A home daycare can be a rewarding profession for moms who want to stay at home with their own children.
Yet, there may not be any other job that is more stressful.
Be aware of the 7 biggest stresses and turn them into blessings instead.
STRESSOR #1 - Operating Costs are High Solution: Apply to have your daycare contracted through the region Contact someone in Children Services in your region or county regarding becoming a child care provider.
A child service worker will come to meet you and discuss the region's policies.
If you like what they have to say you sign a few documents and are well on your way to an increase in pay.
The region may pay substantially more than parents will.
STRESSOR #2 - Not Enough Children in Your Care to Off-Set Costs Solution: Build A Waiting List A waiting list will be your most valuable asset.
Turn over rate is high for home daycares so do not take it personally or become discouraged.
Be prepared.
Keep your daycare in the public eye by having a website, running a continuous small ad in the local paper and have a sign outside your home.
Tell everyone you know what you are doing and ask them to tell a friend.
STRESSOR #3 - Too Much Work, Not Enough "Down Time" Solution: Schedule regular breaks for yourself There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.
~Sylvia Plath, Finding ways to de-stress is very important.
In order to find balance and moderation there must be things in your life that you enjoy doing that are calming and restorative.
Do not try to do it all.
Read a book or knit while the children are watching TV.
Do something you enjoy.
Arrange to have grandparents or friends watch your own children for an evening once a week so you can relax.
Do what is relaxing for you and rejuvenate your spirit.
STRESSOR #4 - Cook, Serve, Clean...
Cook, Serve, Clean...
Over and Over Again Solution: Create a monthly menu plan to follow and keep it simple.
Again, do not try to do it all.
Keep your snacks and meals simple and child-friendly.
Use a calendar or spreadsheet to list snacks and lunches for a month.
Usually one week will fit on one page.
Use this chart when you go shopping and it will allow you to buy in bulk and to catch things when they are on sale.
It will also prevent the added frustration of having to think each day about what you want to feed the children only to find out you have run out of a necessary ingredient.
STRESSOR #5 - The Place is a Mess! Solution - Hire an affordable cleaning service As soon as your budget allows hire someone to clean your daycare area every one or two weeks.
This will be in addition to the daily cleaning you will be doing of course.
But it will give you a break and help reduce the spread of germs.
You are already doing so much work, let someone else do the deep cleaning.
STRESSOR # 6 - An Accident Happens on Your Property Solution: Create an Emergency Plan and Kit Emergencies can happen at any time and any place.
Be prepared by having a plan in place.
Ask yourself: How would I bring a child to the hospital? Who would stay with the other children while I left? Find helpful information online or attend a course that offers an emergency plan for businesses.
Be prepared for anything.
STRESSOR # 7 - Parents Do Not Do What They Say They Will Do.
Solution: Begin a pattern of open communication with parents from day one Parents may be one of the most unpredictable elements of your business.
Start on a good note by having them sign all the necessary documents and talk in detail about the arrangements you will have for their children.
Then stay in constant contact with them as issues arise.
Try having little notes to send home with their child.
Use a newsletter to keep all parents updated and to send out reminders.
Now all you need to do it put this into action.
What is your biggest stressor right now? What is one thing you can do today to eliminate your biggest stressor today? What are 5 steps you can take this week to eliminate your stressors and bring more blessings into your life?
Yet, there may not be any other job that is more stressful.
Be aware of the 7 biggest stresses and turn them into blessings instead.
STRESSOR #1 - Operating Costs are High Solution: Apply to have your daycare contracted through the region Contact someone in Children Services in your region or county regarding becoming a child care provider.
A child service worker will come to meet you and discuss the region's policies.
If you like what they have to say you sign a few documents and are well on your way to an increase in pay.
The region may pay substantially more than parents will.
STRESSOR #2 - Not Enough Children in Your Care to Off-Set Costs Solution: Build A Waiting List A waiting list will be your most valuable asset.
Turn over rate is high for home daycares so do not take it personally or become discouraged.
Be prepared.
Keep your daycare in the public eye by having a website, running a continuous small ad in the local paper and have a sign outside your home.
Tell everyone you know what you are doing and ask them to tell a friend.
STRESSOR #3 - Too Much Work, Not Enough "Down Time" Solution: Schedule regular breaks for yourself There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.
~Sylvia Plath, Finding ways to de-stress is very important.
In order to find balance and moderation there must be things in your life that you enjoy doing that are calming and restorative.
Do not try to do it all.
Read a book or knit while the children are watching TV.
Do something you enjoy.
Arrange to have grandparents or friends watch your own children for an evening once a week so you can relax.
Do what is relaxing for you and rejuvenate your spirit.
STRESSOR #4 - Cook, Serve, Clean...
Cook, Serve, Clean...
Over and Over Again Solution: Create a monthly menu plan to follow and keep it simple.
Again, do not try to do it all.
Keep your snacks and meals simple and child-friendly.
Use a calendar or spreadsheet to list snacks and lunches for a month.
Usually one week will fit on one page.
Use this chart when you go shopping and it will allow you to buy in bulk and to catch things when they are on sale.
It will also prevent the added frustration of having to think each day about what you want to feed the children only to find out you have run out of a necessary ingredient.
STRESSOR #5 - The Place is a Mess! Solution - Hire an affordable cleaning service As soon as your budget allows hire someone to clean your daycare area every one or two weeks.
This will be in addition to the daily cleaning you will be doing of course.
But it will give you a break and help reduce the spread of germs.
You are already doing so much work, let someone else do the deep cleaning.
STRESSOR # 6 - An Accident Happens on Your Property Solution: Create an Emergency Plan and Kit Emergencies can happen at any time and any place.
Be prepared by having a plan in place.
Ask yourself: How would I bring a child to the hospital? Who would stay with the other children while I left? Find helpful information online or attend a course that offers an emergency plan for businesses.
Be prepared for anything.
STRESSOR # 7 - Parents Do Not Do What They Say They Will Do.
Solution: Begin a pattern of open communication with parents from day one Parents may be one of the most unpredictable elements of your business.
Start on a good note by having them sign all the necessary documents and talk in detail about the arrangements you will have for their children.
Then stay in constant contact with them as issues arise.
Try having little notes to send home with their child.
Use a newsletter to keep all parents updated and to send out reminders.
Now all you need to do it put this into action.
What is your biggest stressor right now? What is one thing you can do today to eliminate your biggest stressor today? What are 5 steps you can take this week to eliminate your stressors and bring more blessings into your life?