Adventures in Daycare

Over the summer I did some part-time at the Clover Pass Daycare (what can I say, CPCC is my home away from home). I had no desire to going back to the insensitive grind of the tourist industry, so I decided to try my hand at child care. It was a big jump for me, because unlike most girls, I didn't grow up babysitting little infants and drooling toddlers. I had never even changed a diaper in my entire life! And actually, I had a big fear of infants. It's always a little disconcerting having the parents eyeing you suspiciously as you over-cautiously, and awkwardly hold their tiny, squawking brood. Most parents would make jokes about it, which never really did reassure me. I just figured I'd learn all of this baby stuff out of necessity when I had my own kids. Well, due to circumstances, I figured I'd better get a heads up before I got pregnant again. And the experience has really been an eye opener.
I've found that I can actually work really well with babies. It's been pretty fun actually. Aside from coming home utterly exhausted, with a shirt soaked in saliva and snot, and tiny, aching scratches on my face-- it's been good. I've discovered that the unique "baby smell" is actually a combination of every single body fluid and baby powder... yum. Within my first week of working there, I pretty much got over my fear of babies. Once you've changed a dozen diapers without throwing up and rocked about six different babies to sleep, you start to feel pretty good about yourself. There's also been some pretty funny moments.
One day, I was helping out on the preschool side, and one of the little boys had a doll stuffed under his shirt. He was laying on his back while three other kids were all surrounding him. One had a stethoscope and another had numerous bottles, while the third had a toy, plastic power tool and was "sawing" into the boy. I asked them, "What are you doing?" They just simply glanced up at me and replied, "We're having a baby." I had to quickly turn about and casually walk off, because I nearly died laughing-- it was so cute.
I am relieved to have some time off once again so that I may get my house in order and the ground work laid for the Azalea court. But I am very thankful for the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and confront some irrational fears. And I would strongly suggest that if anyone out there has the same fears that I did, they should see about doing some care taking as well. Now don't relate having your own kids to barrowing someone elses, because it's not the same at all. I see how those kids faces light up when they see their mom or dad come walking through the door. There's no substitute for adoration like that.