Growing up and getting closer to the age where most of us get jobs I always heard that if you're doing something you love then you're never working. I'd like to put that to rest, I love my job and wouldn't want to do anything else right now. I am a daycare teacher and it is most definitely work!
These are somethings that happen when working at a daycare:
1. Bathroom Breaks
These are precious, especially when you've been holding it for three hours, hail to the strong bladders. And if its your time of the month its even more miserable.
2. Everyone Has Favorites
Whether its a kid or co-worker, we all have favorites. When its the children its SOOO easy to tell when that person walks into the room.
3. Attachment
I love kids, clearly, and I get attached very easily. I also feel pride when a child gets attached to me instead of another teacher, I feel special and get a sense of hierarchy. Silly, I know.
4. Sometimes You Go Hungry
The kids come first and that means if its a good lunch day for your class you better have brought snacks or a pb&j to hold you over until after work or break.
5. Heartbreak/ Frustration
These are very common working with young kids. You see many situations that shatter your heart and make you wish you could smack some parents. One of my biggest pet peeves is when kids come in with clothes too small and the wrong size diapers.
6. Repetition
I know so many songs to teach kids how to spell colors, the months of the year, days of the week, and songs that bring giggles. I also can turn pages of quite a few books without looking at the words from reading them several times a day.
7. Bodily Fluids
Whether you have kids, or not, and work at a daycare you will quickly get over your fear and disgust for slobber, snot, poop, and urine. You will come into contact with each multiple times a day. If your like me, the sight of snot and boogers make you gag, now I shove tissues in my pocket when I'm chasing snot-noses around during cold and flu season and don't even think twice about it when grabbing them to throw them away. I've also had a baby shove their freshly slobbered on hand in my mouth when I was talking..
8. Returning After a Period Of Time
I am back and forth at my daycare because of school. I am gone months at a time and for some of the kids it is hard to remember me when i come back. It makes me sad even though I know that it will happen. But the best part is coming back and kids remembering me and happy to see me.
9. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING
These parents are my favorite. The ones that don't listen or don't care about what you're saying about their child. The ones that don't head your advice or warnings. The ones that scoff at you even though you take care of their children, THEY trust you to care for their spawn and an't give you the time of day when you have something important to say.
10. Still Love My Job
No matter what, no matter the tough day I've had, I always walk out happy that I'm working with kids. I love them and some of them love me. I like going in and seeing kids get excited that I'm there. I love when they run up to me for hugs and yell "hello." I love when they see me out of the daycare and still are happy to see me. I love connecting with parents and them trusting me with their kids too.
Extra tips: take vitamins- you WILL catch whatever they have and toddlers really are like taking care of mini drunk people.
