SPOTLIGHT: Optimism and Community During the Pandemic - Little Z's Family Child Care
I remember vividly the first time I drove out to visit Little Z’s, Stacey Busch’s family child care center. Owning a child care business has been a dream of Stacey’s for a very long time. As colleagues at a child care center for years, we’d been through lots of the ups and downs of everyday life in the early childhood field. Stacey sought out training and learning opportunities, anything that would further her dream and open doors for her. I remember when she and her husband bought their house, and she really began the process of visualizing her dream. While bursting with passion and drive, Stacey had a long-term plan that she stuck to even when challenges presented themselves. Sitting in my car in front of her house that day of my first visit, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and excitement.
Not much time has passed since that day but it feels like a lifetime ago. Stacey has a Facebook page she keeps up to date on the happenings at Little Z’s, and the page is always filled with colorful photos highlighting wonderful learning experiences and a sense of community. Even faced with the uncertainty of how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the early childhood field, that sense of community can still be felt when visiting the Facebook page. I have no doubt that Stacey’s home is still a cozy, secure and welcoming place of refuge for the children and their families. The 3 children currently in her care are toddlers, who have very little understanding of why their world is changing. Attending Stacey’s program provides them with consistency, and the partnerships their parents have with Stacey allow for everyone to feel a semblance of normalcy.
When asked what it’s like being a child care provider during these trying times, Stacey said “Being a family daycare provider during this pandemic has certainly increased the importance of handwashing, surface disinfecting and toy sanitizing. Being open during this time for essential working families within my program has been important, and I know each of them appreciate all the help they can get as they go to work on the front lines. The children have created some arts and crafts over the last couple of days to contribute to the #518RainbowHunt. This has not only made the children and their families smile, but families throughout the community as well!” Stacey’s optimism, positive attitude and desire to support her community shine through with this statement. During this confusing and sometimes frightening time in history, caregivers like Stacey are still doing what needs to be in done the name of quality early care and education, and are a beacon of light and hope for their communities and beyond.
Submitted by Sara Baldwin, Infant Toddler Specialist
