01/09/2026
Let's keep taking actions that help our community care for children, our future. Let's continue to come together and educate all on the importance of the first five years of a child's life💛
“Children are our most valuable resource.” – Herbert Hoover
I could not agree more.
I have been in education for 17 years, with the last 10 in child care. I have seen public education and I have seen early care up close, and lately I feel the heart of it all is being forgotten.
The heart of education is the children.
Without them, there is no public school system.
The heart of child care is the children.
Without a strong, safe, foundational upbringing, our society is hurt.
I know the majority of those who provide care and education have hearts of gold. It is not the people who are failing our future. It is the systems.
Anyone who knows me knows I do not take sides politically. I truly believe there should be no sides when it comes to our children. I also believe that when we know better, we should do better.
We build our society by turning toward our children and providing them with a foundation in life that is unshakable. To do this, it takes everyone.
We need to educate society on the importance of the first five years of life, when up to 90% of a child’s brain develops before they ever enter school. We need to turn back to play and allow children to be little and learn through experience instead of pushing academics too early. We need to give children the opportunity to grow as whole people, with strong emotional and social well-being.
We need to support parents by sharing education and best practices. Advancements are wonderful, but we live in a world where family and community are often lacking. We can talk to people all over the world in an instant, yet not have someone nearby who can step in and give us time to reset so we can show up for our children as our best selves.
We need flexibility so parents can be home with their children. We also need to educate society on the importance of child care, especially now that we have data showing the critical role it plays in our economy since the pandemic.
Tonight, I sat in on a meeting about what is currently happening in child care. I do not condone fraud, and I believe in accountability. But what is happening right now is hurting children, and it hurts my heart.
Child care spaces are meant to be safe places. We have families who are approved for assistance but now do not have funding. Without payment, children may lose their spots, not because providers are money hungry, but because providers have bills to pay too. Many child care providers already live at or near poverty-level wages.
Tonight, one provider shared that she will not be getting paid, and after talking with her husband, they are choosing to continue providing a safe, caring space anyway. Because those children matter. Because it is the right thing to do.
About five years ago, I stepped outside my comfort zone and began learning more about child care in my region. That grew into learning more about our state, then our nation, and now internationally. Because when we know better, we should do better.
I believe mountains can be moved, but it starts with action. That action may look big, like contacting legislators on any side of the aisle. Or it may start small, like sharing this post or having a conversation about the importance of a child’s foundation in life. No matter the size, positive action creates a ripple effect.
Let’s come together, young and old, parents and non-parents, employees and employers, left and right, to do what is right for our children and for our future.
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” – John F. Kennedy
