View Full Version : I may be starting a new career...
Whether I get my degree or not, I'm not going to want to send my baby to daycare. When I get pregnant, Matt and I have decided that I'm going to get my daycare license and have my kid in my daycare. I have a cousin who is 19 and is great with kids. If she were to find a place to live out here, I'd hire her on that way I can get double the capacity. I haven't yet talked to her about it, but I know she'd be down for it. She doesn't even have her drivers' license, but she doesn't have to have one to be home with the kids. I'm getting kinda excited at the idea - especially since it's very possible that I can be pregnant right now. (Not saying that I am... just saying it's possible:) )
Has anyone else experimented with owning/operating a daycare?
Heywie
06-30-2009, 02:23 PM
That's great, Justina!
I have NO experience with this, but I wish you all the best! Good luck!
ChristineLS
06-30-2009, 02:23 PM
Whether I get my degree or not, I'm not going to want to send my baby to daycare. When I get pregnant, Matt and I have decided that I'm going to get my daycare license and have my kid in my daycare. I have a cousin who is 19 and is great with kids. If she were to find a place to live out here, I'd hire her on that way I can get double the capacity. I haven't yet talked to her about it, but I know she'd be down for it. She doesn't even have her drivers' license, but she doesn't have to have one to be home with the kids. I'm getting kinda excited at the idea - especially since it's very possible that I can be pregnant right now. (Not saying that I am... just saying it's possible:) )
Has anyone else experimented with owning/operating a daycare?
My neighbor did that and loved it, it was her way of having a career and taking care of the kids. From what I hear, she was good at it. The licensing can be very difficult in NY, I hope it's easier in CA! I hope it works out for you! It seems like it could be very fun :)
FH and I haven't figured out what we are going to do about childcare. While neither of us wants to be stay at home parents, and it was kind of disastrous for both of our mothers being SATH moms so we both see that kind of negatively because of our unique life experiences... we don't like the idea of day care either. Granted, we will be working in a field that's really flexible, and I think that may be how we negotiate it. His cousin is working nights and his cousin's wife working days, and that is how they got around it, but we'll see. It won't be an issue for a long, long time for us... we are both young and can't afford to feed a kid! Best reason for birth control ever ;)
It's not a very hard procedure in CA. Plus, I've already passed FBI fingerprinting (which is required for me to do AGAIN for current records). My history with the group home system strengthens my qualifications. I'm excited about it... It's going to take a bit of time. I have to finish unpacking and get the house child proofed, but other than that.. I just have to go through orientation AGAIN, and pay a few small fees (of course, because NOTHING is free), then I have to pay for an inspection... and pass. It sure helps that I don't have a fireplace - WOOHOOO!
MrsDM
06-30-2009, 04:26 PM
FH's step-mom ran a daycare in her home for years. The upside, you don't have to put your kids in daycare and you don't have to leave the house. Downside, it takes it toll on your house and you always have to make sure everything is child proof and safe in your home.
I wish you luck! I know, I don't want to stick my kids in daycare either, but the way the economy is, we aren't in a position for me to quit everything and stay home!
MrsDM
06-30-2009, 04:29 PM
I'm getting kinda excited at the idea - especially since it's very possible that I can be pregnant right now. (Not saying that I am... just saying it's possible:) )
Ahhh...yes. All your other posts questioning the signs of pregnancy...makes sense now!
ChibiAiChan
06-30-2009, 10:34 PM
*hand up* I have an associate in child development (i know big deal but it kinda is to me =/) and have worked in child care since I was 17!!
The rules differ on the states.. you have to child proof everything. Have schedules in view and DO them, some cases have to change things in your house to meet requirements, make sure toys are up to code. There will be a person (cant think of their name) who will come and look over your house before you even start. You also MUST watch about parents and they pay on time. Do not be too leinet or you WILL be walked on (sadly).
I was going to go this route (I have *always* wanted to be a sahm... but sean said no =() I have become a nanny and go to THEIR house and watch their kids. AND get a higher pay because of my associate. Plus I can take kids (if I ever have any) with me!
Sorry long winded and probably not much help =( I would look into getting a associate or certificate. Here is the program I used in MI (I know you cant use it but just for reference)
http://www.schoolcraft.edu/pdfs/guides/programs/Child_and_Family_Services.pdf
I was the Toddler teacher in the afternoon for a while there as well =)
I hope I helped!!
gwenshack
06-30-2009, 10:40 PM
I think that's a great idea Justina! :) I bet you'd be great at that!
*hand up* I have an associate in child development (i know big deal but it kinda is to me =/) and have worked in child care since I was 17!!
The rules differ on the states.. you have to child proof everything. Have schedules in view and DO them, some cases have to change things in your house to meet requirements, make sure toys are up to code. There will be a person (cant think of their name) who will come and look over your house before you even start. You also MUST watch about parents and they pay on time. Do not be too leinet or you WILL be walked on (sadly).
I was going to go this route (I have *always* wanted to be a sahm... but sean said no =() I have become a nanny and go to THEIR house and watch their kids. AND get a higher pay because of my associate. Plus I can take kids (if I ever have any) with me!
Sorry long winded and probably not much help =( I would look into getting a associate or certificate. Here is the program I used in MI (I know you cant use it but just for reference)
http://www.schoolcraft.edu/pdfs/guides/programs/Child_and_Family_Services.pdf
I was the Toddler teacher in the afternoon for a while there as well =)
I hope I helped!!
I guess it's similar to running the group home, but with smaller kids. I ran a group home with 6 teenagers for 3 years. I would guess I can manage a few little kids if I can handle a bunch of teenage boys :rofl:
ChibiAiChan
07-01-2009, 12:49 AM
I guess it's similar to running the group home, but with smaller kids. I ran a group home with 6 teenagers for 3 years. I would guess I can manage a few little kids if I can handle a bunch of teenage boys :rofl:
LoL yep just about the same =) Just remember to keep with the ratio of kids to adult! heh.
Thalia_themuse
07-01-2009, 01:00 AM
Oooh congrats Justina!!! That sounds like such a brilliant idea! I want to find some kind of work-from-home job so that if we have kids I can stay at home too!
Oooh, so exciting! So many people need daycare for their kids, and it would be such a great job for you!
LoL yep just about the same =) Just remember to keep with the ratio of kids to adult! heh.
Oh yeah, in CA they won't allow me to have more than X amount of kids per so many adults. I am going to try to hire my 19 year old cousin to be my assistant that way I can literally double my capacity. I will only have a license for up to 6 kids if I do it only solely on my own. I can do 12 with someone else over 18 as my assistant :)
good luck
I had my license in Pa for 12 years........not sure how Cali is, but there is a lot of red tape involved here
It was all worth it and I miss it terribly, I did it for the same reasons you want to
if you have any questions, fire away
good luck
I had my license in Pa for 12 years........not sure how Cali is, but there is a lot of red tape involved here
It was all worth it and I miss it terribly, I did it for the same reasons you want to
if you have any questions, fire away
Good to know, thank you! How was it running a daycare with your own kids included?
Good to know, thank you! How was it running a daycare with your own kids included?
biggest issue is sharing of special toys................solution: keep all special items in their bedrooms, which were upstairs, and off limits to daycare anyway.............any items in the 'toy' room were to be shared, and my boys never had a problem
if they brought something downstairs from their rooms, they knew that they had to share
nicest thing was that my boys never were clingy children because they also got used to sharing me
we all made many friends, many of whom I still keep in touch with, 9 years after I had to close the doors because my marriage dissolved
Good point... sharing of toys. I think I'd put a lock on Sierra's room once I start. I know that'll be tough for her especially since for now she won't be living with us.
On a side note, Sierra asked her mom if she could live with us "soon" and her mom said yes. WOW.
Good point... sharing of toys. I think I'd put a lock on Sierra's room once I start. I know that'll be tough for her especially since for now she won't be living with us.
On a side note, Sierra asked her mom if she could live with us "soon" and her mom said yes. WOW.
I don't regret any of those years and cherish all the memories
how old is Sierra? does Cali have an age law on choosing where to live?
I don't regret any of those years and cherish all the memories
how old is Sierra? does Cali have an age law on choosing where to live?
Sierra's 9, and Cali says she can choose when she's 12. However, with her mother's and father's consent, she can live wherever she chooses - IF both parents agree and it goes through court to get child support adjusted accordingly.
Sierra's 9, and Cali says she can choose when she's 12. However, with her mother's and father's consent, she can live wherever she chooses - IF both parents agree and it goes through court to get child support adjusted accordingly.
yep, with both parents consent, it's just some simple paperwork to be filed with the court in your county, and you're all set
good luck, in your case, dad is the better choice by far
savepaws
07-01-2009, 12:58 PM
That's an awesome idea Justina! I would LOVE to do something like that. But I'm stuck here at this job forever because I need the health insurance. The good thing is that its only part time so when I do have babies, I won't be away from them all day. But if I could be home all day, I'd love to have a daycare.
That's an awesome idea Justina! I would LOVE to do something like that. But I'm stuck here at this job forever because I need the health insurance. The good thing is that its only part time so when I do have babies, I won't be away from them all day. But if I could be home all day, I'd love to have a daycare.
As long as Matt maintains a job, I can add myself to his insurance. It'll cost an arm and a leg, but at least the daycare will compensate for the extra cost taken out of his paycheck.
Kfancii
07-01-2009, 01:47 PM
You are a brave soul Justina! I applaud you for wanting to be the one to raise your kids and looking for a solution as to how you could do it. I worked in a home day care while I was in college and it was crazy! I couldn't believe how spoiled some children are and how many parents didn't believe in discipline or would even potty train them. We had a 5 year old girl that was STILL in diapers! She was too big to even fit in the largest disposibles that they sell, but her parents wouldn't get her potty trained! Anyway, since I have gotten old and more impatient, working with children would never be something I would choose to do! More power to ya'll who can deal with diapers, bottles, screaming, fighting, and all those things that kids do!
I will stick to my dreams of someday having a "Pet Ranch" or Kennel in my retirement days! My other dream would be to open a "self service dog wash".
sandy03
07-02-2009, 02:05 PM
I think it's a great idea. I'm sort of curious about it as an option when I have kids and stop working.
My brother and I always had private babysitters when we were little who never had any kind of license as far as I know, and at least one kept the kids from several families at the same time. I am not sure how that was different, but I guess if all the families know and consent it's ok.
ChristineLS
07-02-2009, 02:39 PM
I think it's a great idea. I'm sort of curious about it as an option when I have kids and stop working.
My brother and I always had private babysitters when we were little who never had any kind of license as far as I know, and at least one kept the kids from several families at the same time. I am not sure how that was different, but I guess if all the families know and consent it's ok.
Or even if that was illegal, who is going to report it if the babysitter was doing a great job at taking care of the kids and everyone is happy?
SkippyNXC
07-02-2009, 02:43 PM
the only problem w/not having a license is then if a child gets injured under ur care u could get seriously sued n taken to the cleaners... where as if its an official business u have liability insurance n all that fun stuff....
ChristineLS
07-02-2009, 02:51 PM
the only problem w/not having a license is then if a child gets injured under ur care u could get seriously sued n taken to the cleaners... where as if its an official business u have liability insurance n all that fun stuff....
This is very true.
I don't know enough kids to make a living without getting a license. At least once I get my license, parents can rest assured (once they get to know me) that I"m not going to drug their kids to make them take a nap all day (this happened to me and my brother when I was a baby). I'd rather go through the licensing and not have to stress about getting caught - cuz in Cali I'd get caught, no matter how good of a job I do.
Nekochanpurr
07-09-2009, 03:55 AM
No good advice here... But good luck!! :) I think you would do a good job.
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