Hey girl, today let's chat about what it is like to be a home daycare owner.
As prepared as you may think you are to take on the position of a daycare owner, I bet there are a few things that no one has told you about this job description.
Being a home daycare owner for the past 9 years, while also being a mom of 4, I am here to let you in on the secrets of what it is really like being a daycare provider.
You should consider everything on this list before making the final decision about whether this path is the right one for you to take.
Let's jump into everything you should know before becoming a home daycare owner.
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Best Daycare Owner Facts
You guys, I thought I was ready, like completely ready to be a home daycare owner.
I talked to other home daycare providers, took my classes, had my agreement all written up, and had all the safety measures in place. Boom baby, let’s do it.
Whoa, was there some stuff I figured out along the way that I just wasn’t ready for.
Let’s back up a minute. Being a daycare owner was never on my job radar. It happened more out of necessity.
Not long after my 2nd child was born, the home daycare we were going to, closed…like gave us 10 days’ notice.
What do you do after you get done freaking out (yep, I will just be in the corner having a moment for days), consider your options and adjust.
And adjust we did. Our 2 kids went into a daycare center, which is a great option for many people but it just wasn’t the right fit for our family.
So, adjust again to becoming a home daycare owner.
The next couple of months would be me taking all the necessary class work and making sure that all the safety features were in place to welcome daycare families to our home.
Since then, life has been a constant adjustment including my home daycare.
While I feel like I am a pretty positive person, I am also a realist.
So, there are things on this list that may seem negative but let me assure you, I just want to tell you how it is. And nothing is ever rainbows and butterflies all the time.
1. It is SO rewarding!
Being a daycare owner is the most rewarding job I have ever done, outside of being a mom.
You are there day in and day out helping these little people learn and grow. I get just as excited as they do when they finally conquer any kind of task.
2. The daycare kids become family.
You are around these kiddos for many hours of the day and they are in your home so it is hard to not think of them as family after a while.
My first set of daycare kids, who are too old to need me now (tear), are best friends with my kids.
3. It is hard, exhausting work.
Mentally, physically, and emotionally, being a daycare owner is hard work.
There have been many days at the end of the day when I don’t want anyone to touch me anymore or I don’t want to talk to anyone. You are just wiped out.
And the more kids you take care of, the harder it is. You have to be “the person” to all those little people!
4. You will find out what your limits are.
I thought I was pretty aware of what my limits were before I started daycare with things like how many kids I could care for, how much patience I had, and so on.
Let me tell you, being a daycare owner opened my eyes.
Sure, I could care for lots of kids, but I couldn’t care for lots of kids well and give them what they all needed.
You will either stop once you hit those limits or you will surprise yourself and blast past them.
5. You are probably not going to be rich.
If you are considering being a daycare owner, of course, you look at what you could be making. But take those dollar signs out of your eyes.
You have expenses and if you set your price too high your clients won’t be able to afford you.
6. You will be frustrated.
It turns outs, these little people you are caring for have a mind of their own. Their plan will not always line up with your plan.
Try to do things for yourself that work all things calming. Trust me, it helps.
7. You will work long hours.
What are your open hours – the time when kids are in your care?
Well, I hate to break it to you but those aren’t the only hours you will be working.
You will be prepping before kids arrive, you will be cleaning after they go home, and you will be doing odds and ends around your home on the weekends.
Think of how you would want it to look if you were sending your child there and make it that way!
But it is worth it. Your daycare parents will notice.
8. You shouldn't do daycare for friends if your parenting styles are different!
Let me repeat that in a shouting voice:
YOU SHOULDN'T DO DAYCARE FOR FRIENDS IF YOUR PARENTING STYLES ARE DIFFERENT!
OMG!!! I for sure learned this the hard way. My friend asked me to be her daycare provider when she found out she was pregnant with her first and I was so excited.
But little did I know that our parenting styles clash so badly that I had to stop doing daycare for her.
It put a pretty bad strain on our friendship for a while, especially since our husbands are such great friends. Now everything is smoothed over, thankfully!
Just say no to this!
9. You may have long-term injuries.
This is not true of every daycare owner. However, it is true for me and a few others that I know.
Taking care of kids puts a ton of strain on your body. Think about it, you are lifting kids so many times throughout the day that you lose count.
Unfortunately for me, I now have arthritis in my lower spine which causes my back to go out if I am not careful.
So, practice good lifting techniques people!
10. You have to be organized.
Holy moly! If you are not organized, you will feel like you are going crazy spinning in circles.
You have to have supplies, meal plans, paperwork, keep track of multiple families' schedules, and so much more.
Being organized is paramount for being a daycare owner!
11. It can get "adult" lonely.
When you are just around kids all day, you may get lonely to talk to another adult.
There are ways to help with this. Take the kids to a nearby park and strike up a chat with other parents there or make a call or 2 in the evenings after your daycare kids leave.
I knew a daycare provider that would work at a local gas station every Saturday morning just to get her fill.
And if you can't fit any of these into your schedule, believe me, I know what that's like, message me! I am always up for a chat.
12. You never truly get a break.
If you think, oh I can catch a quick break when the kids are taking a nap, you my friend are an optimist!
I thought I would have at least an hour every day to myself, HA. Nap time is when I have to clean up from lunch, fold clothes, do paperwork, and whatever else I can jam in there.
Some daycare owners say, leave that until after the daycare kids leave and you can count it as more time working.
But that just doesn’t work for me.
After the daycare kids leave, I am still a mom and have a house to run for them. So, it is pretty much balls to the wall from the time I get up until the time my kids go to bed.
13. If you aren't good at time management, you will be.
I feel like this goes with a few of the points I made above – being organized and not catching a break.
Utilize your time while you can. Clean your house and do those kinds of tasks throughout your day and you will get through it all.
14. You will be a Jack of all Trades
There will be so many titles added to your hat by being a daycare owner. Some include business owner, babysitter, chef, taxi driver, craft creator, comforter of the sad, doctor, dance party maker, teacher, and so much more.
Those kids in your care will look to you for everything and it is okay if you learn along the way. Better yet, invite those little people to give their opinion.
They love it when they get to be helpful!
This post was all about things you should know when becoming a daycare owner.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about being a daycare owner or just want to chat.
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by.