I remember when my son was four months old and time had come for me to go back to work. My greatest fear as a brand new mother was finding someone that would love and care for my child similar to the way I did. Yes, I knew that no one could love my son as much as me but I wanted to make sure I found someone that was responsible, clean, organized, and provided a safe environment for my precious baby.
I have to say, my first daycare provider was horrible. Within one month, my son would start to cry the minute I pulled up to her house. I should have picked up on his behavior but I assumed he was just missing mom. However, after popping in one day unannounced, I was horrified to find 13 children, all under the age of five, running around with only the provider’s 12-year-old son supervising.
I found my son on the floor in front of the fireplace with children jumping over his head. His diaper was dirty and things were a mess. The worst was that to keep the room warm, all four burners on the gas stove were on high. I was smart enough to take my son with me, never to return, as well as file a formal complaint with the state.
When I found Connie, my second daycare provider, my son changed dramatically within weeks. He began laughing, crawling, and mimicking sound. She was the mother of three boys and was so wonderful to Chad. The difference in his behavior put me at ease immediately. Connie cared for my son for five years and to this day, I consider her a godsend. She was patient, loving, nurturing, protective, and she kept me informed of accomplishments. I remember the day she called to tell me that Chad had pulled up on the coffee table. I was and am so grateful to her.
Finding a good daycare provider can be very challenging. Unfortunately, people can tell you anything you want to hear. Having learned the hard way, I strongly encourage you to check licenses, ask for references and then follow up on them, and most importantly, show up occasionally unannounced. That way, you can see for yourself what, if anything is going on. I still feel as if I let my son down but I was a new, inexperienced mother. I hope that readers can learn from my mistake!