Child Care

As a working mom, I have depended on child care providers to help with my children.  We started out in 2002 at Brookline Infant Toddler Center (called BITC), in Auburndale, MA.  Both of our children thrived at this daycare.  The teachers there are wonderful, and many have been there for years, which in the child care world is rare.  The infant room was wonderful, especially when my son had numerous ear infections that resulted in him having tubes, which removed ear infections from his life.  The older infant room and the toddler room were great places for the kids to learn and explore.  The three's room was next, and the teachers there LOVE the threes.  And the last two years are preschool I and preschool II.  The teachers were our partners.  She was concerned with our daughter's health.  When my son was receiving services, the teachers in the toddler room, requested that the Early Intervention therapist come into the classroom and see him in a school setting.When our daughter needed to keep a journal of everything she ate in the toddler room, the teacher assisted us.  The same teachers who taught our son.  After nine years of daycare, I cried that we were leaving their nest for good - after nine wonderful years.  My wallet did not cry, but I cried.  They were my extended family.  We visit every once in awhile to see our family.  We used to stop by more often with donations of outgrown toys, but sadly we are out of those also.

We then found Rec Place as our elementary after school program.  Nance Miller is a wonderful program leader, and has a staff of caring teachers and junior teachers.  Nance introduced the kids to many wonderful things, including pumpkin picking without your parents, having a service dog trainer come into the program, and other wonderful things.  Nance believes in child nutrition and has an array of fresh fruits and vegetables every day at the program that the children can eat.  She cares about the environment and teaches the children that by having re-usable plates and glasses.  She installed an industrial dishwasher so the program could continue using plates and glasses.  She lives by her words.  Last year, our son was a senior in the program - a fifth grader.  He finally got to sit in the senior lounge, and he and the guys hung out there.

We also found Meadowbrook Day Camp in Weston, which has been a wonderful program.  My kids really learned how to swim under Candy's direction.  The kids learned to love archery.  The kids played tennis, soccer, baseball and basketball.  The kids had ropes and dancing and music.  The kids love it there.  Dan, the director, is a wonderful director, and his family is wonderful.

Our son attends The Highlands After School Program, and we are discovering another new family.  This program has two middle schools that use the program, and they are right in the center of the village.  So far our child has enjoyed his time there. 

As a parent it is important for me to find safe and fun places for my child to learn and explore.  And all of these come with a price.  All of these cost money, and I have to say, I feel like these are the best people to watch my children when I am at work.