When I was young, in my days before kids, I never imagined I would provide home daycare services. In fact, this was probably furthest from my mind. I wasn't a big fan of kids. After all, kids are hard work, require constant supervision and are far too high needs for a person who views independence as the greatest of human attributes.
When I meet old friends with whom I have since lost contact they are shocked to learn what it is that I do all day. I can safely say that not one of the people who knew me "before kids" would have lost a bet on their last dollar that daycare would never befall me. Oh, how wrong they were. I can understand their surprise. There are days that I, too, wonder how in the heck I got here.
Many provides fall into daycare. Of the many, many daycare providers I know in person and on-line the vast majority of them decided to provide home daycare for one very simple reason; they didn't want their own kids in daycare and they needed the income. A very good friend of mine has her ECE and previously worked in centre based daycare. When she had her own kids she chose to stay home with them. When asked why she would honestly tell you that after having worked in daycare there was no way in hell her children would be product of it. I can't blame her there.
I decided early on during my first pregnancy that I would quit my very high paying, and professional career to stay home with my child. Even in-utero I knew that I could never trust another with the responsibility of caring for and raising my child. I admit I am a micro-manager myself when it comes to my children and I want what I want. I simply could not muster the trust required to allow someone else to provide that level or quality of care. In the eighth month of my pregnancy I bid farewell to my job, went home and never looked back.
Most of us are here by default. I can admit that. I hope you can too. Once in a while I come across a provider who truly loves their job. Love the children, love the mess, the noise, the snot, the potty training and the hugs. These providers are clearly special people. Far more special than I.
The questions begs answering; Are you still a good provider if you are not in love with your job? Does providing daycare by default mean that you should not be in this business? For many parents I think the answer would be a resounding NO. Most parents would not knowingly drop their children in the care of someone who they felt did not love their child. Sadly, these parents are misguided. I think it gullible to believe that those who care for another's child love them and have their best interest at heart on a level equal to that of their parents. It just doesn't happen. I could go on and write paragraphs why biologically this isn't possible but I hardly think you need to be bored by the evolutionary and psychological science of university courses everywhere. Instead I will focus on an easier concept to grasp - money.
Daycare centres operate with one goal in mind - money. Most commercial daycare centers are owned and operated with a bottom line goal. They employ others to care for their charges and in turn, get paid to do so. Although their pretty pamphlets and perfectly timed tours might lead you to believe otherwise it is your money, and not necessarily your child that they want. Yes, they are in the business of children but like any company, they are in the business of money. So, the question to ask now is; Do daycare centres love your child? Is this even possible? With the high staff turn-over rates and class changes when your child meets age milestones how is it even possible for an employee to love your child? And, with the unfounded notion and belief that centre based daycare is far superior to home daycare there must be some perk, right? I beg to differ.
Back to the question at hand. If you are a provider who fell into daycare for whatever reason does this still make you a good provider? I think it does. Assuming you are providing all those activities, routine, meals, and the occasional hug that you boasted about in your advertisements, websites and interviews I think you are doing a great job. You don't have to love your job to do it well.
Does it help to love your job? Sure it does. However, I think working, in any job, is highly overrated. Because really, if you truly LOVED your job then it wouldn't be work - it would be volunteering. And volunteering doesn't pay the bills.
So, the next time someone accuses me (or you) of not being "fit" for the job I ask them to take a step back and reflect on their own job. Do they love it? Would they do it for free if they won the lottery tomorrow? Yeah, exactly what I thought.
For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca
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