Learning to be

Let’s be honest—getting older is hard.

It’s not just the physical changes we all expect; it’s the mental and emotional weight that comes with them too. Physically, the signs are there for anyone to see. The wrinkles, the thinning hair, the loss of that glow we once took for granted. Our bodies remind us in quieter, more persistent ways. The aches linger longer. Getting out of bed takes a little more intention. That spring in our step? It quietly slipped away somewhere along the line. Even something as simple as getting up off the floor can turn into a full production.

But the harder part isn’t what you see—it’s what you feel.

We spent so many years living in a world of “firsts.” First boyfriend, first job, first car, first home, first marriage, first child. Life felt exciting, like it was always opening new doors, always giving us something to look forward to.

And then, somewhere along the way, the story changes.

Without really noticing, we begin to recognize that some things may be our “lasts.” The last car we’ll buy. The last home we’ll live in. The last pet we’ll love. The last chapter of a career. And that realization doesn’t feel celebratory—it feels heavy. Almost like admitting defeat. Like calling the game before you’re ready. Like the curtain slowly closing.

But maybe that’s not the whole story.

Because while we may be leaving behind the excitement of firsts, we gain something different—something quieter, but just as meaningful. We begin to understand what actually matters. The noise fades. The need to prove ourselves softens. We stop chasing everything and start choosing what’s worth our time.

We care less about being everything to everyone… and more about being at peace with ourselves.

And if we’re lucky, life still gives us a few beautiful firsts along the way—like holding your first grandchild, a moment that somehow carries both everything you’ve lived and everything still to come.

The circle may get smaller, but it gets stronger. The moments may look simpler, but they feel deeper. Time, once something we thought we had plenty of, becomes something we handle with more care.

And maybe that’s the trade.

Maybe aging isn’t about losing life—it’s about seeing it more clearly.

Yes, there are “lasts.” But there are still moments ahead. Still laughter. Still connection. Still meaning. Just not always in the loud, flashy way it once was.

Aging isn’t the end of the story.

It’s just a different chapter—one that asks us to slow down, to reflect, and to find beauty in a life that’s no longer about becoming… but about truly being.

Easter Eggs

If you’ve noticed my recent absence from the blog, it’s not because I ran out of things to say. I just have secrets. A ridiculous, bordering-on-absurd amount of secrets.

Frankly, it’s a miracle I’ve kept my mouth shut this long. I am historically terrible at keeping things under wraps, so if I type even one wrong syllable, the floodgates will open and my highly classified information will be out in the wild.

Massive life changes are on the horizon, and things are about to look very different around here. To be honest, I’m actually a little relieved my readership isn't the size of a small country right now. I’ve been dropping subtle hints in my posts lately—think Taylor Swift-level Easter eggs, just without the stadium tours and sequined bodysuits.

So far, no one has cracked the code, which is entirely for the best. If my master plan leaked early, it would completely ruin the dramatic reveal I have playing in my head.

Big changes are coming. I absolutely cannot wait to finally spill the beans—and more importantly, to start living them. Stay tuned!

When searching for daycare, the cost matters.

The entitlement from some in-home daycare providers will be your downfall.

Let’s actually talk facts.

First—if you have to remind people how important you are… those aren’t your clients.

I’ve done both.

7 years in-home.

24 years running centers.

Owned both.

So this isn’t opinion—it’s math. Homes should not be charging the same—or more—than centers. Business 101. Let’s break it down.

My center:

• $19,141/month lease
• 12,000 sq ft
• 17 classrooms
• 27 employees
• $65,000/month payroll 
• Payroll taxes
• Insurance
• Quarterly Taxes
• Van payments

That alone should end the conversation. But it doesn’t.

Add in :

• $13,000/month in food - 95 gallons of milk alone
• CPR/First Aid and ongoing training for 27 staff
• Required master teachers per 20 students
• $18/hour wages to meet staffing requirements

Now think about.....

• 7 computers + 17 teacher iPads for 17 classrooms
• IT support
• 42 cameras with audio
• 21 phones
• 10 A/C units
• 2 hot water tanks
• 17 toilets
• 21 sinks

Every one of those = a service call, a repair bill, or replacement cost.

Centers pay for:

• Lawn care
• Pest control (on a large scale—not a backyard)
• Plumbing
• HVAC
• Curriculum? $1,890/month for accreditation-based programming.

• Bookkeeping
• Communication with 177 students parents
• Payroll services
• Credit card processing fees
• Transportation - Vans, gas, maintenance, AND required training. You can write off your personal vehicle—we can’t.

Now let’s talk about homes.

• You write off a portion of your mortgage, utilities, and household expenses
• You use items your family already owns and write them off
• No commercial lease
• Minimal or no payroll
• No large-scale maintenance
• No facility overhead

Ratios?

Regulated. Same rules... but you make money starting at the first kid enrolled because you don't have payroll.

Centers runs: 1:7...  So no—“more one-on-one”! It's not accurate unless it’s literally one child/ one teacher.  And consistency? Centers stay open (based on my center) ~10 closure days a year.

No scrambling when someone is sick. Parents aren’t left hanging.

So again—Why are we charging the same rates? Do you really think parents can’t do the math? Because they do.

There is no justifiable reason for in-home daycares to charge as much—or more—than centers when the cost structure isn’t even close. I’ve managed both. I know the numbers. Parents know when they’re being overcharged. And they don’t stay where the math doesn’t make sense.

🎤 Drop.

Powerful and Important!

Men don't get nearly enough credit. That's not a slight against women—it's simply an observation that's worth making.

Take construction workers, for example. They scale skyscrapers dozens of stories high, connected to the building by little more than a rope and a helmet. Most of us wouldn't last five minutes up there, yet these men show up every day to build the cities we live in.

And it doesn't stop there. For centuries, men have gone to war, sacrificed their lives, and worked grueling jobs to provide for their families and communities. Many have single-handedly put kids through college, kept a roof over their family's heads, and done so without much recognition.

There's a tendency in modern culture to undermine traditionally masculine traits—strength, protectiveness, and a natural drive to provide. But these qualities aren't flaws. They're part of what makes men such a vital part of the family unit and society at large.

None of this diminishes the role of women. Raising children, nurturing a family, and contributing to the workforce are all extraordinary things. But it takes both. Men and women each bring something unique and essential to the table, and it's only when we work together as equal partners that things truly function well.

Perhaps it's an old-fashioned view, but dismissing the value of masculinity doesn't serve anyone. Men are the backbone of many families and communities—and it's time we acknowledged that more openly.

My allergies are bad right now.

Me: when I get up and start moving around I get a headache!

Dennis: THAT’S when I get a headache!!  When you get up and start moving around! 😳

🕷️