Childcare After Caring for My Own Children

Many people ask me why I'm choosing to offer childcare services later in life. They say, "But you are almost done raising your own kids! Why would you want to go back to diapers and feedings for other peoples' kids?

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Well, it's simple: I love kids!

I really adore the baby, toddler, preschool ages the most. I love watching the wheels turn as they are figuring out a new complex skill. I love watching the trial and error as they are learning how to manipulate a tricky toy. I enjoy doing something repeatedly, like saying a particular word with a hand motion, and then doing that repetitiously over time, to finally be rewarded when I do part of the action and then see their faces light up and they fill in the second action because they finally caught on and knew what to expect in the pattern! Mind blowing to see how their growing brains learn lightning fast!

Their minds are processing so much new information on a moment to moment basis and it's fascinating to observe! The major difference between doing it all over again, in my late 40's, with babies who are not my own: ENERGY. I have so much more energy and presence now because I am being hired to come for short periods of time in a day, then go back to my regular life. I get to show up and babysit for that compartment of time, with no other things on my to-do list, no rush, no pressure, JUST PLAY. Back when I was actively mothering three kids all at once, and in the thick of a full time job, I always did my best to stay present and just enjoy them. However, most of the time I was just trying to stay afloat and get on to the next part so I could get them to bed and finally go to sleep and start another day. I had a long to-do list and they each needed me in different ways, all day. It was exhausting, thrilling, fun, yet again, exhausting.

Now, I'm only working my own flexible easy part-time schedule. My kids are all grown and I'm here as back-up support mainly. I can go play with little kids for a "job" and am 100% entirely in the moment and very mindful of caring for their every need without any other things on my mind at all. I am truly present and enjoying every minute of these enthusiastic toddlers who are absorbing their environment like a sponge. I love to spend time with them and play with toys, go outside and take stroller walks while narrating what they are seeing, smelling, and hearing all around them. I am lucky to be chosen to care for kids while the parents are tackling their own to-do lists! I hope the parents come back feeling refreshed and ready for some one on one time with their child. I feel uplifted knowing that I can ease the burden for parents. Working with children is in my nature and what I have known all my adult life. I know I will be a wonderful grandmother one day when my own kids start their own families too.