I am more bothered than I thought I was!!

[daycaremum]

Working with children is what I was meant to do. I went to school for this, I have worked both in centre care and have now been self-employed for 13 years. I started home daycare years before I had any children of my own. But I still do not "love" the kids. I didn't "love" the 16 children in my class at the child care centre. I didn't "love" the school agers I worked with. My children's kindergarten teachers never "loved" them. I to look around at times and am happy that I am getting paid for doing a job I enjoy. I can still be passionate about my work and not "love" the children. It's nice that you do, but in my opinion,you are setting yourself up for disappointments, simply due to the nature of the business, as per your original post.

[dodge__driver11]

I am sorry kidlove but we have to agree to disagree on this one....

I LOVE MY JOB, and would not go back to the "working world" unless I was ready, willing and able to do so. I coudn't stand Cooperate Canada for many many reasons, but in the end we care, nuture and assist these children through the early years. WE DO NOT LOVE THEM. The mom and dad's do.

In fact, like daycaremum in my ECE and Educational Assistant training the importance of "staying professional" and not forming attachment was stressed in many different areas of my classroom and practical training. I will tell the kids however that they are special friends to me and I care for them deeply. However I never say I love them..

Not only does it set us up for disaster, but it hurts parents deeply, I know. It used to cut me to the core when my son would say he loved "Jane" at daycare. I cried about it.. And so , ever since then I try to remember that moment when my heart "bleeds."

And let's face it as much as we love our jobs and enjoy these kids, they are our income and we all deserve professional treatment.