I am 53-years-old, raise 4 children on my own since my
youngest was 6 months, and have worked at the same job for
many years. I would like to buy a small house and use it for
daycare. Transition over 5 years from my full-time job at the
College to only the daycare. This is much needed in my area
and I know would be utilized. The problem - I just went
through a bankruptcy d/t helping my daughter and her husband
through a very long (6 year) court custody case, which they
won. Court and attorneys for 6 years ran over $40,000. I used
all of my retirement, which I am now paying back. It took
every dime we had and then some and now I have to rebuild
quickly. How do I get a mortgage being a single woman who just
went through bankruptcy? Can I even entertain the idea of
starting my own business? My thoughts, buy a small house in
the neighborhood, have 6 children at the most so licensing is
not an issue right now, my daughter whom I helped with the
court case would be the primamry care provider, even offer
services on a co-op basis where if you signed up to work one
day your child could use that day and another day for free.
Any thoughts out there?  I am not getting any younger and all
my life I have taken care of other people. I need to start
looking at doing something for me while at the same time
offering a service.