About the author
I have been a home child day care provider for 23 years. I enjoy what I do, although there are days when I close the door at 5:30pm on Friday and question if I really want to open the door the next Monday morning at 7am. I guess those times must be few and far between as I am still on this venture that I started on 23 years ago.
I previously worked for a company in their data center and, knowing they were about to move their home office, I knew I needed to prepare for a change. I was tired of the corporate world where every day seemed just like the day before. In day care, there are no “cookie-cutter” days; every day is different just as every child is different. Are there days when I think I have been doing day care too long? Only when dining with another adult and I reach over and cut their steak and tell them not to spill their milk or when I am at a homes association meeting and tell the board members to sit up tall and pay attention.
I think we all know what things we are good at and what things are just not for us. I care for youngsters from six weeks to three years and I personally feel, that for those age youngsters, I am a very good day care provider; however, being very truthful, I would be a horrible day care provider for children over six or seven years old. Why you ask am I good at one age and would not be good with another, the answer is in the fact that I have been doing this for 23 years. For the most part, children are raised very differently today than they were 23 years ago.
Today, we use child psychology, 23 years ago we used plain old common sense, respect and discipline. If a child throws a temper tantrum in a store today, they say he is expressing himself. I remember the days when parents would have taken the child outside and “expressed” themselves. So, dealing with youngsters who are used to telling their parents, or providers, “I don’t have to” or “I will if I want to” would just not cut it.
Working with infants and toddlers, I have a hand in assisting the parents in making the child a youngster that has respect for parents, providers, teachers, etc. etc. The first few years are so important in developing their self-esteem, leadership, compassion and respect along with their physical abilities and motor skills. There are so many parts of day care that have nothing to do with the fee that you charge. You can’t deposit those hugs you get as they are leaving day care in the bank nor can you list the number of times you have been told “I love you” on a financial statement.
I decided to write this book for all the first-time parents that deal with the stress of finding a day care provider and leaving their most valuable possession with a person they have just recently met. My hope is that after reading this book, they will feel they have made the best choice for them and for the youngster.