Career Changes - Part 2

Continuing from yesterday's post...

March and April were pretty good. We had a steady stream of students. We had our ups and downs, but for the most part, things were ok. At least we were making ends meet, and making slight progress.

Then May rolled around, and things took a major turn. Beth got really sick and I spent a week in the hospital with her. (More of that story in a latter post.) During that first two weeks of May, life was extra stressful. I needed to be in three places at once, and I was worn out emotionally, physically, and mentally. Reality hit that some changes needed to be made. I began putting feelers out for a new teacher or director to work at the center so I could be home more. When I was at work, I was overwhelmed. When I was home, I was still dealing with employee drama at work. I loved my students and was very attached to them, but I needed help.

In mid-May, I began to get some feedback that a girl that had a directors credential was willing to come work for me. About a week later, she decided that she liked being a stay-at-home mom, and wasn't ready to work again. No hard feelings, I get it. I wished her the best, but I was still bummed. What to do now?
Then the very next day, a girl walked into the center and was interested in buying it. She asked lots of questions, and took several pictures, and told me she'd call me tomorrow with her final decision. Yay, right? No, she called back the next day and backed out, stating that she'd want to turn it into a candy store. Well, our landlord wants to keep it as a daycare, so that didn't work.
About a week later, a woman walked in, and she asked even more questions. Said she'd have to talk to her husband, and they'd be back. Well, at this point, I honestly didn't believe her. But, to my surprise, she showed up just an hour later with husband in tow. They looked over every square inch of the building, did a lot of talking and asking questions, and finally said that they'd do it. I couldn't hardly believe it! We started making arrangements: we told the staff, parents, and she made arrangements for the utilities and lease to be changed to her name.

Finally things were looking up. My students would be taken care of. I was going to have someone handling the stress of the daycare. I could spend more one on one time with my children, but still work with the daycare kids. Win-win, right?!
No... The first of June, she backed out. Really? Really!
So, we decided to close the doors of our wonderful center. It was the hardest decision I have ever made. We were down to 6 students. I let two of my teachers go. That was a nightmare all in itself. I felt bad, but there was no sense in there being 4 of us for only 6 students.
June 29th was our last day. It was so bitter sweet. I knew, and still know, that it was the right decision. But, dang, I was attached to those children. I loved being a part of their little lives, and SO miss them.

Career Changes - Part 1

The first update, of the many to come, is about my personal journey over the last year and a half, mostly focusing on my professional journey.

At the beginning of 2011, Adam and I started discussing the possibility of starting a new business and me opening a daycare. The more I researched about this idea, the more I realized that this was a much bigger project than first anticipated.
During the research process, I needed to make a decision. If you were following my blog last year, you know the options were to run a daycare out of my home for a couple years or return to school and take the classes needed to get a directors credential to open a center within a year. After many discussions with Adam, who by the way was little help as his response was "whatever you want to do," and MANY nights spent on my knees, the decision was made to return to school.
With three children, this was a lot easier said than done. After only suffering through one semester, I bow down to the moms that are also full time students. WOW! Between my classes, the boys school, someone watching the younger two (a HUGE shout out to Breanne who watched Beth and Zack everyday for me! THANK YOU!), soccer, homework, prepping the soon-to-be daycare, and trying to keep up with home duties, August thru December was a blur. I look back on it and feel so neglectful as a mom. But, I can also look back and realize that it was a necessary sacrifice.

In January, we had driven by a vacant building, and had made comments on how perfect of a location and set up it would be for a daycare. All spring and summer, I had kept an eye on it and it had never rented. In November, we signed a lease to rent the building and I set to work cleaning and moving stuff in. I am so grateful for all the donations and time and effort from everyone that helped pull it together. I, along with many others, spent countless hours arranging and rearranging toys, wall decorations, and furniture.
After many obstacles, a lot of paperwork, and rescheduling our opening date twice, we finally opened on Valentines Day in February. We started with 9 wonderful children, and by the first of April, we were maxed out on capacity at 19. I very quickly fell in love with our students, and grew very attached very fast.
However, the 13-14 hour days were wearing on me. I had a very hard time finding good help. That was one obstacle that I hadn't anticipated. It was very challenging to find both full time and substitute teachers. The student drama, the endless paperwork, the DHS regulations - - I could deal with all that. But, with 19 students, I couldn't run the whole show alone. I finally did get teachers hired, but saying I had "good" help, was a great stretch. I did have one GREAT teacher, and I found myself relying a lot on her. I don't think I could have made it without her. In fact, I know I couldn't have!

Life Changes

This year has been extra busy. There have been several major changes and events in our house. Someone had recommended that I blog about all the happenings that have been going on, and I've decided to take their advice.

I'm going to try and catch everyone up on the ongoings over several posts in the coming days and weeks. My free time is sporadic, so we'll just have to see how fast I can play catch-up.

Be watching for more to come...