Would I be making a big mistake?

[Whattodo72]

NC for this as it's very outing. I'm a childminder and work with my partner.We set up together almost 10 years ago and run a very successful business together. We've lived and worked together for all that time and I have 2 children from a previous relationship who are now in their late teens but still both in FT education so financially reliant on us. Since I turned 50 a short while ago I have had an overwhelming feeling I need more from life. I want a change. My house is full of toys I want my living room back and the kitchen cleared of all the toy shelves! I fantasise about how nice the house could be redecorated in a more adult way with no play equipment everywhere!
Before doing this I was a nanny for 6 years. I've been looking at a few jobs and really fancy doing it again. My partner used to work in construction so could get another job too. But he is almost 50 now and is wondering if he will cope with winters on building sites again!
I am so torn. I feel awful for kind of forcing him to do a different job and of course will feel terrible for letting all our lovely families and children down.....but I'm not sure my heart is in doing this anymore. I'm also terrified if we do it it will be a big mistake and we will have finished the business we've worked so hard to build over the years. What if it all goes wrong and we can't afford the bills etc? I've done all the workings out and know what we both need to earn etc but I'm still scared and don't know what to do for the best.
Would it be a foolish thing to do? Please hit me with your unbiased opinions as I really need some advice on this.

Why would he have to stop being a childminder just because you did? Seems obvious that he would continue on his own.

He doesn't want to continue without me so would end his registration too. Plus if we do this we want the house child free with no more toys.

Did you not read the post? How can you ask that if you actually read the post?

The whole point in stopping is to get her house back; to no longer have a house set up for young children. In order to achieve that, they both need to stop child minding. If she goes to work as a nanny and he continues working as childminder then their house will remain the same; full of toys. So there would be no point.

Can’t you think bigger and run your own small nursery off site? Pretty sure you could get some investment capital from a professional investment firm or even a business loan?

Would he consider something like becoming an NVQ/apprenticeship assessor?

He would need to do a level 3 assessor qualification but could then assess any qualifications related to industries he has direct experience of working in so either construction or childcare would be viable options.

Is it the separation between home & work you’re looking for?

That’s understandable, could you look at hiring a premises to run the child minding from, and keep your home separate?

Have the business valued and sell it. You might not need to work again if you have built it up to a high level. It doesn't matter that there are no premises. The goodwill alone could be worth a lot. I sold my database last year for 35k and it wasn't that big.

School pick ups and drops offs for year 5/6?

I haven't read the full thread, my Asda man just turned up! Good luck though. And yes, you deserve your home to be your relaxing home xx

Hi,
I have no idea what's best for you both,but my initial thoughts,for what they may be worth are;
Jobs in your 50's not so easy to get and you might find your manager/boss is much younger with less experience and is telling you to do things which may contradict the way you have always worked and you might find it difficult to adapt and hard to accept instruction from someone else having been your own boss for so long.
Does your dh want to go back out to work and for someone else?
You will be able to close the door on your job every day if you took this step so less stress in that area.
Can you afford to build an extension and move your business into there and return your family home into a place of peace and serenity with no toys?that might be the right option for you both.
Overall,listen to your instincts,I feel you already know the answer in your heart.🌈
Maybe a holiday will give you some space.
And take up an interest that's exciting to give you a feeling of release.something you've always wanted to do but didn't think you should?go for it.
I say again,listen hard to your gut feeling,your instincts will never let you down.
🌈

Bookkeeping for other nurseries.

He's just unloading the carts!

Big demand for driving instructors would your husband do that? Average £40 to £60 an hour depending if you offer intensive and or lessons for learners with difficulties. Do you live near a hospital? I heard of one childminder offering night shift cover don’t need that many toys then because the kids are in bed?

Could you afford to build an extension?
You could continue to run as a childminder but have an area that you could use for the children, or use to store equipment - you would also need to invest in moveable storage for the second option.
It might work, and would give you your living space back as your own after the work day is done.

I will put the other job suggestions to him. There was good money in what he did before when it went right and weather dependent etc. It's just whether he's physically up to it. And the possible commuting it might mean.
We don't have any spare funds for an extension unfortunately and don't want to go down the nursery route.

I’m a childminder and it’s hard, physically demanding work. I definitely don’t want to be childminding when I’m 50. Get out while you are still young enough to do something else.
maybe your dh can continue to mind while he retrains to do else?

Are you always so abrasive, or just to strangers on the internet? The OP managed to give a similar answer without being rude.

Have you not noticed how bad mumsnet is getting? It is every thread now. People just dont read, or cant read.

"My child, 5 years old..."
And the first post is, "You've missed out the most important information; how old is your child?"

It is tiresome.

It seems like you are experiencing conflicting needs/desires/drives.

How do you determine which of these drives is greatest?

Ask yourself, if you were guaranteed a good outcome, which path would you follow?

If we were both guaranteed secure different jobs that paid the same or preferably more I would close the business in a heartbeat!
That's the problem I guess. The uncertainty and fear of change. And the fact we can't afford to be worse off. It's very hard. I love the kids but I don't want them wrecking my house anymore!