Getting attached to Daycare Kids

[Judy Trickett]

Nope, I don't get attached. This is my job. These are not my kids. I realize that every kid I have can leave me tomorrow if their parents so choose. WHY would I put myself in that position?

Sure, I can like people and not be attached to them. The lady I see at Starbucks way too many times a week is nice to me and I am sure she "likes" me but I am also pretty sure that even if she heard I died she would give a momentary, "oh, dear" and then move on in 5 minutes. And that's if I DIED! LOL!

I don't drive by the school on the last day every summer and see a group of blubbering teachers huddled together with tears running down their cheeks. Shouldn't be different for us.

In fact, I can go even further.

((Judy goes and gets flame retardant suit))

I don't even think a provider needs to LIKE kids to do well at this job. ((putting suit on now)). I know lots of people out in the real world who have strong work ethics and always do everything to the BEST of their abilities but don't particularly like their jobs or the people they work with - but they still do a great job and they are good at what they do.

I really believe this - that you don't have to like kids to be a great dcprovider. You just have to have other talents and characteristics and personality traits that allow you to work very hard and do a great JOB.