I've been at this for nearly two decades so I've changed over the years. The older I get the more attached I get... or allow myself to be. I really LOVE the kids. I don't just like them... I truly love them very much.

I have one going off to kindy next week who is 5.75 years old and been with me since she was six weeks old. Full time... every day I have had nine hours with her for 1/10 th of my whole life.
I adore her and feel like she belongs to me. We are having a party for her tomorrow at a hotel and two little girls who were also with me for the first five years of their life are coming to celebrate. My heart is bursting knowing I'm going to have them with the other kids who have been here for four years or more are all going to be at the same place at the same time WITH ME.

I do agree that you don't have to like kids to be a great child care provider. I found that out years ago with staff assistants who were fabulous child care workers who didn't really "like" kids so much. They did a great job and stayed with me for years.

I have also had some kids I didn't fall in love with and weren't upset when they moved on. Sometimes the kids aren't receptive to the kind of love I give or their needs were so high that there wasn't room in the relationship to do anything other than make them livable within our setting. Thankfully, those have been few and far between.