So, for those of you that don't know, I am an education major and I love working with kids all year long. So when summer hits, I apply to daycares, summer camps, you name it. This past summer I worked full time as a floater in daycare and loved nearly every minute of it.
But when you work in daycare, you establish habits and routines that are admittedly hard to break when you leave. I hadn't even noticed I was still in daycare mode until recently. But now that I've realized it, I've begun to annoy even myself but I can't stop!
Listen, I may have chosen they daycare life, but I need to leave it behind me when dealing with other adults. If you've ever worked in childcare, this article is about to get painfully relatable.
1. Calling everyone 'friends'.
I called groups of kids my 'friends' in order to get their attention or address them as a group. And now I do it to other adults.
2. Cleaning up after people constantly.
I am used to following tiny humans around and cleaning up their messes as they go and I find myself doing it to my roommates at home all of the time.
3. Asking people if they're ready for a nap.
I am used to prepping tiny humans for nap time around noon every day. So when adults get grumpy, my daycare brain automatically assumes they just need a blanket and to knock out for a couple of hours.
4. Keeping snacks on you at all times.
Tiny humans get cranky when they're hungry and frankly, so do adults. I always have a snack in my backpack, purse, pockets, car. If you need snacks, I have them, I promise.
5. Two words: Hand sanitizer.
I love kids, but they are germy. I have hand sanitizer in my pocket at all times. If you sneeze in the same room as me, I will offer it to you.
6. Using the teacher voice.
I am always using my teacher voice on my friends to get their attention or prove my point. Usually, it is accompanied by my appropriately named 'teacher face'.
7. Keeping a flexible schedule.
Ever kept a room full of one-year-olds on a schedule minute by minute? Yeah, me either. I'm used to adapting my schedule to fit the flow of the day, even when I don't need to.
8. Singing EVERYTHING.
I turn everything into a song by accident to make it catchy so I remember it. So much so I sing to myself in Target. Frequently.
9. Calling people by first and last name when I'm unhappy.
Listen, nothing lets a tiny human know they're in trouble like using their first and last name. So when I want to let people know I am unhappy with them I pull out the full name like I'm someone's mommy.
10. Calling people cutsie nicknames.
I called half my kids 'sweetheart', 'honey', 'cutie', etc. I do this to other adults when I can't remember their names and it comes off borderline creepy.
11. Being over-prepared.
I have a purse that is full to capacity constantly. I have anything you could possibly need all day in there just in case we would ever need it.
sunrise
StableDiffusion
bonfire friends
StableDiffusion
sadness
StableDiffusion
purple skies
StableDiffusion
true love
StableDiffusion
My Cheerleader
StableDiffusion
womans transformation to happiness and love
StableDiffusion
future life together of adventures
StableDiffusion
