What Do You Usually Say When Asked About Your Profession?

[Crystal]

"I own a home-based Early Care and Education Program"

[itlw8]

I am a small business owner. I run a preschool out of my home.

[Binkybobo]

I am the president of a small corporation that deals with the care and development of children under the age of five.

Clever, clever!
I am so thankful for this forum!
I just imagined myself saying this at the get together then following it with, "I own a small home daycare." We would have all laughed. They would know that I take my job seriously, and we could have quickly moved on. Instead, I gave a 5 minute explanation and used all of the big words that I could think of!

[Crazy8]

I just say I run a home daycare. They can think what they want about it - I love what I do and it pays the bills too - not everyone can say that about their jobs!

[Evansmom]

Could this be a result of women's liberation? A few decades ago women fought hard to break the stigma of barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. There is nothing wrong with being a SAHM. There is nothing wrong with not being a SAHM. i think when people hear home daycare, they think SAHM that baby sits instead of WAHM. Again I say women should be allowed to saty at home and not work if that's what they want, and they can afford it. I just think the women who fought to get out of the house had to raise extreme argumants that changed the way we look at women who do not wear power suits and go to the office on a daily basis. IDK, I was in the backyard pretending to be a farmer with 3 year olds when this popped into my head.

I've often thought of this too and you're right, for some it may be kind of a backlash to the women's lib movement. I feel like there are some different interpretations of women's lib and unfortunately one of them is to "look down" upon women who choose to stay home or to raise kids which we all here know is SO ridiculous! I work 50 hours per week! I also cook from scratch and take care of my house and my 3 children and my family. I'm as busy as any momma who works out of the home!

I believe that though the women libbers that came before us fought for equal rights in the workplace what they were really fighting for was for women to live in a world where we can choose to do ANYTHING we want to. Because of this I can choose to stay home and care for my children, I can work from home and care for children of women who choose to go to work outside the home. In this way we all support each other.

[MamaG]

I always very proudly state I'm a child care provider. I mold little people into fine you g children, confident and ready to take on school when they leave. There isn't another profession (except maybe teacher) that comes close to the impact and power we have on this world. The foundation of a house is rarely seen, barely talked about, and to the unknowing not of importance. But those fancy windows, pretty gingerbread, are nothing if the foundation crumbles.

I don't care what others think of what I do. I know it's importance. I am proud of what I do.

[MarinaVanessa]

This has happened to me too .

I simply say that I'm a licensed child care provider. When they ask (and you know that they will) what exactly that means I follow it by saying that I started my own daycare business in my home.

Quite a few times Ive had someone then say "Oh, you're a babysitter." And I had to politely deny it and say that I was once when I was a teenager and then I worked as a nanny later in my 20's and that there was a difference. If I get that look of confusion I continue by asking what they do ... once someone said he was a computer programmer .... so I said "Oh you're an IT guy" to which of course he was a little offended by and then you could see the realization hit him and I knew he got my point and so then all I have to do is smile.

I've used this scenario DOZENS of times. I for one am one of those that is bothered my being called a babysitter so I always clarify when I am called one.

Other professions I've used it with
Medical assistant = Nurse
Janitor = Maintenence Supervisor
Bank Teller = Financial Advisor
Insurance Agent = Medical Benefit Advisor
Receptionist = Personal Assistant
Secretary = Front Office Manager
**The first is what I called them and the second is what they actually did for a living (these are the ones that I can remember of the top of head).

[LK5kids]

awww.. i can see how you would have felt uncomfortable..
i say that i have a daycare.. its CRAZY to me how its held with so much esteem that you own a daycare outside your home vs owning one in your home?? i mean its the same thing?? a lot less overhead LOL

I soooo agree! I did own a larger center and it drove me nuts. Not for me!
I LOVE FCC!
Licensing in my state is so stringent for FCC. It's the same for home or center.

[MamaG]

I've often thought of this too and you're right, for some it may be kind of a backlash to the women's lib movement. I feel like there are some different interpretations of women's lib and unfortunately one of them is to "look down" upon women who choose to stay home or to raise kids which we all here know is SO ridiculous! I work 50 hours per week! I also cook from scratch and take care of my house and my 3 children and my family. I'm as busy as any momma who works out of the home!

I believe that though the women libbers that came before us fought for equal rights in the workplace what they were really fighting for was for women to live in a world where we can choose to do ANYTHING we want to. Because of this I can choose to stay home and care for my children, I can work from home and care for children of women who choose to go to work outside the home. In this way we all support each other.

I dare say you might work harder then moms who work outside the house. They get breaks, no bodily fluids to clean up, no back talk, I personally have never had a job as hard as this one (including soldier in the Army)! This job takes a special kind of person, very rare kind of person.

[spud912]

My favorite is when they ask how many children I watch. You should see their face when I tell them 6! Why is it inconceivable to imagine taking care of (and good care) of more than 1 or 2 children at a time? It is completely manageable once you get the hang of it. I still think it's hilarious to see people's reactions when I take the bunch out for a walk ::.

[LK5kids]

I have a hard time with this too. It feels better that I'm not alone! I just left a professional position as an early childhood specialist and parent educator to open my FCC home. After 14 yrs. of being very proud of my position I'm hesitant to elaborate on what I do.

I do have people in my community backing me 100%, so that feels good.

I LOVE FCC. We had the financial ability to open a large center....I considered it for a nano second. Been there, done that. It's not for me.

When people ask me what I do I say, "I own a child care center and preschool."

Thanks for posting this question!

[Binkybobo]

This has happened to me too .

I simply say that I'm a licensed child care provider. When they ask (and you know that they will) what exactly that means I follow it by saying that I started my own daycare business in my home.

Quite a few times Ive had someone then say "Oh, you're a babysitter." And I had to politely deny it and say that I was once when I was a teenager and then I worked as a nanny later in my 20's and that there was a difference. If I get that look of confusion I continue by asking what they do ... once someone said he was a computer programmer .... so I said "Oh you're an IT guy" to which of course he was a little offended by and then you could see the realization hit him and I knew he got my point and so then all I have to do is smile.

I've used this scenario DOZENS of times. I for one am one of those that is bothered my being called a babysitter so I always clarify when I am called one.

Other professions I've used it with
Medical assistant = Nurse
Janitor = Maintenence Supervisor
Bank Teller = Financial Advisor
Insurance Agent = Medical Benefit Advisor
Receptionist = Personal Assistant
Secretary = Front Office Manager
**The first is what I called them and the second is what they actually did for a living (these are the ones that I can remember of the top of head).

....Love this. I just don't think I'd have the guts to say it, but they started it!

[MNMum]

I run a home daycare 4 days per week and continue to work about two days per month as a NICU RN or Lactation Consultant. The home daycare is twice the work, for half the pay, but I'm home for my kids

[MissAnn]

I am a preschool teacher. I have a preschool in my home.

[Unregistered]

Very good points here.

There is already some confusion out there in the distinction between a babysitter and a nanny, I can only imagine that it is the same confusion between a nanny and a day care owner that does much more.

We have not started yet but it is great to read insights like this.