I want to express my most sincere gratitude and appreciation for the staff of the South Mingo KinderCare in Tulsa. This is not simply a recap of a singular good experience, but the culmination of an atmosphere and culture that has been created within their walls. After recently relocating back to Tulsa, my partner and I faced the challenge of transitioning our two-year-old twin boys from private in-home care to a daycare setting. After touring many facilities that were both less and more expensive, we decided on the KinderCare facility on South Mingo. To say the transition has not come without it’s challenges would be an understatement, as we have felt the full force of how sickness can easily spread; however, the compassion and love that the teachers and staff have for our children means our boys are met each day with hugs and high fives and are cared for when they are not feeling well, both physically and emotionally. Over the last several months, it has become clear that this is truly an amazing group of people who check in when the boys are absent, update us on the little milestones as they come up, are present on their days off for birthdays or special events, and provide support when life throws curve balls. When I stop to reflect on these qualities, the only word I can think of is “family.” They are part of our family, an extended group of individuals who love and care for our children like they are their own. There is no other group of individuals I could imagine my boys seeing each and every day as I know that not only are they making friends and learning life skills, they are watched over and loved by “family." My hope in sharing this is to provide a little insight for other parents who are searching for a place where they can feel comfortable knowing their most precious assets will not only be educated and protected, but also be cared for with love.

My child has had the great honor of having Ms. Nathalie as his teacher twice now, thanks to her move from the busy babies’ class. Each morning, I would leave my son in her welcoming hands along with Ms. Malorie, knowing he would be showered with love. Even on days when the morning wasn’t quite going Ms. Nathalie’s way, she always had a smile on her face and laughter in her voice. Those babies would crawl all over her and I always took an extra minute to watch her from the window before I walked away. There were days I would walk away with a tear in my eye and attempt to hold myself together until I got in my truck and cried. Ms. Nathalie and Ms. Malorie have a special bond and a unique ability to work together with the children. It is something I feel privileged to have shared with my son. Now that my child is a couple years older, we walk into Ms. Nathalie’s class every morning (well, when she isn’t playing the role of the front desk welcoming crew) and see her smile alongside Ms. Sabrina. She goes out of her way to greet each child by name and ensures the transition from a clingy, leg-holding three-year-old to the morning table is calming to both the kids and the parents. Even amidst the child’s desire to talk to their parent through the glass…or at the door…or just one more time before we walk away…I know, the moment I turn and walk away, my son is engaged in a world of growing and learning. He is learning from a woman who holds the same morals and beliefs that I do. I so appreciate everything she does, and how she loves my family in a genuine way. Ms. Nathalie has patience and a heart big enough to share with all of our children. I am so grateful to her!Ms. Sabrina has been a part of my family’s life for more than ten years, which she has spent loving and disciplining and teaching hundreds of children. As a teacher, she influences our babies’ lives more than parents do at such a critical age of understand and developing. Ms. Sabrina is compassionate to their needs and isn’t afraid to approach a difficult child or plainly call out their bad behavior to the parents for backing and support. As a parent, I want to work with my teacher to raise an intelligent and respectful young man, and she was the starting point in that journey--in more than one of my children’s lives. Even though I only see her in the mornings, I know in my heart the love she shows the kids throughout the day. I am so grateful to Ms. Sabrina for being honest, for all of the laughter, and for being herself!I also want to say a special a word about Ms. Pam. The only way to describe Ms. Pam is to say that even though I left my child for nine hours a day with her, I felt like I never missed a moment of my son’s life. I saved almost each and every single note her loving hands took the time to write. I would smile and laugh out loud, and even cry at times when I read her stories on his papers. I ensured I always took the extra 30 seconds to read her daily note on the door because it was another insight into his life. But let me tell you…if I didn’t read it and there was a story about my child…she fully scolded me the next day! Ms. Pam taught my child that it was okay to have feelings and emotions, but that there was an appropriate time and way to display them. She taught my child to sing and dance, and laugh and share with his friends. She did special projects and shared special treats with them because they are her life, not because she was getting a paycheck. Ms. Pam, even though she will kill me for saying it, gave me advice like she was my own mother and loved my child like he was her baby, too. How do you put a price on that or fully express her in words? Sometimes you just can’t.And in closing, I wanted to also thank all of the afternoon staff. They hold a very thankless job, whereby the morning teacher gets the glory and they get the rowdy kids in the afternoon. But we all send our thanks and love to each of them as well. Their jobs requires them to pass those injury notes, and ‘your child screwed up today’ notes and deal with the angry parents looking for a lost toy or jacket each day. I’m so grateful for their patience and for the generosity in their hearts—and to those who take extra babysitting jobs at our homes. As a mother, you ask yourself, “How can I consciously choose to have a career when I have this beautiful and amazing baby that I should be home raising myself?” Then it’s easily answered in the next breath with, “Because I choose to leave my child, as have those before me, under the guidance and direction of Ms. Ronda and her amazing group of ‘second moms’ at KinderCare. While Ms. Ronda, or Ms. Heather, or Ms. Kathy do not sit with our children eight hours a day, they are the glue that keeps the life together. They have hired arguably the best teaching staff of any facility across the state. The tenure of the teachers speaks volumes for the direction that Ms. Ronda gives them. While there are rough patches along the way, at the end of the day, not many walk away. And those who do, often return!To all of the teachers at KinderCare, thank you for all of the joy and laughter you’ve given me and my children over the years. Much love and admiration from a forever indebted mother.