Conference moira::parenting_v3

I too have had a success story with my daycare "mom". My daughter has been with
her since 9 weeks, and is now 8.5 months. Our daycare mom has done everything 
from hand-painting my daughter a matching sweat outfit for christmas (and 
matching booties), to making extra lasagna for us to have as dinner! She's even
taken pictures of our baby, and given them to us in a valentines care-package. 
When my child is sick, she calls to see how she is doing. Her family also takes
a very active role in nuturing my child. I feel I could NEVER repay her,or her 
family, for the love and devotion given to my baby - it comes straight from the
heart! Over time it has become very apparent, through our child's development,
that she is well taken care of.

Nothing beats the peace of mind of having a GOOD daycare provider!

Julia Hodges 
(1st time mom, no regrets about working full-time)

    My Hydee is the greatest daycare provider in the world! (In my unbiased
    opinion.)  She really loves those kids.  The atmosphere in her home is
    peaceful and happy.  She manages the usual conflicts so they are barely
    apparent.  The kids there prefer being at Hydee's to being home!  
    
    My daughter, 5.5 months old, has gotten excellent attention all along. 
    Hydee always talks to me about her development and has given me a lot
    of good advice and reassurance, as a first-time mother.
    
    Her child-rearing practices show fruit in her two boys, 8 and 11.  They
    are sweet-natured, kind, and helpful.  
    
    She has deep, sincere spiritual beliefs, without being doctrinaire, and
    she communicates her faith to the kids.  
    
    She borrows library books and reads to them, and has nice toys, but
    never more than a few around.  The kids are not overwhelmed with stuff.
    
    She gave my daughter foot rattles for Chirstmas, which are now enjoyed
    a lot.  Hydee worked with developmentally disabled kids, and said the
    foot rattles work well for body awareness.  She has good knowledge of
    development and her daycare kids grow beautifully.
    
    Laura

I'm a first time dad.  And this is our first child-care provider, so it's hard
to measure her against something.  But I know how I feel.

Initially I wasn't really that comfortble, mostly because I wasn't real sure
about the house being safe. (She is licensed of course, but still.)  And
the neighborhood.  Bad prejudice I'm ashamed to admit.

My daughter is 11 months now and has been there since 4 months.  My wife went
to painstaking detail to determine what she thought was the best provider,
given our particular circumstances and criteria.

Since she's been there, my daughter has NEVER shown any sign of not wanting
to go to Donna's (daycare provider). In fact, once she gets there and realizes
where she is, she gets very physched.  To me, this is the ultimate test.
I feel if you watch close enough, your child will let you know if they're 
happy.  We of course can't be there every minute to monitor the situations,
so I use her as a barometer.

I've watched her play with the other children, and have seen her "grow" into
a child that plays well and shares well with others. (She didn't at first.)

Donna is constantly upgrading her place with new swing sets, or safer things
(like the infant swing, which Danielle loves!).  Also whenever there is going
to be ANY change in routine, like Donna having to run and errand or something,
she ALWAYS lets us know usually days in advance (sometimes weeks). Makes sure
it's ok with us first, THEN does it.  Never has she done anything (to my
knowledge) without asking us.  She also does everything we ask in terms of
child rearing and never questions our style. (She has 3 girls of her own.)
What we say, goes.  Period.

Finally, Donna is so conscientious of how we feel about her, one time she
misunderstood a comment that my wife made as we left. She thought janet was
complaining about something. She called us that night to "straighten things
out" and to come to an understanding.  She wanted to make sure everything was
ok. 

Now we're perfectly happy with her, and apparently so is Danielle.  I would view
this as a success story.

-andy

    We haven't had a really bad childcare provider in 10 years and
    three kids.  Only one was less than ideal, and she quit taking
    care of kids before Steven had been there long.  The others have
    been excellent.  Not necessarily problem-free -- but the important
    thing is that you have someone with whom you can discuss problems
    and reach a common ground. 
    
    Knock on wood, I guess, but I think a lot of it's because we make
    our decision not on a list of requirements about snack times and
    health foods and such but on our reaction to the provider as a
    person, her family as people, and especially on how she interacts
    with the child who's going to be in her care and how we feel
    discussing things with her.  If any of us gets bad vibes, it's no
    go.  
    
    I say "her" because all but one of the providers we've interviewed
    has been female.  The man was the director of the preschool/
    kindergarten Steven went to for three years.  We used the same
    criteria with him.
    
    I can go into detail about what was good about each of the
    arrangements if anybody wants me to.  
    
    --bonnie

    Since I just finished entering a note complaining about the high cost of
    daycare in Littleton, I thought it's about time I take the time to relay
    what an absolutely terrific daycare providor Paula is.  She is well worth
    every penny I pay her.

    Paula, who has one preschooler, and one school-age child of her own, only
    takes in two other children since that is all she believes that she can
    care for to her standards.  She loves these two like they were her own,
    but is always conscious that Michelle is MY baby, and respects any
    requests that I make.  She really enjoys playing with them, and teaching 
    them new words, games, etc.  Occasionally she will take the children
    someplace fun like the library or a park.  I have shown up at her house
    unexpectedly on a number of occasions, and the kids are always having
    fun (or sound asleep in their cribs recovering from all the activities)

    Recently, she decided that she could not handle two daycare babies
    during the summer months when her son was home from school.  She wanted
    to be able to give her two children more of her time.  It was clear she
    was really depressed about having to give up one of her secondary
    children, but was unwilling to "shortchange" (her opinion) her own children.
    For a couple weeks, she actively participated in locating alternate care 
    for one of the babies.  Finally, she decided to have a friend, who is a
    schoolteacher, come and help her out during the summer months.

    Now, at no extra cost to me, there are two exceptional women taking care
    of my baby and three other children.

    	Didn't want to start another topic so thought I'd put this in here
    since I feel it is slightly related. 
    	The world's greatest daycare mom (mine) is moving out of state and 
    next Friday is her last day.  We are both having a terrible time with
    this and this past week every time we look at eachother we burst into
    tears.  
    	My question is I need some ideas for a going away gift.  One of the 
    families has given them a gift certificate to stay at a hotel while on
    their travel to the new home.  I thought that was great, however, I
    would like to give her something that will always remind her of us.  
    We have given her plaques and other items related to her hobbies in the
    past so that has made it rather hard to figure out something new. 
    	I've thought about a jewelry item, but thought maybe with all the
    great minds in this file, someone might come up with something really 
    ingenious.
    
    Thanks, 
    Malinda
     

May not be possible in a week, but I'd suggest a framed picture of your child. 
Maybe one idea would be to do it in a frame that the picture is easily 
changed, and send her a new picture every year or so (like many people have on 
their desk, for school pictures).

Clay

    On the subject of pictures, how about a portrait of her with all her
    children?  It would also help your child remember her.  You could make
    copies for all the children.
    
    Laura

    If you were thinking about a jewelry item you could get a charm
    bracelet.  You could have one of the "child's head" charms engraved
    with the name of your child.  Maybe the other folks at the center
    would like to be a part of this also.  Even if it's just from 
    your family, it's something she could add to through the years.
    
    Conni

    Record a cassette tape of you and your kid(s) talking to her, singing,
    etc.  Actually, even if you don't do this right now, it's a nice way
    to stay in touch - you can send cassettes through the mail.

    (I also agree a photo is a good idea.)

				cheryl

    How about a locket with a picture of your child inside???
    
    - Kathryn
    

    I like the picture idea and as an addition maybe one of those silver or
    gold plated (or pewter) frames where you could have something engraved
    on it.  Or a collage of pictures of your child at various stages of
    growth in this frame with an engraved message, poem, or dates.  Or
    maybe a photo album with an engraved cover and then the other families
    could add pictures and if you keep in touch, she could add to it.
    
    Michelle
    

    I would've suggested the photo as well - really like the engraved frame
    idea.  I think that KinderFoto takes a week or less for pro.
    portraits.
    
    Good Luck!
    

    I have had the same daycare provider for 11 years!  My son started at
    four months, and my nine year old daughter still spends some afternoons
    and vacations there.  She and her family are wonderful.  I learned some
    of my best child-rearing ideas from her.  She really cares about the
    children and me, and we love her dearly.