The Daycare Sisters

The Daycare Sisters
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Running a home daycare is isolating, exhausting, and a lot harder than anyone admits, especially when you can’t afford to quit. The Daycare Sisters Podcast, hosted by two sisters with 30+ years of real in-home daycare experience, says the things you think but never say out loud so you can stop beating yourself up and feel less alone in this job.

  1. 2D AGO

    Maternity Leave Discussion Continued… Won’t You Please Join the Discussion?

    We continue the conversation about maternity leave, sharing real experiences, tough realities, and why this matters for daycare providers and families. We talk about what it is actually like to take little to no maternity leave while running a home daycare, the financial pressure behind those decisions, and why many providers return to work before they are ready. This is not about having all the answers. It is about opening the conversation. If you have experienced maternity leave as a parent or provider, join the discussion. Key Takeaways• Many daycare providers take very little maternity leave because they cannot afford to stop working• Returning to work too soon affects healing, sleep, and bonding with a newborn• Unpaid leave is not realistic for many families in a dual-income household• Daycare providers face unique challenges because they risk losing clients and income• Maternity leave impacts both providers and the families they serve• More support and better systems are needed for working parents and childcare providers Timestamps00:00 Intro00:39 Episode Topic: Maternity Leave01:25 Their Own Maternity Leave Experiences03:46 Returning to Work Too Soon04:07 Financial Pressure on Daycare Providers05:10 Maternity Leave vs. Self-Employment06:32 Seeing Both Sides as Providers and Moms07:57 How Society Needs to Change First08:14 Corporate Backup Care Programs10:04 Research on Maternity Leave Length10:54 Women in the Workforce Statistics11:22 Minnesota Paid Leave Law13:00 FMLA and Unpaid Leave Problems14:01 Dual Income Society and Financial Reality14:33 Paternity Leave Benefits for Families16:00 Teachers and Timing Pregnancies17:06 Dropping Birth Rates18:51 Why People Are Waiting to Have Kids20:40 Pressure on Women to Do It All22:01 Recovery After Surgery as a Provider26:07 Timing Medical Procedures Around Daycare28:20 Working Through Miscarriage29:05 Normalizing Hard Conversations31:47 Income Level and Maternity Leave Inequality33:05 Best Age for Babies to Start Daycare36:16 Infant Schedules and Provider Challenges40:12 US vs. Other Countries on Paid Leave43:10 Minnesota Bonding Leave Controversy50:12 Can Daycare Providers Access Paid Leave53:27 Work From Home and Bed Rest Stories55:25 C-Sections and Complicated Births60:06 Paid Leave as a Safety Net63:11 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action #homedaycare #daycarelife #inhomedaycare #healthyparenting #daycaresisters

    1h 16m

  2. 6D AGO

    In-Home Daycare Advocacy with Alexis

    We talk with Alexis, a home daycare provider and advocate, about what’s really happening behind the scenes in family child care. https://www.tiktok.com/@missalexis_homedaycareWe dive into home daycare advocacy, including licensing challenges, burnout, policies, and what providers are experiencing across the country. Alexis shares her experience running a successful in-home daycare, navigating regulations, and speaking up for needed change in the industry.00:00 Intro and Guest Alexis00:30 Alexis Daycare Background01:00 Part-Time Enrollment Model01:40 Drop-In Care Strategy02:00 Daycare Hours and Schedule02:40 Adjusting Hours for Summer03:20 Balancing Daycare and Family Life03:50 Alexis’ Kids and Daycare Experience04:50 Importance of Separate Daycare Space06:40 Daycare Licensing in Connecticut08:00 Starting During COVID09:00 Filling Daycare Spots Quickly10:00 Infant Care and Age Range10:50 Recommending Pre-K Before Kindergarten11:20 Parent Night Out Events12:20 Events for Current and Past Families13:10 Pricing Parent Night Out13:40 No Sibling Discount Explained15:00 Setting Clear Daycare Policies16:00 Licensing Challenges and Advocacy17:00 Creating a Daycare Coalition18:00 Licensing Inconsistencies Issues19:00 Inspector Rotation Problems20:00 Provider Burnout and Regulations21:00 Stress and Anxiety Around Inspections22:00 Pet Hair Rule and Overregulation23:40 Chick Hatching Daycare Project25:00 Teaching Responsibility Through Animals26:30 Animals and Daycare Rules27:20 Balancing Learning and Licensing28:00 Social Media and Daycare Criticism41:00 Dealing With Online Trolls41:50 Why Alexis Started Daycare43:00 Leaving Teaching for Daycare44:00 Starting a Home Daycare During COVID45:20 Affording Childcare as a Parent46:20 Helping Parents Start Daycares47:20 Supporting Families and Providers48:20 Daycare Community Over Competition49:20 Building a Provider Support Network50:30 Full Circle Daycare Moments51:30 Finding Your Daycare Community56:00 Managing Income Ups and Downs57:00 Financial Reality of Daycare Business68:50 Building Relationships in Daycare69:30 Final Thoughts and Networking70:00 Outro#homedaycare #healthyparenting #inhomedaycare #daycarelife #daycaresisters

    1h 10m

  3. APR 13

    Daycare Tweeners: The Almost-Kindergarten Crew That Will Test You

    We talk about “Daycare Tweeners”—those almost-kindergarten kids who are too big for daycare routines but not quite ready for school. From non-napping and behavior changes to boredom and constant talking, this stage can be one of the most challenging phases for home daycare providers. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by this age group, you’re not alone. In this episode, we break down what’s actually normal, why this phase happens, and how to manage it without burning out. This podcast is for established in-home daycare providers who feel burned out, isolated, or financially stuck—but aren’t ready to quit. “Daycare Tweeners” are in a normal developmental transition phaseNon-napping doesn’t mean kids don’t need restThis stage often leads to provider burnoutStructure and quiet time are still essential#inhomedaycare #homedaycare #healthyparenting #homedaycareprovider #daycaresisters #daycarelife

    1h 14m

  4. APR 6

    Baby’s First Week at Daycare

    In this episode, we cover what really happens during a baby’s first week at daycare, from the challenges no one talks about to what providers and parents can realistically expect. If you run a home daycare or are preparing to send your baby to one, this episode will help you understand the transition, reduce stress, and set better expectations for everyone involved. Key takeaways -Starting a baby at daycare is an adjustment for both providers and families -Bottles and sleep preparation make a huge difference in the transition -The first 2–4 weeks are the hardest, but it does get easier-Communication between parents and providers is critical -Babies under 6 months require significantly more hands-on care #homedaycare #healthyparenting #homedaycareprovider #daycaresisters #inhomedaycare #daycarelife

    1h 18m

  5. APR 2

    Leaving Teaching to Run a Home Daycare Business with Anne

    We talk about what it’s really like leaving teaching to run a home daycare business, including the transition from the classroom, daily life as a provider, burnout, and balancing your own kids while caring for others.If you’re a teacher thinking about starting a home daycare or already running one, this episode gives you a real, honest look at the challenges, expectations, and rewards of making that shift.Key takeaways-Leaving teaching doesn’t mean less stress, it’s a different kind of stress-Running a home daycare is both a business and a full-time caregiving role-Burnout and overstimulation are common for providers-Self-care has to be intentional, not optional-Parent expectations and licensing can shape your entire businessNot completely. A few of those were too granular, and some timestamps could be cleaner for the actual topic shifts. I’d use this corrected version instead, based on your transcript and the chapter rules in your guide. 00:00 Intro00:45 Anne’s Teaching Background02:00 Daily Life Running Daycare02:50 Self-Care and Daycare Burnout05:35 Managing Overstimulation07:20 Screens and Independent Play09:30 Winter Daycare Challenges10:25 City Daycare Expectations12:15 Illinois Daycare Licensing15:05 Inspections and Rule Changes20:00 Why She Started Home Daycare23:10 Kids Growing Up in Daycare24:30 School-Year-Only Daycare26:25 Husband’s Running Routine30:25 Daycare Setup at Home32:10 Future Plans After Daycare34:30 Stroller Walks and Transportation37:55 Allergies in Home Daycare40:30 Two-Week Learning Themes42:45 Hands-On Learning Activities44:45 Teaching Mixed Age Groups46:00 Building Independence in Kids48:15 Daycare Routine and Behavior50:00 Business Side of Daycare51:20 Daycare Policies and Parents53:10 Mom Guilt and Closures55:20 Decluttering Daycare Supplies57:30 Supportive Spouse Matters #homedaycare #inhomedaycare #homedaycareprovider #healthyparenting #homedaycareowner #daycaresisters

    1h 1m

  6. MAR 30

    Why Running a Daycare With Your Own Kids Is Harder Than You Think

    In this episode, we talk about what it is really like to run a home daycare while raising your own kids, including boundaries, money mindset, and the realities no one talks about. If you run a home daycare or are thinking about starting one, this episode will help you understand the challenges, expectations, and mindset shifts that come with mixing business and family life. Key Takeaways Running a home daycare often starts with wanting to stay home with your own kids Daycare is a business, not just caregiving You deserve income beyond just covering daycare expenses Boundaries, financial and emotional, are essential for sustainability Timestamps 00:00 Intro00:50 Spring Break and Sick Kids02:25 Wisdom Teeth and Recovery03:55 Spring Break Daycare Disruptions05:00 Crochet Project Disaster08:10 March Madness and Basketball Talk10:30 Doing Wisdom Teeth Before College12:15 Own Kids in Daycare13:45 Why They Started Home Daycare14:55 Daycare as a Business16:00 What Parents Misunderstand About Daycare Costs18:20 Why Providers Deserve More20:35 Vacation Time and Personal Spending22:00 Family Impact of Home Daycare25:20 Kids Outgrowing the Daycare Setup27:15 Creating Breaks for Your Own Kids29:05 Parenting and Daycare at the Same Time33:20 Burnout After Daycare Hours34:40 Setting Boundaries With Parents53:20 Guilt About Missing Your Kids’ Events57:15 Australia’s Daycare Support System59:20 Work Phones and Provider Boundaries64:00 Older Kids Need Their Own Space68:25 Licensing Rules and Teen Privacy69:20 Sleepovers and Sharing Home Space81:55 Mixed Age Groups in Daycare84:00 Episode Wrap-Up #homedaycare #healthyparenting #homedaycareprovider #homedaycareowner #homedaycarelife #daycaresisters #inhomedaycare

    1h 25m

  7. MAR 26

    From Bad Daycare Experience to Running One with Jacque

    https://www.tiktok.com/@mamajacquedaycareIn this episode, we talk with a home daycare provider who turned a bad childcare experience into a 13-year career. We cover starting a daycare, managing family life, handling policies, and what it’s really like long-term.If you run a home daycare or are thinking about starting one, this episode will help you understand the reality of the job, the challenges, and what keeps providers going.00:00 Intro00:30 Guest Introduction and Background01:00 Why She Started Home Daycare02:00 Family Life and Daycare Balance03:00 Kids’ Feelings About Daycare04:30 Snow Days and Daycare Attendance05:30 Daycare Policies for Closures06:30 Working With Teacher Families08:00 Daycare Schedule Flexibility09:00 Unique Daycare Space Setup10:30 Cooking and Meals in Daycare11:30 Parent Aware Program Overview12:30 Parent Aware Paperwork Challenges14:00 Pros and Cons of Parent Aware15:30 Daycare Curriculum Choices17:00 Favorite Curriculum for Young Kids18:30 Daycare Assessments Discussion20:00 Simplifying Documentation and Planning21:30 Realistic Expectations in Daycare23:00 Daycare Hours and Summer Schedule24:30 Camping and Family Time Balance26:00 Kids Growing Up Around Daycare27:30 Benefits of Having Older Kids29:00 Kids Bonding With Daycare Children30:30 Caring for a Child With Vision Loss32:30 Adjusting for Special Needs in Daycare34:30 Handling Medical Emergencies in Care36:00 Daycare Safety Mindset37:30 Licensing Inspections and Rules39:30 Inconsistencies in Daycare Licensing41:30 Daycare Community and Support Systems #homedaycare #healthyparenting #homedaycareprovider #homedaycareowner #daycaresisters

    59 min

  8. MAR 23

    Dosing and Dropping in Daycare

    Sickness in home daycare, dose and drop situations, and how to create sick policies you can actually enforce as a provider. We also share real-life daycare stories, discuss provider guilt around taking sick days, and talk about why home daycare is a real business that needs clear policies and boundaries. If you run a home daycare or family child care program, this episode will help you think through sick child policies, parent communication, and how to protect your business and your household. Key takeaways:• Your sick policy needs to work for your daycare business and your home.• Providers have to set boundaries when parents try to send sick kids back too early.• Home daycare is not “just babysitting.” It is a business that needs clear policies. Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:10:32 Funny daycare kid stories00:14:31 Dose and drop00:26:08 Provider guilt around sick days00:33:47 Standing up for yourself as a provider00:40:07 Home daycare is a real business00:46:29 Seasonal sick policies00:52:53 Norovirus + enforcing your sick policy01:02:15 Outro #homedaycare #homedaycareprovider #healthyparenting #homedaycareowner #daycaresisters

    1h 4m
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About

Running a home daycare is isolating, exhausting, and a lot harder than anyone admits, especially when you can’t afford to quit. The Daycare Sisters Podcast, hosted by two sisters with 30+ years of real in-home daycare experience, says the things you think but never say out loud so you can stop beating yourself up and feel less alone in this job.

Information

  • Creator
    The Daycare Sisters
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Daycare Sisters
  • Show Website
    The Daycare Sisters

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