Survey: Would you use Veggie Day Care?

Greenie · #1 10-01-2005, 01:15 PM

I'm pregnant, and have been trying to think of a way to stay home. I'm thinking about having a home child care service with just a few kids, and I could cater to vegetarian/vegan kids. The idea of putting my kid in day care, and having someone feed them meat makes me feel ill. So, my question is this:

Would you put your child in an AP Vegetarian Home Care?

It would be only 3 or 4 kids at the most, so it would be pretty personal and gentle. They wouldn't just sit and watch TV, either.. Lots of coloring and books and playing. Just wanted to know~

annie7 · #2 10-01-2005, 03:56 PM

I'm going to preface my answer with the fact that unless I was forced into using daycare, I wouldn't. (I was a stay at home mom until my daughter went to school, then I got a job there and went with her).

BUT...

If I were a widow, divorcee, etc... and I *had* to use daycare, I'd DEFINITELY choose AP/VEG friendly over the "norm".
I say, if running a home daycare keeps you home with your munchin, DO it! I did it for a short time when money was tight (five kids from people who all worked 2nd shift at the same factory...so, the morning and early afternoon was mine alone to spend with my daughter, and then the other children came before supper and stayed until 1:00am. They basically camped every night in sleeping bags until their parents all came.)

Greenie · #3 10-01-2005, 10:42 PM

So, Annie, did you like it? Why did you stop doing it? Would you do it again?

My other half thinks it's a terrible idea, and that I should just get a job. I've tried to explain that I would rather stay home with the baby and do it that way, and only take on like 2 or 3 kids, so that it wouldn't be crazy or anything..

We actually got in a fight about it in the car because he thinks that I am being 'idealistic' and he doens't understand why I would want to take on more than just ours. I tried to explain over and over that I just want to be with the baby, and two extra kids wouldn't be that much more crazy..

Thanks!!

vegma · #4 10-02-2005, 06:10 AM

Greenie, I hope you find a way to stay home with your little one - it is so worth it.

Greenie · #5 10-02-2005, 07:34 AM

Thanks vegma! I do too. We might move to Houston, because that's where his family is, and his mom could watch the baby for us for free when we're at work. I just prefer not to move to the pollution capital of TX... It smells so bad and the cancer rates are ridiculous.

I didn't get sick in 2 years!! Then we went for x-mas to visit, and I was puking and running a fever by the time we were there 12 hours. If my inpenatrable immune system hadn't been damaged by the smog, I don't think I would have gotten sick.

Stinky Houston!

PikkuMyy · #6 10-02-2005, 10:14 AM

I think it's a wonderful idea and that your DH is crazy if he thinks it would work out better for his mother to care for your child while you work out of the home, then for you to be able to stay with your own child while also caring for a few others.

annie7 · #7 10-02-2005, 10:59 AM

I absolutely enjoyed it. And so did my daughter. She was almost 3 at the time and she knew that shortly after lunch, playmates would come. We always did group things that are sometimes more fun than with just one person. Like CandyLand, building caves from blankets and the dinning room table (for the "bear family"), sledding at the park, even frosting pre-baked cookies to "make" Christmas presents for moms and dads. I did love it.

I stopped when the factory where all the parents worked closed down. One mom got divorced and it was messy...the grandparents got temporary custody in another city. The other parents either moved away, or got jobs in different shifts that didn't coincide with when I wanted to care for kids. (My hubby worked 2nd shift then too, someplace else...but he didn't like all the other peoples kids there all the time. It worked out well because they came after he left for work, and when he got home they were all sleeping and being picked up.

I would do it again if I still had a big home (we moved and "downsized"). I used to have a large room that we turned into a playroom/laundry room/craft area. So I could be in there when they were, and still get stuff done.

When I started, my daughter was the youngest, then there were 2 three year olds, 2 four year olds, and a 5 year old, who was there a shorter amount of time because she was in kindergarten the second half of the day, so we would all walk to the bus stop and pick her up at 3:30. Busses are a big deal to little ones. LOL!

xmysticprincessx · #8 10-03-2005, 04:36 PM

look into all of the laws and stuff concerning private day care in your state. i'm not trying to talk you out of it (i think its a great idea and would do it if i HAD to put my daughter into daycare).
i worked with a kindergarden teacher a few years ago who chose to open her own day care out of her home. i forgot everything that she had to do, but i do remember that there was a lot of red tape and that it was a pain in the butt jumping through their hoops. but it could also be new york state and all of our silliness. i think she needed some special insurance and had to have her home inspected for safety. this was about 2 1/2 years ago, so i dont remember all the details.
hehe, you could also do some spying on local daycares. like say that youre considering putting your baby into daycare when he's x months old (which isnt a total lie...). i dont know if they will let you observe the children while they are there. but they should let you see the daycare facility and give you an idea of the daily schedule. get pricing too. then when you open your own daycare, you will know what you like/dont like.

Greenie · #9 10-03-2005, 07:52 PM

Yeah, if I care for 3 or less children, I just have to file an application and that's pretty much it. The red tape comes in once you want to have more kids.

I'm happy with that number, though, and I know that on average, it's $100-$150 here per week. That's from baisic to frou-frou. I'd probably charge in the middle.

I used to be in day care, so I know what I don't like about them. I'd probably just let the kids do what they felt like doing. Movie, playing with toys/each other, drawing, whatever. No TV shows, though. It's all crap.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'd like to do it, and I'm going to start figuring up what it would cost to run it all. I think it would be pretty cool.

Thanks!!

annie7 · #10 10-04-2005, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Greenie
No TV shows, though. It's all crap.

You gotta let a Mr.Roger's Neighborhood in there once in awhile!

Greenie · #11 10-04-2005, 07:47 AM

Annie, you know what I heard? Mr. Rogers, before he was Mr. Rogers, was a sniper for the military... But it's not really true!

Just wanted to check the ref. It's not.

But I'm alright with PBS, just not the rest of it!

annie7 · #12 10-04-2005, 08:58 AM

LOL, that rumor has been around a long time!

Did you see the hour long PBS biography on him? Very cool. Except they never mentioned his veg*nism, and I wish they would have.

Doug · #13 10-05-2005, 05:37 AM

ummm...could you move that daycare from Texas to NY....please....please....please!!!

frabjous · #14 10-05-2005, 10:07 AM

I really love the idea of veggie day care! We are planning to raise our child vegan/vegetarian (until s/he decides on their own)....So, this idea is inspirational! If the red tape for running a "legit" day care with more than 3 kids is too much to work around, maybe an informal coop or collective of parents would work ?

Greenie · #15 10-05-2005, 01:12 PM

I would love to move to NY. But, I don't know how my guy and family would like that!

Frabjous, I'm not sure what you mean.. Can you explain a little more?

I'm thinking it is a good idea, so I'm doing research and stuff. Thanks everyone for posting!