Sisters

I took my kids to the park today. My numbers are way down, and I only had 3 this morning, so I piled them into carseats and set out for a new park experience.

This park had a 4 seater seesaw that was quite an attraction. I have a set of sibling sisters and it's fun and interesting to watch the dynamic between them. Most of the time, little sister (2) is a pain in the behind to big sister (3 1/2). But yet there is still a pull to be the big sister and include her.  You can see the dichotomy in her face every time big sister gets annoyed, but then feels like she has to make it up to her.

The two 3-year-olds found a like-minded friend at the park that loved the seesaw. But realizing that three made the thing wobble terribly, big sister set out to recruit little sister as their fourth seat.

When little sister decided she didn't like the teeter totter big sister tried a commanding voice to get her back on the seesaw.  Little sister would have none of it.

Big sister, not being successful with recruiting decided the thing was too unstable and went off to find a new thing to play.


I watched this with interest.  The discovery of a new device, experimenting to figure out how it works, then finding a solution to the problem, all within the minds of three-year-olds.  It was fun and interesting to notice the thought capacity of these little minds.  It also makes me reconsider the things I take for granted because I already know how everything works.  (Said with some sarcasm to that last bit.)


It must be exciting to make new discoveries, and new ways of doing things, every day.

Things Kids Say!

Today, while working on a preschool project with a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old, I dumped out a bag full of pegs for the pegboard, and the 4yo says "what the hell!"

Boy was I surprised!  "What did you say?" I asked him.

The 3yo chimes in, "he said, what the heck."  And without missing a beat the 4yo replies "No!  I said what the hell!"

I couldn't help but laugh!  Out of the mouth of babes...

I immediately texted the whole conversation to his mother.  Too funny.  She said, "straight from his momma's mouth!"

These are the tidbits that make this job fun!

Sunny Days and Flaky Parents

Friday was finally a sunny day.  Let me tell you, for living in the heart of California, it sure hasn't lived up to it's climate promises this spring!  I know the rain is good, and we need the water in the lake, blah, blah, blah, but *I* need sun!

And Friday was finally sunny again.  It's supposed to start raining again tomorrow, but I'll deal with that tomorrow.

One of my little boys begged and begged to go to the park again.  I really would have loved to take them, but I had another kid I was expecting, and I couldn't very well not be home when they arrived, right?

When the little boy asked again around snack time, I sent the parent a text finally, to ask if they would be coming.  She said they would, but were getting a late start.  More waiting.  I told the little boy we couldn't go because his friend would be coming soon.

By lunch time the little boy was extremely disappointed.  He asked if we could go to the park after nap time.  Still no show on the other kid.  Everyone had lunch and went down for nap, and sometime during nap time the mom texted me to say they weren't going to make it at all.

Ugh.  I know I get paid whether he shows or not, but it still messes up my ability to plan the day when this sort of thing happens!

Park Day

Today I took the kids to the park.  My assistant called in, she didn't want to work.  Normally that would freak me out, but lately my numbers have dropped so much that I'm actually losing money by having her work.  In addition, two of my full-time kids had a scheduled vacation day, so I was down to 3 kids in the morning.

I have one kindergartner that goes to the corner elementary that I had to pick up at 11:15.  With my assistant working, it's a piece of cake to run out and get him.  Without her I have to take all the kids with me.  But since there were only three, I thought it would be a great day for a trip to the park which sits right behind the elementary school.

After snack the boys got their tricycles, and the little girl walked beside me to the park.  The boys love that sort of thing!  They run and play like they are wild and crazy.  My backyard is tiny, and almost entirely concrete, so this gave them some much needed space that they don't get all day.

The days have finally turned to spring.  It was a pleasure to be out in the sunshine.

At 11:12 we headed over to the school and walked with the kinder home.  He was excited to see his friends there to pick him up, and it was so nice to be outside.

Once we got home I started to prepare lunch, and they still wanted to be outside.  After nap and dinner, we again went out in the backyard.  I love the warm days!  I even had to put sunscreen on the kids by late afternoon.  Their cheeks were beginning to pink!  I can't wait for summer.

About me...

I have a large family license, which in the State of California means I am licensed for 14 children if 2 of those are school-age and I have a second adult present.  A provider can work alone with a small family license with 8 kids if 2 of those are school-age.  I am curious if that is the same nationwide.

I am open from 7:00am to 5:30pm.  I have been asked by many to stay open until 6:00pm, but let me tell you, 10 1/2 hours is a long day!  That last half hour between 5:00 and 5:30 seems to drag!  Most parents don't really realize that unlike center staff that work 8 hour shifts, and get lunch breaks, we work straight through the day.  However long their commute is, we are working...  while they work, and go on break, and go to lunch, and come back to work, we are working...  and while they drive their reverse commute, we are working!  We don't get a lunch break, we're making lunch!

Plus, I have my own family to care for and spend time with in the evening.  My husband used to get home from work at 5:30pm, but now it's closer to 6:00pm.  His commute lengthened when his job moved.  But I still hope that his job will come back to town someday.  My son gets home from school around 3:00pm.  He's in first grade this year, and his bedtime is 7:30pm.  So getting dinner on the table, teeth brushed, books read, pajamas on, etc, is hard enough in 2 hours, I can't imagine what it would be if shrunk to an hour and a half.  Not counting the days he has something going on in the evening... or I do.

I know there are providers out there who work 11-12 hour days.  I don't know how you do it!

Experiment

This is an experiment in blogging about childcare. I have a personal blog, and am in the process of creating a website resource for family childcare providers. When that is up and running, I'll post the website address here.

My idea for this blog is to comment on the life of a childcare provider. I hope, because of the sensitive nature of this business, that I don't piss off, offend, antagonize, or do anything that might generate hate mail for me.

I know I'm caring for children. I know that's a big responsibility. I know that everyone believes that no one can raise a child as well as they can. That's just the nature of this field.

But I also hope that by sharing my experiences, you will laugh, or get inspired, or learn something. Maybe you can relate as another provider. Maybe you're a parent wondering what goes on when you're not watching. This is for all of that.

Take it for what it is. I am just a regular person, doing the best job I know how. If you have suggestions, please share. I'm always open to input and opinion. I ask only that you not be hateful.

Is that paranoid? I'm not sure. People get very emotional and quite polarized when talking about children.