"When You Grow Up"

For some reason adults often ask kids what they want to be when they grow up. Since we realize most children and many teens don't have enough information to make such a decision the question is simply intended as a way to get to know the kids better.

When I was a kid there were several things I wanted to become. When I was two-and-a-half years old my brother was born and I decided to become a mommy. And later I wished to get a Victorian house and "fill it full of kids."

I've achieved both those dreams, but not quite as I had envisioned them. Instead of giving birth to lots of babies, my husband and I raised three foster kids with special needs in addition to our one birth daughter. And the Victorian house where we lived for decades was, indeed, filled with kids, but not our own. In order to be a stay-at-home mom for our daughter I ran a preschool family daycare home for many years.

But one childhood dream was fulfilled exactly as I had hoped it would be. As soon as I had learned to read well I'd decided to become the author of books for children and, after years of writing articles in periodicals for adults, I was thrilled to have two fiction books for kids published last year.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Did your dreams come true?

Family Daycare

A local newspaper article says schools may be ending their after-school childcare programs because of government budget cuts. Where will those children go?

When my daughter was young I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom but needed to make some income so I ran a family daycare home. I wonder if people who have lost jobs because of the economic situation might want to do the same thing.

Each state has its own requirements which may require certain college classes, First Aid and CPR training, and fingerprint clearance for the provider as well as physical requirements for the home.

The disadvantages of running a childcare home are the lack of privacy and the necessity of always being there or having a qualified substitute. You're not likely to get rich, either. But the advantages include being able to work at home with no need to commute, and spending time with your own children and their friends. For someone who enjoys kids, that job is fun!

You also get to choose the age groups you prefer to work with and be in control of the schedule with no office politics.

There are lots of resources available online and through local agencies that will provide much more information about how to be a home childcare provider. If any of you might be interested, please check it out. You might be able to help families, including your own.