It is a job that is often looked down at. People ask me all the time how much longer I plan to 'babysit" or do this as if I am wasting my life. Some people treated/talked to me very different back when I was in management to when I started doing this. As if I am not good enough for them anymore because I don't have a career on their level now.

But really...I feel like being someone who helps in raising these kids has to be one of the most important/honourable jobs. I keep them safe and happy and they often make me realize how life is through the ideas of a child when you don't think about bills and to-do lists etc.

People think I should be on a deadline to get out and I started off that way thinking it was a 1 year or two year thing. I set a goal for myself to get past 18 months of doing daycare because that seems to be a big drop off time where home daycares close down. I am now at 2.5 years and have my first group of kids still with me and starting JK this september. I am proud of that.

Somewhere along the way of trying to hit that 18 month mark....I started to like what i was doing. I work hard and work 10 hour days plus evenings cleaning and prepping for the next day and then on weekends have to do a lot of daycare related work but for some reason I am glutton for punishment.

Hearing the children learn something new and get it for the first time or learn new words or songs is so rewarding because it shows the impact you make.

Having families who respect you by paying on time is a great feeling - especially if they make a special trip back to your house if they forgot it in their pocket and without you asking because they are scared they might lose you.

Having the older kids say at the end of the day that they want to stay or they had a fun day is great too.

and you have to find humor in little things that the kids say or do. That will go a long way. Yesterday one of the girls had her dress caught on a toy and was panicking as though it was going to attack her and just her expressions made the whole group laugh. It is those impromptu things where the whole group has a laugh that really make the day.

and there is dancing. Put on some good music and dance around and get paid for it. You can't go wrong....right?