What kind of person are you?

[KellyP]

I am going to be completely truthful. I am NOT your stereotypical child care provider. I NEVER intended to go into this field of work. I never even wanted to have children of my own.

That said, I DO have children of my own and love them immensely. I am a child care provider because I couldn't imagine leaving my children in the care of someone else.

However, that doesn't mean I love/like all children. I don't.

As a matter of fact, I really don't even like kids (in general). That doesn't in ANY way mean I can not provide care for them. I just don't get all gushy and sentimental about it. I am college educated and hold a degree in early childhood with a minor in psychology.

I FULLY understand child development, both cognitively and physically. I can meet the needs of the children in my care without having a deep emotional connection with them. I provide for all of their needs during the day and when they go home at night, I don't think about them again until the next work day. I don't get upset or sad when they age out of my program and go to preschool or Kindergarten. I don't feel badly when they leave. It's just one continuous cycle of providing care and education to a group of children.

I think sometimes being this way, is what makes it easy to not get sucked into the drama and emotional blackmail that parents sometimes bring to this job. I am able to keep my personal life separate from my business life and have no problems enforcing rules and policies.

I am the oldest of daughter of 7 children and am by nature a caregiver but not a nurturer. (hope that makes sense). I am skilled in multi-tasking and have superior organizational skills. I have a very even temperament and approach things in a very analytical way verses only viewing things in an emotional way. I am rarely in a bad mood and it takes ALOT to get me angry, upset or off kilter.

I am a Type A personality and constantly on the go. I think that helps in this job as I require very little down time and am rarely, (if ever) burdened by the emotional aspects of this job.

Does that make me a bad caregiver? I don't think so. I think it helps me be a good caregiver and as of yet, have had no complaints from any of my clients.