Comments on What Do I Know; I'm Just The Babysitter: Over The Rainbow

I think that a support group or joining an organiz...

2009-10-15T23:04:02.736-04:00

I think that a support group or joining an organization that fosters the relationship between parent and clients by lending a sympathetic ear and allowing daycare providers to express their frustrations and feelings about their business. I think it is a wonderful exercise and keeps the objectivity for daycare providers.

Awe momofalmost2 thanks ;)

2009-10-01T17:18:34.652-04:00

Awe momofalmost2 thanks ;)

so true! my friend in hamilton is a home daycare p...

2009-09-28T16:18:15.892-04:00

so true!
my friend in hamilton is a home daycare provider and has been in this business for many years. she has so much patience, love and experience for her daycare kiddos. her own daughters are grown up with kids of their own. so she is not at home working with her own kids. if i were to leave my kids in child care, i would look for someone like her!
good post judy:)
momto2

I think for me the years of experience have not on...

2009-09-25T14:59:54.998-04:00

I think for me the years of experience have not only given me more patience with the children but also with their parents. I can spot families that will or will not work in my Daycare within the first minute of a conversation. I have much more confidence in myself and my ability as a provider than I did when I was half asleep during the interviews if they were after 7:30 pm. I am also more relaxed about things parents say and yet know when to pick my battles. I know now when I'm being taken avantage of and I know how to respond to people when they say "with all of your education, you stay home and change diapers all day?" I am extremely happy and fufilled doing what I do. How many people do you know can honestly say that?

Great topic!

Great post Judy - I feel myself that I am more cal...

2009-09-24T14:56:49.626-04:00

Great post Judy - I feel myself that I am more calm and patient as my own children have grown. I credit this to more sleep too! LOL.

I'm anxious as we are now expecting a third child - very unplanned, but a gift all the same. I am not looking forward to sleepless nights, aching boobs, and another car seat. But babies are pretty darn cute and cuddly and I'm thankful that with my job I don't have to ship jr. off while I go out to work. Yep, I can see myself doing daycare for a long, long time.

I liken it to the first time parents syndrome. You...

2009-09-24T14:52:36.745-04:00

I liken it to the first time parents syndrome. You know how your always extra careful with you first, you worry about everything and by the time the second comes along, you've calmed down a bit. I think it's the same with Daycare. those seasoned daycare ladies have been the part-time parents of hundreds of kids. I've only been at this a few years, but already I can see the difference between myself and those just starting. Definitely, having my own kids sleep through the night has calmed me down substantially :0)

I agree. Now, if only there was a pot of gold on t...

2009-09-24T14:06:15.762-04:00

I agree. Now, if only there was a pot of gold on the other side....
Qwerty

I'm not sure if age makes you a better provide...

2009-09-24T13:36:08.758-04:00

I'm not sure if age makes you a better provider, but it certainly gives you a different persepective. I've been a home daycare provider for 4 years and my son is almost 16, so at the end of the work day I don't have to continue to be a "mother" figure in the evening. I do not have a ECE background or any formal education in childcare, but I once had a daycare parent tell me that my years experience raising a child of my own was far more important to her than any papers with my name on it I may have. She hoped that I would help her to raise her son to turn out as polite and responsible as she felt my son is.

I can absolutely say without a doubt your observat...

2009-09-24T13:22:02.713-04:00

I can absolutely say without a doubt your observations are correct. My husband says Im like Santa. Kids flock to me, at the park, the grocery, out to dinner,.. anywhere. He just tells their nervous looking parents,..I am like Tim Allen in the Santa Clause movie,.. sitting on a bench and kids will line up around me,..lol. My wife has done daycare for 20 years,.. kids sense that.
Laundryduchess

Reading green eggs and ham at the dentist office is just a hoot,..lol The office staff love it,..

At Interviews,..I have new moms come to me and you can visibly see they are shaken when their baby fusses, The nervously pick up their bundles and try to consol them. And eventually they do,.. they smile and say,.. sometimes the only one who can calm him down is me,... and then I take their bundles,.. hold them close,... and I think its because I have no anxiety about them. They can sense my comfort and seem to eother stay settled or settle down (of course my husband jokes that its the boob factor,lol) I am in fact the baby lady. And I enjoy it,.. Im not good at many things in my life,.. I cant knit, or braid hair. I cant cook artichokes to save my life,.. and have no patience for baking cookies. But this,.. is something I was called to do. I always get to hold the new babies in church, at family gatherings. People know their babies are safe with me. About 4 years ago I went through my records, and as of that date over 140 newborns, 109 potty trained, 89 families total,... add about 17 more to that family count and about 23 more kids,... Ive seen the majority of them at birth in the hospital. Cried when they started Kindergarten,.. Ive been to their weddings, seen their children born and held one close for a comforting hug when he came home from Iraq. Ive had a very loving, long and only half over career,... my life, is exactly what I would dream it to be. I can promise you that if you stick it out,.. no career comes with more satisfaction,.. when a Mother tells her 3 yr old,.. Miss Jill used to read that book to me too.... thats the best. To know that you loving them, helped them learn to love, and you get to see that love being returned to another new life,... that is worth the late pickups, snotty noses and early morning poop sessions.

I can actually speak from my experience. When my ...

2009-09-24T12:32:23.987-04:00

I can actually speak from my experience. When my last child was born 18 years ago I began daycare. Like everyone else when he reached school age I went out to work. Now I've been back in daycare for a couple of years and wish I would of stuck it out. I've also worked in a large daycare in between. Yes, I definitely have more patience, understanding, and knowledge, and now love my work. I'm also more organized. I can't say enough about how I feel as an older provider.