At the moment, I am down to one 6 year old boy plus my own super-active 3 year old son (Aiden) and my sweet, tattle-tale, 18 month old daughter. Up until last Friday, I also had a 4 year old girl and another 18 month old boy. Their aunt (teen) is watching them for the summer. I'm debating whether or not to post for more kids or not. It's kind of nice without the chaos that more children bring to my house. On the other hand, I really like the money they bring in. I was super cheap but would raise the prices for any future children. I was charging $20 per child per day and that is $10 below the market average for our community (I looked up the most recent market rate survey). If I do any future kids, I'll probably charge $25 or $30 per child per day as I want to keep prices down for the parents but also make it pay off better for me. I am unlicensed in my state but can legally watch one other family so at the moment I'm legal.
It just dawned on me that I seem to have a penchant for breaking the law. What is up with that? I have illegal chickens, I have done unlicensed daycare and I want an illegal goat. Hmm... food for thought.
Today, my son and I planted some peas next to the fence that surrounds the area where we will put our potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. I wanted them seperated so that it would keep the chickens and kids away from the potentially poisonous plants. I also tilled the dirt along the outside of the same fence (15ish feet or so) so that I can add the peat and compost for part of the three sisters gardens.
My son had great fun terrorizing the chickens today. He went in their coop and was "petting" them. Meanwhile, the girls were all huddled in one of the nest boxes to escape his loving. I think they'll survive but I'm dreading the day that the girls give him some "loving". He's already learning that their pecking can hurt when he holds out food for them. It hurts me when they miss so I know it hurts him too.
-- DONE!
-- DONE!
