Crazy

On any given day I have between seven and ten children in my daycare. Of those children two are infants and three are under the age of two. Each and everyday I load up the van and take my cherubs on a learning adventure. We travel all around and take part in various classes including swim lessons, gymnastics, singing etc.... When people ask me how I travel with this many young children I respond.... "It's a like a well oiled machine. Once you get the hang of it, the process becomes second nature." I love my work, I love "my" kids and I believe wholeheartedly that children learn best through experiences. I know that my daycare stands apart from others and that each day, I am offering children a variety of learning experiences.

Today as I loaded all nine children in the van, I stopped briefly and asked myself... "Are You CRAZY? Nine kids, two bottles, seven snacks, nine car seats, one quadruple stroller, two diaper bags, nine changes of clothes and ME. Just me." I have always acknowledged that my job was a difficult one both mentally and physically, but today I was able to step back and watch myself from an entirely different prospective. I have decided that yes.... on most days I AM CRAZY! There are very few people that would put this much energy into caring for children. Every morning they take over our home... They cry, they scream, they smile, they sleep and they poop A LOT! So why do I continue to face these challenges each and every day.

Besides the obvious answers (money, stay at home with my children, etc....) I do this for the little boy that cries when his mother picks him up to go home. I do it for the insane laughter I can hear coming from my classroom. I do it for my first graders who beg to come stay with me on school vacations instead of going to camp with their friends. I do it to answer questions that first time parents always have. I do it because I believe in education...I believe in good care and I love each and every little one that has entered through my door.