As a musical performer for children, I play music for kids in literally hundreds of centers each year. And every once in a while I come across a center worker deserving of a shout-out. I'd like to recognize the amazing summer programs coordinator at Breezewood KinderCare, Ms. Susan Rolka. The day I performed at her center this past summer, I had lots of time to watch her interacting with her school-age children. Ms. Rolka truly has a gift with kids. She keeps them constantly engaged with creative interaction, and turns every little activity into a fun learning experience. And it was clear that she has won the hearts and the respect of her kids. She's an extraordinary teacher, and a credit to her center.

After three years of family care my husband and I found ourselves in need of a daycare facility. My daughter is three and was going to attend a private preschool in the fall when our situation changed and we needed a full time daycare facility for her and our son, who is soon to be two. After meeting with a few daycare centers, I was becoming more and more reluctant. I decided to give it one last chance and contacted KinderCare. I must have called Ms. Kristen a dozen times with questions before I enrolled my children and she kindly answered each and every one of them. I visited the facility a few times before I enrolled my children. I had so many fears and anxiety when the first day came. The staff did so much to help me calm those fears, beginning with drop off, where Ms. Sharon made me and my daughter feel comfortable when we arrived. I didn’t want to leave my daughter standing there crying, my heart was breaking for her. Ms. Sharon took us to Ms. Tanya for drop off and, unfortunately ,the time had come for me to say goodbye. When I turned back around before the door closed, I saw Ms. Tanya bend down and looked to be hugging my daughter and immediately I was left with only the anxiety, not the fears. She wasn’t doing that for my benefit, she could no longer see me. She was doing that for my daughters benefit, even with other kids all trying to get her attention. Ms. Sharon in the meantime was ensuring me that how I felt was normal and I would feel that way for days to come. Due to my hours, I do not get a lot of interaction with her teachers, but she is always eager to tell me about her day. She says every day “I was crying but now I am smiling.” She told me that her teacher says that to her. She tells me that her teacher is always smiling. It makes me feel more comfortable knowing that they are taking the time to make my daughter comfortable. My son enrolled a week later and that was a whole other adjustment. My son is sensitive and can be, at times, very difficult. I wanted to make sure that I felt comfortable that the staff was going to give him the time and attention he needed. He is a terrible sleeper and wakes up very cranky from him naps. All of these things made me fearful to leave him at daycare. I was certain that strangers would not be able to calm him down and they would be calling me to come get him. That was before I met Ms. Deborah. My son took to Ms. Deborah immediately, but more importantly, Ms. Deborah took to him. Ms. Deborah is there when I drop him off in the mornings and in two short weeks I already feel comfortable leaving him with her, even if he is still crying when I leave. Often he is still crying when I leave but when he sees Ms. Deborah he will reach for her. He might not stop crying but clearly Ms. Deborah is treating him wonderful if he wants to go with her. Ms. Deborah will tell him she needs to finish something up. It makes me happy knowing that she is willing to engage with him. She will make sure everything is in order and everyone cared for and content and she will then take him from me. I often leave with her holding my son, rocking him. I have not had a lot of face to face interaction with Ms. Lindsay but every time I call she is always willing to speak with me and tell me how my son's day is going, and never acts annoyed that I have called. Ms. Kaycee has been fantastic in relaying information from Ms. Lindsay to me. My son always seems calm and happy when he is in Ms. Kaycee’s care. She always takes the time I need to feel comfortable knowing about his day when I pick him up. She never rushes me out the door or makes me feel like a nuisance for asking too many questions. On a good day she will say our son "did so wonderful today”. It makes me happy that she is personalizing with him and makes me feel like he is cared for a child not a paycheck. She is very genuine when she tells me about his day, and it makes me feel very comfortable. Beside the obvious of wanting to feel comfortable with the staff, the most important thing I was looking for was education. I wanted to make sure that my children would be learning, as well as having fun. Every day my daughter tells me something new that Ms. Yudis has taught her that day. My son has already started to use his words better, and in a very short time has become a better communicator. He not only uses his words better but he has begun to incorporate sign language. All clear signs that my children are being taught, as well as they are being cared for at KinderCare. While I am nowhere near the comfortable phase as a whole, I am already well ahead on my comfort level than I ever thought. I want to thank everyone at KinderCare that has made that happen. Ms. Kristen and Ms. Wendy have both been so helpful and are truly available any time you need them.