be in order soon too!

[Abigail]

How long has the five month old been with you? 11 months is quite a bit ahead and you can always decide to take age 1+ so you can keep your 11 month old and just agree no more babies for awhile. I think babies are hard when you have older kids. The last few hours of our day was 6 2-5 year olds and 2 infants 4 and 5 months. I would prefer to have only one infant under the age of 1 myself.

Just remember tomorrow is FRIDAY!

[MamaBear]

Daycare Mama

Thank you Daycare Mama... Its nice that someone understand the feelings I'm having. It sucks. I want to LOVE doing daycare, but just feel such a blah feeling about it lately.

I wish I could just wake up every morning and just take care of my own kids... do fun things with them and make it to their every event they need me for. I'm here with them, but cant do anything with them. They hide out in their rooms to avoid the crying baby or the toddler noises. My husband retreats into his man cave when he comes home early. Im home but I'm in a bubble! haha

I think feeling unappreciated by the daycare parents is another problem for me. My parents here have been ticking me off daily lately. If I didnt need the money then I probably would stop daycare effective now! :: I definitely need a pick-me-up to get me "into" it again!

[DaycareMama]

Sounds similar to here. My husband comes home early and acts like he has work to do here and hides. Usually with those hidious orange ear plug things :: My DS is so grossed out by the little ones (I have a 2yo who I swear holds her gas in till he comes home and is standing near her) that all I see is the back of his head as he comes home from school.

[sahm2three]

I have been feeling this urge to quit doing daycare lately. I hate when I get this feeling. It happens occassionally and usually I get over it. But lately its getting more intense of a feeling. I dont know if Im getting burned out or what.

I love all the kids I have in my daycare right now but a couple of the parents drive me insane. I constantly catch them in lies or they try to sneak their kid here with hidden illnesses. I'm obsessed lately with bleaching & cleaning everything because of the funk these parents have snuck in here. Its so frustrating to me lately. I also started watching an infant recently and he definitely has his good and BAD days. The last 2 days he hasnt napped longer then 1 hour all day, and hes 5 months old... so when hes awake he cries & cries. At the end of the day, I'm just exhausted.

One of the main reasons why I do daycare is so I can be home with my own kids, but sometimes I feel like I still cant really spend time with them and cant go anywhere with them either. Its like I'm here for them ... but not really here for them. Kind of defeats the purpose in a way.

Does anyone have advice on how to get my daycare mojo back? Or maybe I need to change jobs. I feel bad because there are families that are calling me for childcare, but I dont even want to call them back because I'm just feeling "not into it" right now.

Yep! By Thursday almost every week! LOL! Then I have my weekend and I feel better and then the week starts all over again. We have a fairly thankless job. We do the work that most parents won't do or don't want to do. We put our heart and soul into our work. It's a tough job. I think it is ok to feel done now and then. Hang in there!

[MsMe]

I have a greou of 6 3yr (all almost 4) that have made my life REALLY stressfull for the last year. The noise, the fighting, the 'play'fighting, and the 'you're not my best friend" are all makign my day miserable!!

Daycare used to be fun and while not always 'calm' it was never this stressfull. I am nearly at the end of my rope and desperatly tring to hold on for one morw year untill they all go to kinder. It is rough and I think about quiting at least once a week.

I don't really have any advice I just wanted you to know that I feel the same way. This is a great job and we do it bc we love it but burn out happens to us all and I am currently working through mine.

[sharlan]

BTDT, all the way.

You need to evaluate what's making you unhappy and change it.

[boysx5]

I felt like that after I had my two youngest sons and I did stop and went part-time I only did after school care this way it gave me my day free with them and I was only working a few hours a day. Now my boys are all in school and I have been back at it for three years now and there are days I still get frustrated but taking a day off or having a vacation coming up helps out

[MamaBear]

This didnt help my mood

Last night I find out that now I have a Herpangina outbreak in my daycare which is really not helping my mood for doing daycare. Arghhhh

[3kidzmama]

Let it go!!!

I've been teaching kindergarten and/or first grade for several years now. Mostly in the special education field. (I am leaving teacher public school to open my own daycare center in June, but that's a different story!)

My words of advice are: LET IT GO. I have encountered numerous parents throughout the years that are (in my opinion) neglectful, obnoxious, frustrating, and all around irritating.
*Parents who don't bathe their children.
*Parents who don't want their children in their presence and are looking for any and all ways to deposit them onto someone else, hopefully free of charge.
*Parents who treat one gender different than the other.
*Parents who are extremely selfish and self-centered.
*Parents who think everyone else, especially the child's caregiver, is responsible for everything regarding the child, including illnesses and bad behaviors (oh, he "picked that up" at school/daycare/etc.)
*Parents who pretend to be "parent of the year" when in reality they couldn't care less what their children do/see/hear/participate in as long as the parent themselves don't have to deal with it

The list goes on and on and on and on....

In my first years, I would be stressed to the max and frustrated to tears all the time. I loved the children and detested the parents (not all, but those that fit the above description for sure)... I was at my limit.

That's when I realized that no matter what I do or say to these types of parents, they are not going to change. They will not change because they LIKE their lives and DO NOT want to deal with the responsibilities of the children.

So, I have learned to just LET IT GO. Anything that is stressful but has no bearings on my life after school/daycare hours, I have learned that it has to be let go of. If not, I will not be able to continue working with the children I love because of their irritating parents.

**This does NOT include instances where I see abuse/neglect and can turn it in to the authorities. I will get VERY involved when it comes to something of that nature, regardless of my feelings about the parent.

[Live and Learn]

::I did quit!!!::

::::::I gave my notice about a month ago. My last day is mid June.::::::

I am going to work in my hubby's business very part time and we are planning to foster parent an infant or two.::

We are both excited about the new chapter in our lives.

[Gurdy]

::I did quit!!!::

::::::I gave my notice about a month ago. My last day is mid June.::::::

I am going to work in my hubby's business very part time and we are planning to foster parent an infant or two.::

We are both excited about the new chapter in our lives.

Good for you!!

Good luck and God bless!