New, wanted to Introduce Myself

[TheToyboxKids]

Hi, everyone.

I am a mama to one son, 17 years old!?! I started my family daycare in 1995. When I see that number it seems so long ago but the time seems so much shorter. Three years ago we moved to FL and I had to take a break from running the daycare and focus on caring for my elderly parents. Last year my mom passed and my dad was moved to assisted living.

I am ready to re-open my family daycare, so I am in the beginning process of getting my license. Currently taking a 30-hour course. I LOVED being a daycare provider. I always found it to be very rewarding. Sure, it is not always easy, I have had my share fair of difficult parents and children but as a whole, I have been blessed.

Prior to being a provider, I was a nanny school grad and nannied for 5 years. As a child/teen I was the sought after babysitter. I knew from a young age I wanted my career/job in a field where I got to work with children.

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by TheToyboxKids

Hi, everyone.

I am a mama to one son, 17 years old!?! I started my family daycare in 1995. When I see that number it seems so long ago but the time seems so much shorter. Three years ago we moved to FL and I had to take a break from running the daycare and focus on caring for my elderly parents. Last year my mom passed and my dad was moved to assisted living.

I am ready to re-open my family daycare, so I am in the beginning process of getting my license. Currently taking a 30-hour course. I LOVED being a daycare provider. I always found it to be very rewarding. Sure, it is not always easy, I have had my share fair of difficult parents and children but as a whole, I have been blessed.

Prior to being a provider, I was a nanny school grad and nannied for 5 years. As a child/teen I was the sought after babysitter. I knew from a young age I wanted my career/job in a field where I got to work with children.

Welcome!

[TheToyboxKids]

Originally Posted by Blackcat31

Welcome!

Thank you.

[Michael]

Welcome to the forum!

[permanentvacation]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I find the group very helpful. Whether I have business or personal questions or concerns, the group here is very nice and offers opinions and suggestions or make comments that help you with whatever you need help with. And if you just want to chat about a fun thing that happened, need an online friend, or if you have had a rough day, someone on here is always here for you.

[Thriftylady]

Welcome! My DD is 17! But she is my youngest, her brother is 25.

[NightOwl]

Hi and welcome! I also have a 17 yo dd. She's going off to college in August, so you got here just in time to hear me whining about it.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Welcome! This place is a great source of information and company. It keeps me sane.

[Nurse Jackie]

Welcome. I do not always post but I do make it a point to visit the forum daily

[AmyKidsCo]

Welcome! I started in 1994 and have a 17 yr old son too! But he's #4 of 6 so kind of the "middle" one.

[TheToyboxKids]

Thank you, everyone, for such a warm welcome. I am looking forward to getting to know you all.

I see several of us have 17-year-olds. Weren't they babies a very short time ago!?! Mine is a few inches from being a foot taller than me and my shoes look like they might be a pair of the daycare children's compared to his.

Now I need to remember to keep working on my classes and not spending all day here. I'll just call it research.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by TheToyboxKids

Now I need to remember to keep working on my classes and not spending all day here. I'll just call it research.

That's what this forum is for.

You'll like it here.

[LysesKids]

Hi from the Smoky Mt area... My youngest will be 24 this July lol. Single mom who has done childcare 16 years now. Glad you found us.

[TheToyboxKids]

Thank you!

I have been enjoying looking around the forum and website.

[Shawn]

Hello everyone.

My name is Shawn. I'm not really new here, it's just that it's been so long that I totally forgot my login.I'm talking years. But I love this group and it really feels good knowing that I'm not alone in this crazy world.

I've been doing daycare from my house for almost 15 yrs now. I have had many up and downs. (Currently forcing my self out of that famous every 7th year burn out stage that veteran providers know so well.) I've had to learn that nomatter how long you've been in this business, you learn new things every day. In a perfect world my daycare handbook would only be a page long without any alterations or modifications.

As many attempts I've made to leave this profession, I still seem to get sucked right back. I guess I'm pretty good at it because when I have closed and reopened back with my same group of children and in the 15 yrs, I've moved 10 times and my dc families move with me. So I've accepted that this is my true calling. I didn't choose this,it chose me. And wont seem to let go.

I'm glad to be back on the group. I need it.