A little off topic but I need some help and advice :)

tegalicious

Hi everyone. This might be long...sorry.... Like I said this is a little off topic but I need some help. I am having a difficult time at work lately. I am no longer feeling fulfilled in what I do and am starting to dread going to work. I think I am burnt out. I currently run an infant and toddler daycare and it is just me here all day with up to 6 children. I can't afford an assistant and frankly don't want one. When I tried to have an assistant it was too many cooks in the kitchen and not enough children to make it doable. Plus the children acted out more because they had two adults to test limits with. And let me add it isn't the children that are the problem. I am just not finding teaching rewarding any more. So my dilemma is... Do I stay in the daycare business but go back to school to move into management or do I look into something different all together that would be more fulfilling. I am not sure daycare management will be that fulfilling and If I am going to have to go back to school I want to make sure it is for something I will do until retirement age.

clareyoung80

I read a good book recently, called: Wishcraft: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wishcraft-How-What-Really-Want/dp/0345465180 that I'd highly recommend.

Ignore the title, it is one of those books that basically breaks down thinking about what you REALLY want to do in life and actually putting steps in place to achieve it. It's good because it's a very practical book and very helpful. Though, there are plenty like that out there.

But, from what you've said, why are you even thinking of going into management if, as you say "I am not sure daycare management will be that fulfilling"? You kinda answered your own question there. Much better for your sanity to have a good think about what you do want to do, and make plans to do that.

aakaakaak

Go to school at night for what you want to do and keep doing daycare until you have the job you want.

FrustratedYoYoer

I agree, go back to school to do something fulfilling u could see yourself doing forever. That's what i have done and don't regret it. 7 months til i qualify

tegalicious

I read a good book recently, called: Wishcraft: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wishcraft-How-What-Really-Want/dp/0345465180 that I'd highly recommend.

Ignore the title, it is one of those books that basically breaks down thinking about what you REALLY want to do in life and actually putting steps in place to achieve it. It's
good because it's a very practical book and very helpful. Though, there are plenty like that out there.

But, from what you've said, why are you even thinking of going into management if, as you say "I am not sure daycare management will be that fulfilling"? You kinda answered your own question there. Much better for your sanity to have a good think about what you do want to do, and make plans to do that.

Thanks for the book recommendation! I will look into that. And I guess the only reason that daycare management is on the table is because it is what I had planned to do. Work here at my current job until I am about 35 and then get into management either working for an established school, opening a franchise, or opening my own center. I have only work in the daycare field so I really don't know what else I would pursue. My other interests are nutrition, fitness, and animals. Not sure where to go from there.

tegalicious

Go to school at night for what you want to do and keep doing daycare until you have the job you want.

My current schedule would not allow for this. I work 7am to 7pm and in bed at 9pm so I can get up at 5am to get in my workouts.

tegalicious

I agree, go back to school to do something fulfilling u could see yourself doing forever. That's what i have done and don't regret it. 7 months til i qualify

What are you pursuing if you don't mind me asking?

FrustratedYoYoer

I agree, go back to school to do something fulfilling u could see yourself doing forever. That's what i have done and don't regret it. 7 months til i qualify

What are you pursuing if you don't mind me asking?

Diagnostic radiography. I'm hoping once i get a few years experience behind me when i've qualified i can specialise in sonography

DeBiKin

I don't know when the least time was that you had a vacation but it seems like it would be hard for you to get one and that would, for sure, lead to burnout. That is in no way dismissing ant purge advice you got, it just seems to me that it would be difficult to get a break with so many parents depending on you therefore you would be at their mercy. You have a very important job but if you don't get to see the fruit of your work (because the good that you instilled in the kids goes away with them when they leave) and you never get a break, burnout is totally understandable. Good luck with whatever you decide =D

tegalicious

I don't know when the least time was that you had a vacation but it seems like it would be hard for you to get one and that would, for sure, lead to burnout. That is in no way dismissing ant purge advice you got, it just seems to me that it would be difficult to get a break with so many parents depending on you therefore you would be at their mercy. You have a very important job but if you don't get to see the fruit of your work (because the good that you instilled in the kids goes away with them when they leave) and you never get a break, burnout is totally understandable. Good luck with whatever you decide =D

Thanks so much for your kind words! I do schedule vacations for myself and get holidays off as well. But you hit the nail on the head. I don't get to see the fruits of my labor. So not having that sense of accomplishment makes it hard.

Shannonthompson73

I was where you are when I was 29! We had one more child that year so I was home for another 5 years till he went to school but then I got out. I always knew home daycare was not my long-term goal.

Figure out what you want to do and go for it. When you do your resume you will be surprised at the skills you have been using: managing families, multitasking, tax paperwork, state licensing paperwork, managing food program requirements, curriculum writing. I would encourage you to join a local daycare provider association if you have not already. Holding an office in an association looks good on a resume too. Cruise the classifieds and see what is out there. You may have to take a short term pay cut but a 401K and benefits are totally worth it.

In the meantime here are some of the things I did so I could be the best provider I was able to be:

Put together a holiday programs with the kids. Then host the families for an end of day short program with cookies and lemonade. Even little ones can sing Twinkle Twinkle. The parents love it and it is an accomplishment you can see. The best one I did was with 4 and unders I did a Memorial Day program. The kids memorized little poems (even the 2 year olds) and sang patriotic songs. We invited residents of a senior community and had the program in the front yard at my house. The neighbors really thought I was crazy when the senior bus pulled up and started unloading!

Celebrate everything! Every time one gets potty-trained celebrate your accomplishment, without you they would not have done it. Every time one graduates to a booster seat from the highchair, celebrate! Every time one learns to cut, celebrate!

Write vacations into your contract. I always had the week of the 4th of July off and the week of Christmas off. Parents knew this when they signed on so it was not an issue.

Invest in a vehicle big enough to haul all of them with you. We were never home except at meal times and nap time. We went to every free library program there was. If you hear about a character making an appearance somewhere, go. I would have gone completely bat crap crazy if I stayed home all the time.

Consider partnering with a nearby senior community. We went once a month to see the grandmas and grandpas. We did singing programs, made popcorn balls, played play dough, and had lots of fun.

I hired a gal for Fridays during the school year so I could substitute teach. It seems crazy to get another job so you can pay someone to do the one you already have I needed to get out to another environment. It was very hard for me to live where I work and work where I lived. I am glad I was there when my kids were little, but now I am glad I go to work and come home.

Good Luck!