You’ve been providing in-home daycare services for 21 years, when did you
start your daycare business?
I began providing daycare in my home in 1982, just after our oldest daughter had her first birthday.
So you had small children at home when you started, was that the reason you started your daycare business?
My husband and I made the decision together. We decided that I
would not return to work as a dental assistant and would stay home with our
daughter. I became the stay at home mom, so beginning day care in my home was,
indeed, based on that decision.
How did your daycare business work around your desire to be home with your children?
Providing home daycare allowed me to fulfill my desire to be a stay at home mother.
And it provided the financial funds to meet our family budget.
When your children started school, you continued your daycare business instead of looking for a traditional job
or starting another home business, why is that?
Many mothers make the choice to return to the workforce, start a career, or seek
some form of employment outside the home once their children enter school, but it wouldn't allow me to remain
available to my children before and after school.
Remaining a stay at home mom allowed me to participate in my children's extra-curricular activities,
such as Girl Scouts (I was a troop leader for many years). It also made it easier to volunteer at
their school, and attend their school trips and after-school sports programs.
Often parents do not realize that scout meetings, sports practices, dance and music lessons,
in many areas, are scheduled right after school—which means some children miss
out on these events. My children were able to participate in these types of activities
because I was available to drive them.
It is my understanding that you chose to accept only two children at a time, why did you limit the amount
of children you watched?
Yes, I did limit the number of children in my care at any given time. I often made more money per week with
two children than some of the providers who did in fact have six children. (Side Note: Limiting the children in your care means
more hands on quality time, so you can charge more.)
When my own children were very young, I cared for a two-year-old boy and four-year-old boy from two different families.
I would not have considered taking on more children due to concerns for safety. Since I was the only adult responsible
for four young children, I made certain I would be able to take care of them in an emergency situation or hold their
hand and guide them out of my home in case of a fire.
As our own children grew, I continued to limit the number of children in my care. The reason I stayed home was
to raise my children and give them as much of my time and attention as possible. Having only one or two kids in
my care made it possible to give my best to both the children in daycare and my own daughters. I was willing to
make sacrifices with regard to living in a big house, having the latest fashions and/ or expensive vacations;
but I was not willing to sacrifice the amount of time spent with my children.
Did you network with other childcare providers?
I did some networking when the children in my care were preschoolers. Several daycare mothers would
take turns gathering in their homes to let the children play together for a morning. The group
often packed picnic lunches and made trips to the park together.
How did networking help you with your business?
I was able to take off from time to time for doctor’s appointments or family trips and know the
children in my care were well cared for.
Other home daycare businesses usually have up to six children in their homes, did you know a provider who
cared for more children?
I did know of a few home daycare facilities in my area that had more children in their care. One of the providers did an
excellent job as her own children were in college and she was able to devote total attention to the
5 children between the ages of 4 and 6. I also think the ages of the children added to her success. The group played
well together and enjoyed similar activities.
My opinion of another home daycare provider was less desirable. She had 6 children: two infants (one was her own)
and four other children between the ages of 2 and 8. She seemed very overwhelmed every time I saw her outside; which was rare.
What did she enjoy most about having more children?
My neighbor with the 5 children said she enjoyed being able to do group crafts and activities. She also
liked that the children had each other for friends.
In today’s day and age, you need a state license and background check to watch two or more children, from
different families. Did you always need a state license when you ran your daycare?
No, when I started my home daycare business a license was not a requirement.
How have the licensing rules and regulations changed over the years?
I think licensing regulations have changed for the better. Children receive quality care when rules are followed.
Do you still think a home daycare business was a good choice for mothers or fathers who want to stay home
with their newborns or small children?
Home daycare is the perfect choice for mothers and fathers who have the personality, patience, and giving nature
that childcare requires. Sharing your family with another family has emotional rewards in addition to providing
the financial help.
What is the biggest expense for running a daycare business? How did you handle that expense?
Since I had baby “gear” and toys from my own children, I had very little expense.
Also keeping the number of children in my care down to one or two also helped keep down expenses.
I was not required to provide an extra bathroom or other changes some day care providers might need.
Most of my children brought their own toys to share for the week, so that kept the toys fresh, new, and interesting.
Most of my crafts and activities were made from recycled materials (i.e.: cereal boxes and yogurt containers were used
for painting projects.) Yard sales were also a good source for inexpensive board games and craft kits.
Children in my care had the option of bringing their own lunch and I prepared meals and baked
my own cookies, granola snacks, etc., which also cut my expenses.
You provided transportation services to and from school, dance classes, religious events, and/or sporting events.
Did you add an extra fee to your service for this, or did you incorporate that fee into per child rate?
The extra services I provided for families was included in their weekly childcare fee. Again, I think
because I was only dealing with one or two families at a time, I was able to provide a more personalized childcare environment.
Did you simply drop the children off at this event or stay with them until it was over? And how did you make
the decision to do either?
Over the years, I drove the children in my care to a variety of activities so there is no one answer.
I would walk the little ones to half-day preschool and go into the school at the end of the session to pick them up.
I stayed with one little guy for his ½ hour speech lessons, once a week for a year because he was only two years old.
I stayed with another fellow when he began t-ball, but would just drop him off at practice when he turned seven.
Once I was familiar with the program, the child was comfortable going to the practice alone, and the parents approved, I would
just drop off and pick up the child.
My experiences with daycare are not typical, but it does show how very flexible you can be. The families worked with me too.
Sometimes I would need to pick my daughter up from softball or tennis practice and the parents would allow me to take their
children with me. The parents would then pick their child up at the tennis courts.
What kind of insurance did you take out for your home daycare business?
I only had my homeowner's insurance. I did not take out extra insurance.
(*Side note: anyone looking to start a home daycare facility should protect themselves, their family, their finances, and their belongings
by getting properly insured.)
Did you take your children on fieldtrips? If so, how did they help you as a daycare provider and how do you
think they benefited the children?
My version of fieldtrips meant that I took my daycare children anywhere I wanted to take my own children. If I was taking my
children to the local homemade ice cream factory, I took my daycare children, too.
One of the little guys I cared for would always be so sure he was a part of my family that when he overheard me talking about a family trip to the beach, he said,
"Oh goodie. When are WE going to the beach?"
Looking back on all your years as a home based daycare provider, what are your fondest memories?
I would have to choose story time. I am sure I looked forward to reading and sharing the books with the
children more than they did. When my daughters were little they were able to enjoy the books the other children
brought along in addition to our books. As my girls grew, they enjoyed reading to the other kids, too.
If a parent were to ask you how running a home based daycare business has changed your life, what would you say?
Having daycare in my home changed my life and the lives of my children. I think our lives would have been completely
different had I returned to work and placed my girls in daycare or with relatives during the day.
I feel a strong sense of accomplishment in doing the best for my children and others. Caring for children is very important.
Today, you’ve put your care giving instincts aside and started a new business at Instantly Cheaper, why?
As my own daughters were growing up there were several times I thought of stopping home daycare. I stayed because I made a
commitment to the families for which I was providing care. The last two children in my care were a five year old girl who
was off to school in the fall and a boy who was about to enter middle school. Both were in my care since they were infants.
I felt this was the best year for me to get out of the business. My own children are now 20 and 22.
Thank you for allowing me to interview you!
You are Welcome.
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