The Trials and Triumphs of Running a Daycare

Running a daycare is a bit like tending to a flourishing garden. At first glance, it seems simple—plant the seeds, provide water and sunlight, and watch everything grow in harmony. But anyone who's tried their hand at gardening knows it’s never that straightforward.

I run a 5-star daycare center in Oklahoma, a place filled with giggles, toys, and potential. On paper, it sounds idyllic, but behind the brightly colored walls and cheerful posters lies a mountain of stress, much of which, surprisingly, doesn’t come from the children. No, the children are the roses in this garden. They are content with a room full of toys and the freedom to play. The real storms come from the adults—the parents, the staff, and even the system itself.

Take parents, for example. They trust us to provide care for their little ones while they go about their day, and rightly so. But sometimes, situations arise that leave us as daycare providers in a perplexing bind. There’s the parent who drops off their child, fully medicated with Motrin because their fever was 104°F that morning. Their hope? One dose of medicine will last until six in the evening, conveniently avoiding the risk of missing work. The inevitable fever returns, and when we call the parent to pick up their child, the frustration comes back at us tenfold. Suddenly, it becomes our fault, even after we learn that little Timmy spent last week at Aunt Linda’s—who just tested positive for COVID.

And then there’s the staff, the lifeline of any daycare. Some of my employees show up every single day, despite personal health battles or family challenges. These women are warriors—true cornerstones of my daycare’s success. But others? Well, there are those who mysteriously vanish after a sneeze or strategically schedule their doctor’s appointments for the middle of the day, making it impossible to work the hours before or after. Like a garden, the health of a daycare relies on all its parts working together, yet some flowers don’t always pull their weight.

Add to that the looming shadow of DHS (Department of Human Services) and the bureaucratic hurdles that can feel as relentless as weeds on a summer’s day. The myriad forms, inspections, and compliance requirements can leave even the most prepared daycare operator second-guessing every decision.
Then, there’s the financial strain. The cost of running a daycare has skyrocketed—supplies, inventory, you name it. To cover expenses, prices rise, and suddenly you’re the villain for charging what’s needed to maintain quality. It’s a delicate balance, like watering your garden just enough to keep it alive without drowning it.

Still, through all the stress, there are the moments that make this garden worth tending. It's seeing a child learn to tie their shoes for the first time, watching friendships blossom in a sandbox, or hearing the unfiltered joy of laughter during playtime.

Working in childcare isn’t for the faint of heart. Owning a daycare is an even steeper climb, full of challenges that could dishearten even the most determined individuals. But if you’re reading this, and you still think running your own daycare sounds like a dream—call me. I might just be willing to hand you my garden gloves. 💐

Hard Truth..... but still truth

Allow me to offer you some practical advice. "Your children hold a special place in your heart, but it's important to remember that not everyone will share the same sentiment." My children and grandchildren, both biological and honorary, are incredibly dear to me, but I understand that not everyone will view them in the same light. This realization is beneficial for both myself and my loved ones as they navigate through life. ❤️

The Little Moments

Parenting often involves navigating the in-between moments as your children grow older, particularly with sons. These are the times when they reach out to you as they travel to and from places, during downtime at appointments or work breaks. While seemingly insignificant, these moments are precious opportunities for connection. When your child chooses to share these moments with you, it shows that they trust and value your presence in their lives.

Here Today and Gone Tomorrow...

Are they together, or are they simply… gone? I find myself asking this all too often—what truly happens to life after death? Some like to believe we ascend to heaven, reuniting with the people we’ve loved. But what about before we were born? If there was a before, why can’t I remember it?

It’s a lot like being anesthetized for surgery. You drift off, and when you wake, it’s as though time skipped—no memory of those lost hours. Is death the ultimate version of that? Does everything just… stop? Consciousness snuffed out like a candle, leaving blissful nothingness in its wake? Or is it the opposite—do we awaken to golden streets, harp melodies, and familiar faces waiting to greet us?

Here’s the kicker—I don’t have the answer. I don’t think anyone does, not even the most devoted believers. Faith, hope… whatever you want to call it, these ideas help us cope, don’t they? Because thinking there’s something beyond “the end” makes loss just a little less unbearable. Hoping we’ll see them again makes it hurt a little less when they’re gone.

But here’s what I really wonder—when a wife follows her husband in death, are they reunited? Do they exist somewhere together, beyond the veil? Or are they both just… gone?

Over 50 and Loving It”! But Are we???

Are we coming to terms with what 50+ means or are we chasing 30?

I do not look down on anyone who has surgery to look younger. I don’t look down on high dollar cosmetics or treatments etc, but I encourage you to ask yourself if you are trying to be the best version of yourself as you Continue through life (which is a blessing) or if you are chasing a season of life that you have already lived?

I shared this somewhere (so forgive me if it was here) but I would like to share my thought again. 

WE are the women that those behind us are looking up to - our daughters and granddaughters. They live in a society that has filled most of their lives with social media and filters and false expectations of what one should look like and how they see themselves. Young girls have depression at an all time high bc of all of the pressure surrounding them at every turn on these devices and on tv…. Not reality. Are we feeding them the same lies by never accepting ourselves as beautifully unique?? I am so fortunate to still have my mother who is alive, my mother is alive, myself, my daughter, and now my granddaughters. I am living smack in 4 generations. When I see my mother, I think she is so beautiful. Her hair is white. Her hands have aged. Her eyes sparkle and she still has nice eyebrows (how did that happen - lol?). I also have a granddaughter and it weighs heavily on me as I look at her as to when society will tell her that she isn’t enough? Isn’t that what we are doing a great deal of here? I see my beautiful, unique, precious granddaughters with bright blue eyes and blonde hair but how much longer does she have before she believes she isn’t enough? That she needs to be blonde or thinner or have a forehead that won’t crinkle etc? I love the way she looks at me. She sees me as I see my mother. She sees me as beautiful. She knows I am not supposed to look like her Mommy does or like my mom does. She still accepts me just as I am and thinks I’m beautiful. I want her to hold my hands and ask me about my many trips around the sun. I want her to see the smile lines by my eyes and ask me why I smiled so much. We ARE beautiful. 

I am not trying to stand on a soapbox of not using things to make you feel better. I use makeup and color my hair to make me feel more like myself - but I don’t look like I did 20 years ago, and that is because I have made 20 more trips around the sun and I have a ton of life lessons, experiences, memories and stories to tell. I just want to encourage each of you to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you talk to yourself as you would talk to your mother about her beauty or your granddaughter about hers? I can say this bc I was so guilty of speaking down to myself (shame on me). This is the body I was gifted to walk this earth in and I better appreciate it at some point before it’s gone. I also want to be a part of changing the negative narrative that we are being fed and that we tend to feed into ourselves..: that we need to stop ourselves from looking as if we have aged or as if we aren’t enough (the billion dollar industries enjoy those facts btw).

One day, I would love to hear someone’s great story BC they are 50+. I would like to hear what you found out that you like about yourself and your body. Bc, 50 years from now when I am no longer here, I sure hope that is what my granddaughter is writing about ❤️❤️❤️❤️