I know what you mean. I worked outside the home for big companies all my life and never received proper thank you's because I was essentially just a number.

Now that I run a daycare I have never felt so appreciated and just receiving an email telling me how lucky a family is that they found me or something similar makes tears spring to my eyes and completely makes my day. When the parents ask the child to thank me for caring for them as they are going out the door it makes me happy. The little notes and gifts. It reinforces the fact that I'm doing a great job here.