Change...

Change is such a hard thing, at least for me. In 2015-2016 school year I was given an opportunity to go back to school. My husband also decided he was going to work from home. This changed the dynamics of Chear Care. Before I was able to enjoy the pitter-patter of little feet (and the pop of the popper toys) to myself surrounded by little ones including my own. My husband being at home did not enjoy the squeals of several toddlers and at times the screams of several toddlers. This is when we started talking about fading out the daycare once my daughter was in Kindergarten. I found the daycare rewarding on several levels and dearly miss it but I decided that maybe a career in Web Design and Development may give me the opportunity to focus on my love for arts/crafts while also being flexible for my daughter. After 8 years and almost 4 waves of children I am completely still having withdrawals. So, I still pin things on Pinterest for my preschool fantasies. I still work with GAFCCA (Greater Albuquerque Family Childcare Association) in helping Home Child Care Providers who are living my dream!

While, in school I have worked at an elementary school as an educational assistant.
Lately, I also teach online at ungodly hours doing preschool lessons with children in China.

My Story

My name is Chearsten (like "cheer"-ful) and I'm a state certified child care provider in my home. I have recently had several parents ask me what my story is. Why do I watch children in my home? 

Well it started in 2009 I had been married for several years and even though I had several step children we had not been able to have one of our own. My step children were out of grade school and some moving out on their own. I missed little ones and was thinking about going back to work. I had done Day Care in high school and liked parts of it. I had done nanny work but would prefer being home to wash my own laundry and do my own dishes. So I started my own home child care and decided to call it Chear Care, like my name. I would have legitimate reasons to collect little kid toys (which I love). I could get baby time that I was missing but send them home at night (wink, wink). I also could bring in money for working and be available to my step children/husband. 

Four years later I was blessed with my own little one and since I want to be home with her and I don’t know if she will ever have a sibling her age I have continued child care. I can still bring in money to support my family and my daughter can now get social interaction with children around her age. 

Background checks

I'm getting set up on sittercity.com, care.com, and sitter.com but I'm running into a dilemma. Each one would like to me to do a background check. Each background check costs between 30.00 - 40.00 dollars. I have done one already through the state to certify my child care through them. So I choose not to do it again and again but than I receive emails everyday stating that I haven't finished setting up my account or profile. Sigh.

Each one wants testimonials too but I don't want to ask all my parents to set up an account on every site to write me a testimonial. So I also have my testimonials on my blog and references that I give in person.

So until I get my background check done on every site I am here to proclaim that I have already done one. I'm cleared through the state to be safe. Not that a background check is the clear all to safety. You want to have similar values, discipline styles, rules and rewards. I have my style that would be more structured than my husbands or that my step children are use to but I am open to other parents preferences and have no problem adjusting to what they prefer in their own homes.

This is all it looks like too.... boring.

My Faith

As my daughter has gotten older and I have taught her my personal beliefs she has of course wanted to share. While I do not teach any religious instruction to the children outside my home. I thought that parents would like more details on what they may be exposed to in my home.

I attend the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-days Saints, more commonly known as Mormon or LDS. If you would like more information about my christian faith please visit https://www.mormon.org/.

My daughter has been taught a basic prayer that often children will repeat it goes:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the food,
Help us have a good day,
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

As she gets older she sometimes adds in humorous things or elaborates on the things she is thankful for or the things she wants.

We sing lots of songs at Chear Care mainly nursery and classic finger play medleys. We also sing songs about the holidays, seasons, or weather. Some religious songs that they maybe exposed to are.

Jesus said love everyone
Treat them kindly too
If you heart is filled with love
Others will love you

This song and others like "I am a Child of God" I have noticed my child singing you can listen or read the lyrics to them at this website. We also do sing most christmas songs around christmas time.
Childrens LDS Songs

No use crying over spilled milk

If you don't know already my hard drive crashed that I had all of my child care information on. Pictures, invoices, templates, contracts were all lost including personal photos as well :(. I did have a few things backed up, some pictures - to me more important but from a business sense not most important.

I am now in the process of backing everything up online so that no matter what happens here at home I'm prepared. I can also get to information when not at home. Everything is protected and no personal information will be online.

For tax purposes I could use any print outs that I gave to you to help rebuild information. Otherwise you will get a VERY rough estimate for taxes this year. Of course this had to happen in September. If you would prefer to continue not having a print out copy every two weeks I would at least like to send you an email copy. Let me know. :)