About 14 years ago, a single mother brought her 3 year old son to our daycare. I adored him from day one. A very sweet child.
His mother struggled a lot with health issues and depression. They lived close by and we became close. We helped out any way we could. She was always so grateful and tried so hard to better herself with school and work and be a good mom.
Her son continued in our daycare for many years. We went to school functions etc to support him when his mom couldn't.
When he was 12 years old and still a before and after school kid, his mom went into the hospital for hip surgery. Her brother called me and told me that DCM didn't make it. She developed complications which took her life. Could I keep DCB until he could get there?
It is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I had lost a dear friend and her son was in my house, oblivious to it. I had to keep it together until his uncle got there. A terrible, terrible day.
The day of her funeral, the family invited me to stand as a member of the family. I was so honored. The day was marred by the fact that the "sperm donor" arrived and claimed he was taking the boy back to Arizona. We were all heartbroken. The child had just lost the only parent he had known and a stranger was taking him to another state.
But....all's well that ends well. The father called the uncle within a week and more or less said "I'm not cut out for fatherhood. How fast can you get here?" The uncle (and others) drove off immediately to get him. He has been living with his uncle and family (WONDERFUL people) ever since.
This picture is of a wonderful, now 17 year old getting his Eagle Scout last week. He is thriving and a young man his mother would be so proud of.
I love this kid like my own and we keep in regular contact. He lives in Idaho and we don't see him as often as we would like, but he never fails to call or visit if he can.
This photo makes me happy to put up with all the BS we sometimes go through as providers. My job made him a part of my life and I am blessed because of it. Today is a good day!
His mother struggled a lot with health issues and depression. They lived close by and we became close. We helped out any way we could. She was always so grateful and tried so hard to better herself with school and work and be a good mom.
Her son continued in our daycare for many years. We went to school functions etc to support him when his mom couldn't.
When he was 12 years old and still a before and after school kid, his mom went into the hospital for hip surgery. Her brother called me and told me that DCM didn't make it. She developed complications which took her life. Could I keep DCB until he could get there?
It is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I had lost a dear friend and her son was in my house, oblivious to it. I had to keep it together until his uncle got there. A terrible, terrible day.
The day of her funeral, the family invited me to stand as a member of the family. I was so honored. The day was marred by the fact that the "sperm donor" arrived and claimed he was taking the boy back to Arizona. We were all heartbroken. The child had just lost the only parent he had known and a stranger was taking him to another state.
But....all's well that ends well. The father called the uncle within a week and more or less said "I'm not cut out for fatherhood. How fast can you get here?" The uncle (and others) drove off immediately to get him. He has been living with his uncle and family (WONDERFUL people) ever since.
This picture is of a wonderful, now 17 year old getting his Eagle Scout last week. He is thriving and a young man his mother would be so proud of.
I love this kid like my own and we keep in regular contact. He lives in Idaho and we don't see him as often as we would like, but he never fails to call or visit if he can.
This photo makes me happy to put up with all the BS we sometimes go through as providers. My job made him a part of my life and I am blessed because of it. Today is a good day!
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