About

I have been around kids my entire life. I am the 3^rd oldest of 8, and now at family gatherings, there are kids EVERYWHERE!  I started babysitting around 11 years old and babysat all through high school and college. 

After a short pause away from kids – getting married and settling into work, Baby 1 came along.  I was still working outside of the home when Baby 2 came along.  Our in-home daycare closed unexpectedly shortly after this maternity leave and we could not find another home daycare that had room for 2 kids. So, into a center they went.  Within a month it was clear to us that it was just not working and we needed to adjust.

Life is full of adjustments!

Bring on being a daycare provider, and babies 3 and 4. I am forever grateful that another family from our original daycare agreed to let me take on their 2 kids as my first clients.

For years now I have had 4 – 7 kids running around my house, not to mention all my kids' friends on our street that come to play.  It is busy, loud, and fun!

I, unfortunately, had to stop daycare due to an ongoing back injury.  That was a tough chapter of my life to close.

I am a tell it as it is type of person and take this approach with my kids as well.  I tell my kids the age-appropriate truth about questions they have.  It is hard for them to try to piece things together that their friends “may know about”.

My favorite things to do with my kids include:

Snuggle up and read

Loud dance parties (these happen often)

Bake

Explore outside

Celebrate!

One of my favorite things about parenting is when a kid “gets something.”  Can their world get any brighter at that moment?

Sometimes I hear my kids say “Yes sir” to me.  It makes me laugh but they know that ultimately, I am the general, at least that is what I keep telling myself.

I have a post it on my refrigerator that says:

"Patience and encouragement come from God."

Talk about the appropriate prayer for parenthood!

If things get really tough, there is always chocolate (and maybe a beverage)!