About me...

I have a large family license, which in the State of California means I am licensed for 14 children if 2 of those are school-age and I have a second adult present.  A provider can work alone with a small family license with 8 kids if 2 of those are school-age.  I am curious if that is the same nationwide.

I am open from 7:00am to 5:30pm.  I have been asked by many to stay open until 6:00pm, but let me tell you, 10 1/2 hours is a long day!  That last half hour between 5:00 and 5:30 seems to drag!  Most parents don't really realize that unlike center staff that work 8 hour shifts, and get lunch breaks, we work straight through the day.  However long their commute is, we are working...  while they work, and go on break, and go to lunch, and come back to work, we are working...  and while they drive their reverse commute, we are working!  We don't get a lunch break, we're making lunch!

Plus, I have my own family to care for and spend time with in the evening.  My husband used to get home from work at 5:30pm, but now it's closer to 6:00pm.  His commute lengthened when his job moved.  But I still hope that his job will come back to town someday.  My son gets home from school around 3:00pm.  He's in first grade this year, and his bedtime is 7:30pm.  So getting dinner on the table, teeth brushed, books read, pajamas on, etc, is hard enough in 2 hours, I can't imagine what it would be if shrunk to an hour and a half.  Not counting the days he has something going on in the evening... or I do.

I know there are providers out there who work 11-12 hour days.  I don't know how you do it!