Appreciated

As an early childhood educator (and I use that term lightly since many people say what I do is work at a daycare - yah sometimes it seems like), but there is a whole heck of a lot more involved in it than many know.  Having student taught in the public school system, I was well aware of what is involved in planning and implementing lessons as well as keeping track of student progress.  I am not downplaying the role of public school teachers by any means, but as a preschool teacher (and early childhood educators as a whole) a whole heck of a lot more is expected of us.  Not to mention the pay is no where equivilant to that of a first year teaching salary and we don't even have summers off.  I knew getting into the field of education was something I wanted to do - I had always wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember and I loved being around kids.  I knew this career choice wouldn't lead to a lavish lifestyle but I would rather be happy than have money (well for the most part at least). 

 At the time that I graduated college I could not go on the sub list because I needed a job that I was guaranteed  40+ hours a week to keep the insurance I was on which I absolutely needed due to my medical conditions (glaucoma and to afford the prescriptions I needed which would have been well over $300 a month for two tiny eye drop vials).  I continued to work at Marshalls taking in all the hours I could plus working overtime and overnights.  Finally I found a "daycare center" that would start me out at a competitive rate, but my hours would only add up to 35 a week so I decided to stay with Marshalls to make up the other hours.  Long and short of the story.  I was with this daycare for almost 2 years.  The parents and staff were great and I learned a lot but when I eventually worked up to 40+ hours often times upward of 50-60 as well as cleaning the center weekly to make ends meet I was exhausted. 

I loved teaching and wanted to do it, but of course in southwestern PA it wasn't what you knew it was who you knew and I had no connections in any of the school districts.  I left that center for a corporate early childhood and education center and despite some initial challenges I loved it.  I love being with and teaching children.  However, the paperwork that I was used to was minimal and now it has increased.  I do more on keeping up daily communications with parents, observations, lesson planning and so forth. Don't get me wrong all the communication with parents is awesome, but it is frustrated when some families feel that you merely are a daycare and they do not show interest in the things their child does because they are "simply to young to do anything" when we are required to do the work anyways.  It is frustrating and I know families are busy, heck I'm busy too.  

I often times wonder why I do the time consuming work I do and it is because I love what I do. I love planning, I love interacting with children, I love being silly and exploring and seeing how a child learns and grows at such an early age it is so awesome.  My parents both worked when I was little and luckily my grandma was around to do things with and teach me things so I know what it was like to not always have my mom and dad around as much as I would have liked.  Many of the kids are with me for 9-10+ hours of their day (no wonder I get called "mom" so often).  Every once in awhile I have some awesome families that really do know how much work I do and how much I do truly care for their child and their child's well being and learning.  Sometimes it's nice to know that you are truly appreciated for all of the work you do.  Working in any field is enough, but in the field of education that is supposed to be held to such high standards many do not realize that education begins at such a young age  and what their children do and learn as an infant can impact the rest of his/her life.  So thank you to all those parents and families who have supported me, worked with me and simply thanked me for what I did, I truly appreciate and my work is truly with the children.