Out Of Curiosity- What Is Your Background?

[Sunchimes]

I have a 40 year old degree in Home Economics education. My degree is so old that they don't even offer Home Ec Ed degrees any more! ::

My first job out of high school was in a day care center. I was horrified and lasted a couple of weeks! In college, I volunteered in the University day care, shared a nanny job with a friend, and ran a monthly Mother's day out program.

Turned out I hated teaching high school so I got an elementary endorsement and turned out I didn't like formal teaching. I wanted them to give me a classroom and some kids, then leave me alone, and at the end of the school year, I'd give them some happy, healthy, educated kids. I accidentally got to do that one year and it was the best job ever!! Then we lost funding.

Married and we were self-employed for 30 years. Two and a half years ago, thanks to some political shenanigans (politicians, not us!), we lost our contract which put us out of business. Hubby was retired, and you can't live on social security. He went back to work part time (his health won't let him do much more than that) and I started looking for a job. That's when I learned that being self-employed for 30 years doesn't give you the skills for jobs these days, I don't care how smart your are or how fast you learn. And it's a very small town, so not a lot of choices, and it was 2010 and the economy was awful of course.

For 40 years, day care had always been in the back of my mind as my "just in case" thing. My mom did it when I was a kid in the '60's. Took me 5 months to get my first child, another 4 to get the 2nd and 3rd. I have 2 now with 1 opening.

My dcg is one of the smartest children I have ever run across-besides my granddaughter. (That isn't proud grandma, she really is stunningly smart!) I spend my days trying to fill that curious brain with information and still have tons of fun. I make enough to eat and pay bills. I'd like one more for extra money.

[laundrymom]

I'm in it for the giggles, hugs & casual Fridays.

[jenn]

I worked in a center while I went to college.

Then I taught kindergarten in public schools for 9 years.

I opened my daycare in 2006 and had a miracle baby of my own in 2008.

I do daycare because
1. I love working with kids (most the time)
2. Want to be with my daughter (she will begin homeschool in Aug due to health issues, so will still be with me)
3. I need to have income

I will continue until I can no longer physically do it, or until I win the lottery.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I started out in college pursuing a degree in elementary art education. I ended up with a business degree, and started doing child care when I had my own children. I've never done mixed-age care for any length of time (you all are my heroes), but generally stick with infants or SA's. Now that we have a new baby, I'm in it for at least another five years.

[coolconfidentme]

I use to be a Quality Assurance Analyst for Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction. Before that a State Police Officer. Looks funny in print!

[laundrymom]

I use to be a Quality Assurance Analyst for Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction. Before that a State Police Officer. Looks funny in print!

Hmmmm. Well that's.... Different. Lol.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I use to be a Quality Assurance Analyst for Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction. Before that a State Police Officer. Looks funny in print!

At least they know your background check is spotless!

[momofsix]

I got my degree in psychology with an ece emphasis waaaaay back in '88. While going to school my roommate and I operated a licensed home daycare together-alternating days.
I went right to work at a center right after graduation and stayed there until our 2nd daughter was born. (our oldest was already in school). From that time on I've always had children in my home. At one point I went into a "partnership" with my sister to do a group home in her house-but after a couple of months we both figured out that we could make more money each being on our own. There was a short period where I had to take a break for family reasons, but I came right back to it
All in all I've been in child care for 26 years! I'll probably do it forever-which sounds great on some days and horrible on others!

[saved4always]

I was a systems analyst/computer programmer at an insurance company. I started there as a claims processor and worked my way up by learning the skills I needed on the job and through training classes provided at my workplace. I quit when my daughter was born to stay home with her. She was a couple years old when I was approached by a neighbor to watch her child before and after school. From that point, I started doing childcare for more families through word of mouth. So, I just kind of fell into childcare.

[melilley]

14 years ago I applied at a center and they did a field interview. When I was done I enjoyed it so much that I thought "this is what I want to do for the rest of my life". I even had tears in my eyes..dorky I know.. Fast forward 12 years my husband and I bought a house and decided to have a baby. I was still working in a center at the time and we decided in order to have a baby I would open my home daycare, care would cost too much and it wouldn't be worth staying at the center. (it was a good center-rare find!) Well I had my son 6 months ago and just opened my in home last week!
I do have a degree in Child Development.
I just started my in home so we will see how it goes, but I plan on doing it until I can retire!

[ashleyh]

I've taken courses in early childhood education. When much younger I babysat, did volunteer work for local centers. My father was a DHS worker with a teaching degree, my mother almost has her degree (short on teaching hours) and my aunt is a professor. Teaching and working with children just seems to run in our family. Once I had our first child I began working for the daycare we used for him and eventually became the director for it. Being pregnant now put a stop to starting my own so soon but once the baby is born we are hitting the ground running with my own in home daycare

[momofboys]

I wanted to be here with my kids and not send them to someone else. I have a 4 year BA degree but have decided to not pursue a job in my field yet beccause of my desire to be with my kids. May consider it soon as my youngest will enter K this fall.

[laceylmm]

At the age of 20 I was working in Walmart and a single mom of twins. I started a job at a center so I could be with my children and still work. The center was okay because I was there with them. I eventually started back to school and earned my degree in ECE. Anyway was at the center for six years. I now have four children of my own. We built our first home last year and I knew that I was going to finally become certified so I could be home with my kids, and make more than the daycare ever paid (me or anyone else that worked there). I have only been open for a month. Looking forward to what this opportunity will bring me.