*See below
I have a business idea, and I need your help. That help could simply be through your verbal support and encouragement or though your financial backing. Both levels of support would be most beneficial. I can ensure you a great return on your money. Let me give you some background.
This past week was a crappy sleeping week for my children and therefore it was crappy sleeping for my wife and I. You have all been there done that and probably posted about it at least once yourself. We all do it. So, there is no use complaining about it. Therefore, the question turns to what are you going to do about it? I don’t mean just drink coffee (I don’t EVEN like coffee, but that’s not the point) or try and find time to grab a quick nap. I am thinking a more long term solution. Real action!
Here it is – drum roll for my brilliant idea please – KIDDIE KENNEL. A kid kennel is for those times when you absolutely need to get rid of your kids. I don’t mean babysitting for an hour. No, I mean for a few days, weeks if you must, at a time. I am not judging. We don’t judge at Kiddie Kennel. Anyway, can you imagine the commercial?
You have a picture of a parent or parents who are looking stressed and disheveled. Kids crying, kids fighting, kids waking up in the middle of the night, etc. The parent(s) can’t take it anymore. Rather than snapping or having the kids watch hours upon hours of television, they just pack a bag and drive them off to the Kiddie Kennel. When they get to the kennel, they drop the child off with a suitcase and a friendly, responsible, and safe-looking individual takes the child off the parent’s hands. The parent turns around, sighs, and heads back to the car.
In the next clip, the parent(s) is at home. They parent(s) hears birds chirping, gets work accomplished, wakes up refreshed, and even engages in some nocturnal activities with their spouse. Later, the parent(s) returns to Kid Kennel. They again meet the friendly, responsible, and safe individual who shakes their hand and returns the kids, who are all smiles. Everyone is happy.
Tell me that is not a brilliant idea. Tell me you would not like a Kid Kennel in your neighborhood. Tell me you would not utilize the services of Kid Kennel. Of course you would! Wow, I have finally done it. This is my Apple. I’m going right to the top, baby. Oh yes, and I am offering you a chance to invest in this seminal shift in child rearing. No need for thanks.
So, tell me are you interested?
*Of course, this is tongue in cheek. I would never want this for my children. No, never. Really.
Karron
September 10, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Isn’t that called Day Care? There are some facilities that provide care all night for shift workers too. Hummm .. . . .
memyselfandkids
September 10, 2012 at 9:40 pm
No, you are missing the genius. Think bigger. This could be for days and nights at a time and is open to everyone. It’s like a kennel.
Remember tounge in cheek.
Karron
September 11, 2012 at 12:05 am
I get the kennel thing, and staying for a week or longer. When I was a kid, that meant going to my grannie’s house for a “visit.” Once, that lasted over a year.
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 1:41 am
Getting warmer. However, remember not all grannies are there or are willing to do that.
Btw, that is a very long visit you took.
Karron
September 11, 2012 at 4:34 am
My year long stay was because my father got posted to a base for one year, my mom didn’t want to disrupt my first year of school, so my older sister and I went and stayed with our grandparents. I started school in a three room school with two classes in each room. Toilets were outside, and they didn’t flush if you know what I mean. We had electricity, but the rooms were still heated by wood burning stoves. (This was in the fall of 1959) Mrs. Graham was my teacher, and she was wonderful. Strict, but wonderful. Since I could already read, she let me read with the second graders in our classroom. Things sure have changed a lot!
linneann
September 10, 2012 at 10:23 pm
I like it! Where do I sign up? 🙂
memyselfandkids
September 10, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Right this way miss. Thank you for your interest.
linneann
September 10, 2012 at 11:00 pm
🙂
notsofancynancy
September 10, 2012 at 11:32 pm
When I was a kid they called that summer camp??? I thought that is why I always got sent to camp??? No?
memyselfandkids
September 10, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Quite possibly. But tell me why should it end in the summer? Also, I envision the children continuing their schedule be it school or whatever. Can you see it?
notsofancynancy
September 11, 2012 at 1:36 am
Yes, please! I don’t even have young kids (mine is 40) and I think it is a great idea! lol
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 1:39 am
Thank you for your support.
Sis
September 11, 2012 at 12:25 am
That sounds awesome 🙂
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 1:40 am
Thank you. Thank you very much.
me2self
September 11, 2012 at 12:29 am
But you’d have to come up with a better name…like the two-four-seven. They care for your kids 24/7. Then you could say you were taking them to the old two-four-seven. Kiddie kennel just doesn’t sit right! He he
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 1:40 am
Hmmm. Maybe. Either way, I like the way you are thinking. I think we have a place for someone like you. What sort of position best suits your skills?
me2self
September 20, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Sorry that I didn’t get to reply “in the moment”…life’s been too busy to blog! Anyway, hope all is well.
memyselfandkids
September 21, 2012 at 1:44 am
No worries. I so hear you.
jaymers
September 11, 2012 at 3:30 am
I actually posted about sleep like two seconds ago. Now, as for Kiddie Kennel, I think that if your staff was a mix of high energy uniformed men–think Imagination Movers–and grandma-esque women–think The Golden Girls with proper baking abilities, you might have a few takers.
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I look forward to read it. Maybe, you can provide a video testimonial? What do you think – acting in your future? However, maybe it is better if you are in personnel as you have a clear idea of what type of people should staff Kiddie Kennel.
Jessie Clemence
September 12, 2012 at 1:37 am
And I’d like to propose a few college aged kids who are majoring in Education. You know, perky and full of all sorts of useless information they expect to be helpful when they have their own perfect children. At least they’ll have the stamina to stay up all night with our kids.
Larry, you are a genius!
memyselfandkids
September 12, 2012 at 1:44 am
Ahh, I never can hear enough of that.
I like your suggestions regarding personnel. I see you in the human relations department. What do you say?
Jessie Clemence
September 12, 2012 at 1:53 am
Can I yell at people? Or must I remain polite?
If I can yell at least some of the time, then I am all about HR.
memyselfandkids
September 12, 2012 at 2:01 am
I believe you hire the right people and let them handle their departments. On that note, if yelling works, yell away.
However, I have to say your zest for yelling worries me slightly.
Jessie Clemence
September 12, 2012 at 2:27 pm
YES, I KNOW, IT WORRIES ME TOO!!!! BUT SOMETIMES SHOUTING IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANYONE’S ATTENTION!!!!!
I’ll stop cyber shouting now, and regain my composure.
memyselfandkids
September 13, 2012 at 1:44 am
Breathe in, breathe out. Again, again. There you go.
Lisa
September 11, 2012 at 4:38 am
Like it??? I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!! Where do I invest? Except you’re in the wrong country. Perhaps I could start one here in Melbourne. Seriously though, could you imagine the outcry from all those do-gooders because some of us wanted to rid ourselves of our kids for a week to refresh, recharge and replenish.
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Firstly, I appreciate your enthusiasm.
Secondly, Kiddie Kennel does not have to know boundaries. We could open up in Australia and I know just the woman to open our flagship establishment. Think about it.
elskenewman
September 11, 2012 at 5:20 am
I’m in!
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Okay. Welcome, welcome. Thanks for your interest.
sweetpea2200
September 11, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Love it
memyselfandkids
September 11, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Yes. Thanks for getting on board. You will not regret it. I think we are looking at a life changer.
Food Forays
September 12, 2012 at 11:23 am
I’m a bit late to this post, but gosh… GREAT idea!! I’m ALL IN!!!!
Tami
memyselfandkids
September 12, 2012 at 12:05 pm
YOu are not too late. I appreciate your enthusiasm.
penneyfox
September 12, 2012 at 5:22 pm
I’m on board … we can turn these into a chain and open them up all over the country. You’re going to be a billionaire with this idea 🙂
memyselfandkids
September 13, 2012 at 1:43 am
Yes, I sense we are on the same page. I will need a board of directors and I think there is a chair at the table for you. Think about it.
penneyfox
September 13, 2012 at 1:42 pm
I’m totally there – you just give me the nod when its time to come on board 🙂
memyselfandkids
September 13, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Again, you have got the right attitude. Stay tuned. No need to wait by the phone though.
Nancy
September 12, 2012 at 6:25 pm
This is gonna be big. I want to get in on the ground floor as an investor. The ROI here is gonna be huge 😉
memyselfandkids
September 13, 2012 at 1:42 am
Whoa, whoa – look at you Ms. Wall Steet (well, the Canadian version of course) with your talk of ROI.
ANyway, I like your way of thinking. I am considering putting you in charge of development. Details to follow.
Nancy
September 13, 2012 at 1:54 am
I’m flattered. I bring an excellent background in strategy to the table.
memyselfandkids
September 13, 2012 at 2:51 am
You will be my first hire. I am confident that together Kiddie Kennel wil achieve greatness.
Yvonne
September 13, 2012 at 11:42 pm
I love it! Sign my husband and I up =)
memyselfandkids
September 14, 2012 at 1:52 am
Yes! Welcome to the both of you. There is room for all.
Yvonne
September 16, 2012 at 4:05 am
Today was definitely one of those days that I could’ve used a Kiddie Kennel…for my baby and niece and newphew 😉
memyselfandkids
September 16, 2012 at 4:06 am
I soooooo hear you.
Yvonne
September 16, 2012 at 4:11 am
LOL My next post is going to be titled Do Not Disturb. I was on kiddie overload tonight. I called my brother (we were babysitting his kids) and told him “well, we’re (my husband and I) are definitely not having 3”
memyselfandkids
September 16, 2012 at 4:12 am
I look forwrard to reading the post. It seemed like this day brought you some clarity. What a deal!
Eleenie
September 14, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I think that you have found a gap in the market with this idea, go for it!
memyselfandkids
September 14, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Thank you for sharing my vision.
patgarcia
September 15, 2012 at 11:22 am
Hi,
I had to laugh, because you were being pretty ironic or maybe not. No, I don’t kids kennels are the solutions to parent’s problems, but I don’t have any kids! I can only sympathize with the kids because I was the same way when I was a child. My daddy use to ask my mother, “when does she sleep?”
My sisters and my brother would be dead to the world, and I was sitting up in bed, talking to myself. I can hear my daddy yelling now from his bedroom, “Go to sleep!” As soon as I thought my parents were asleep, I would get up and play in the living room. (I am laughing, but not at you.) Reading this about your kids, lets me know how terrible I was as a kid. It is nice when you have gotten through it and can look back and see how frantic your parents were.
So, I’ll be thinking of you and your wife the next few days and will even be praying for BR and SJ to settle down and start sleeping through the night.
Thanks for sharing your brilliant idea.
Ciao,
Patricia
memyselfandkids
September 16, 2012 at 3:42 am
I was joking though there are times I really wish kid kennels existed.
patgarcia
September 15, 2012 at 11:24 am
Hi,
Just looked at what I wrote and I left out a word in the second sentence because I was thinking much faster than I write. It should be No, I don’t think kids kennels are the solutions…….
Ciao,
Patricia
memyselfandkids
September 16, 2012 at 3:43 am
I guess your right. Oh well!
Andrea
September 19, 2012 at 4:18 am
This made me laugh. I am currently sleep training/potty training twin toddlers and this just totally tickled me… perhaps the makings of a book along the lines of “Go the F@#@ to Sleep” .
Any way, where I live there is a program for stressed parents where your kids can be dropped off for up to three days. Not sure on all the details but a single friend of mine once used it so she did not loose it with her kids. Perhaps this could be a big biz if you did it from a non-profit stand point.
memyselfandkids
September 19, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Wow, you sound like you have a lot on your plate. Good luck. Glad this post gave you a laugh.
That program really exists? I did not mean it seriously. What is the program called and where is it? I want to look it up.
Thanks for the comment and info.
Andrea
September 24, 2012 at 2:15 am
Sorry, it took me a while to find the info. Here is a link to the program. http://familyconnectionsco.org/kpc_respite_center
I know my friend really needed it at the time and it helped her.
memyselfandkids
September 24, 2012 at 3:44 am
Thanks for sending. I am going to look them up.
Andrea
September 24, 2012 at 5:45 pm
=) No problem
optimisticgladness
September 28, 2012 at 1:01 am
Hilarious. At first, I thought the kiddie kennel was like a little box that dogs sleep in. It is a pretty good idea actually. Like a baby-sitter who would watch the kids for a few days at a time. yes, it is a brilliant idea. 🙂
memyselfandkids
September 28, 2012 at 1:23 am
Glad it made you laugh.
You have the explanation down pat. Maybe you could handle the marketing materials.
optimisticgladness
September 28, 2012 at 2:26 am
I told your idea to my kids….. they laughed too.
memyselfandkids
September 28, 2012 at 2:42 am
That’s awsome. I would hope mine would be afraid!
Real Mom Dee
October 5, 2012 at 3:20 pm
I told my kids and my daughter indignantly said, “I would go but only if they didn’t call it a kennel! I’m not a dog!!!” LOL Now if I could only get here to sit and stay!
memyselfandkids
October 5, 2012 at 9:22 pm
That’s great! Thanks so much for sharing that. I wonder if she has a better name for it.
svchick
September 29, 2012 at 1:32 am
Definitely worth a business plan. But I think there’s something out there like it – sleep away camp!! And of course, college. Ha!
memyselfandkids
September 30, 2012 at 4:56 am
Oh man – why are all the good ideas taken.