Dear Daycare Providers: Thank You

Dear Daycare providers,

Thank you.

Thank you for smiling in the morning at drop off when I am crying, no balling, as I leave with you my heart. My heart outside of my body in a flowered onesie who is 11 weeks old.

Thank you for getting to know each child and greeting them as they walk in so early the sun is not up yet {including the cook whom my girls love}.

Thank you for not judging me when they show up in the same Daniel Tiger shirt three times in one week {washed!}. It’s my daughter’s favorite shirt and the only way we get out of the house at 6:30 am without a major meltdown.

Thank you for looking me in the eye and asking how my new job is going.

Thank you for kissing their boo-boos when momma is not there.

Thank you for cheering them on as they finally climb up the big stairs on the playground and fly down the slide.

Thank you for pushing them on the swing and to try new foods.

Thank you for changing more diapers than I can count, writing it down and reporting if their rash seems a bit better.

Thank you for helping me get the tantrum-throwing toddler out to the car as I carry the car seat with the newborn, all the while balancing nap blankets and the empty bottle bag on the other arm.

Thank you for the fun holiday parties, summer splash days and special spirit weeks that my girls just gush over and giggle through.

Thank you for having Santa come to greet my girls at Christmas and give them a special book.

Thank you for bringing my toddler to the door last year as I pulled up with a baby in the van sleeping as she recovered from Hand Foot + Mouth.

Thank you for teaching my girls to sweep up crumbs, wipe down the table after snack and “you get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit.”

Thank you for celebrating their birthday with a crown and teaching them the happy birthday song.

Thank you for changing the wet panties during potty training and suggesting a few extra clothes wouldn’t hurt for the next day along with crocs.

Thank you for introducing me to my kid’s friend’s parents so I could finally meet their BFF’s mom.

Thank you for teaching my child that it’s ok to need alone time and make a different choice in activities.

Thank you for teaching them to wash their hands and wait their turn.

Thank you for holding them through the animal assembly as they shake and cry, letting them color in the office for the next event, and finally cheering them on when they conquer their wild animal fear and enjoy the assembly.

Thank you for remembering to tell me the cute story of how they greet all the parents that come in and report when the other kids are sick.

Thank you for putting them on the step stool to wave out the window at me on tough drop off mornings.

Thank you for sending me a quick note to say the day is going great with a quick picture of my kiddo laughing with friends.

Thank you for remembering the special holidays and capturing their cute Mother’s Day interviews {including moms favorite drink…wine}!

Thank you for the hugs for my kids on long weeks when mom does it all and dad travels.

Thank you for doing their hair as we just ran out of time that morning and they have some major bed head.

I want to thank you for so much more than diaper changing, bottle warming, nap time back patting and kind redirection. But I can not remember all the things you have done. I am sure I don’t even know many of the ways you love on my girls.

But I need to say thank you for being a part of my village. My tribe that helps us raise these girls to be kind, funny and smart. Your influence is seen each night as they play games from school, sing songs they learned and show us the fun wash-off tattoos their favorite teacher put on their arm.

You are more than daycare providers and more than teachers. You are their people, their support, my village.