Halloween: A Night for Treats, Not Tragedies

Halloween: A Night for Treats, Not Tragedies

Robin @ Kids Matter

Twice as many kids are killed, while walking on Halloween, as on any other day of the year.  Kids usually trick-or-treat when it is dark which makes it more difficult for drivers to see them.  Because they’re excited about getting candy, children may not be watching for cars.

Parents and drivers need to do their part to help kids stay out of the emergency room on Halloween.

Top tips to keep Kids safe on Halloween

For parents and children:

·        Emphasize safe pedestrian behaviors to kids before they go trick or treating.

·        Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.  Look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.  And, keep looking as you cross.  Walk; don’t run across the street.

·        Walk on sidewalks or paths.  If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.

·        Slow down and stay alert.  Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up, and never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

·        Costumes can be both creative and safe.  Decorate your children’s costumes with reflective materials and, if possible, choose light colors that can be seen in the dark.  Masks can obstruct a child’s vision, so choose nontoxic face paint, makeup and wigs instead.

·        Carry flashlights or glow sticks.  These will help trick-or-treaters see and be seen by drivers.

For drivers:

·        Slow down in residential neighborhoods and school zones.

·        Be sure to turn your full headlights on between 5:30 and 9:30 P.M., the most popular trick-or-treating hours.

·        Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.  Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.

·        Slowly and carefully enter and exit driveways and alleys.

·        Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Treats:

·        While pedestrian safety is a main concern on Halloween, parents and kids should be careful when dealing with candy.  Remind children to only eat treats in original and unopened wrappers.

This information is provided by Safe Kids, Fayette County.  Visit their website to learn more about how to keep our children safe.    http://www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/safekids/

Kids in Cars

Kids in Cars

Robin @ Kids Matter

Cars are an integral tool in our busy lives. But as important as they are, they can still be dangerous. With a little information and a few simple steps, you can keep your children safe and sound in your car from the time they're in their first car seat to the time they get behind the wheel.

The hard facts

Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States. When correctly used, child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%. Seat belts saved more than 69,000 lives from 2006 to 2010. Despite this fact, teenagers have the lowest rate of seat belt use. Only 54% of high school students reported always wearing a seat belt when riding with someone else.

Top Tips

•Before you hit the road, check your car seat. 73% of car seats are not used or installed properly. Check out our safety tips below for more information.

•Buy a used car seat only if you know its full crash history. You can buy used car seats from friends and family members, but never from the internet or thrift stores. Once a car seat has been in a crash, it needs to be replaced.

•Never leave your child alone in the car, not even for a minute. The temperature in your car can rise more than 20°and cause heatstroke in the time it takes you to run in and out of the store.

•According to Kentucky law, any child less than 40 inches tall must be in a child or infant seat and any child under age 7, and between 40 and 50 inches, must be in a booster seat. All children over 7 years of age, and over 50 inches tall, must be secured in a seat belt.

Learn more

§  Countdown2Drive: a unique program aimed at creating a conversation between parent and teens with the goal of creating safer passengers today, hopefully resulting in better drivers tomorrow. Call the Safe Kids office at 859-323-1153 if you would like to learn more about this program.

§  Car Seat Inspection Stations: Offered monthly by appointment. Parents and caregivers are paired with a Child Passenger Safety Technician to receive hands-on training and education on the best way to transport children in a car. Contact the Safe Kids office, at 859-323-1153, for additional information or to reserve a time slot.

 

To learn more about safety tips, check out more literature provided by Safe Kids Fayette County.

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Belinda D.

Robin @ Kids Matter

“I’m compassionate and giving, but not always patient,” was Belinda’s reply when asked what she most wants people to know about her.  Meet, Belinda, Eligibility Specialist for Henderson, Union, and Webster counties.  She has been working in the CCAP program since 2008.  She said, “I left the corporate world to get into a field where I could help my community.  I wanted to use what I’d learned in college and my previous work, to give something back.”  However, her work has also given her value in life.  She said, “I’ve met a lot of wonderful people who share their lives with me.  I get something from them, even from a few minutes in my office, and I hope that I’m giving something back to them.” What a positive way to look at work!

As a child, Belinda said one of the many things she got in trouble for, was protecting her brother and sister, who were three and five years younger than her.  They often got picked on, and she wound up fighting to protect them.  She said, “Sometimes I think my brother would do something to get picked on, on purpose, just so I would fight.”  How funny!   As a teen, her extra-curricular activities were singing in choir and riding motorcycles.  Belinda said, “We had strict rules, and were not allowed to go far from home.  I had a moped, which I rode up and down the road at 35 MPH (the fastest it would chug) doing tricks like standing on the seat, no hands, and etc.”  I asked for a re-enactment, but sadly she no longer has a moped.  Throughout school, Belinda received honors for having high grades and perfect attendance. 

Her college career started in 2006, after her second oldest child finished high school, which was a 25 year difference between her going to high school and college.  Belinda received a BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management.  Other than her career skills, she said she learned that, “no matter how much you attend school or take classes, there is always more you can learn.  And, the more you want to learn, the happier you will be.  I’m still a strong believer in continued education.”

Belinda said, “I live in a four generation household with a 10 generation cat farm. “ She and her husband, Gary, have been married for almost 18 years.  They have six children and are expecting their 14^th grandchild in January.  To add some spice to the mix, Belinda’s father-in-law, Jerry, a retired Navy veteran, has recently moved in with them.  (Plus they have 8 cats, 3 dogs, and a rabbit.) Wow, she’s a busy woman!  I asked if she has any regrets about how she’s lived her life.  Belinda said, “There was a period of time when I pulled away from family.  I wouldn’t do that if I could relive that time.  Family is only there for a limited time.  Separation causes you to miss that and lose out on lessons you would have learned.  People need guidance and help!”

Gary and Belinda met when she was working as a waitress.  He worked for the restaurant owner’s husband and came in to the restaurant for lunch every day.  She said it was love at first sight for her.  They got married at a small country church and her oldest son, “gave her away”.  Belinda told of the special ways Gary shows her that she’s loved.  “…he does little things for me all the time.  Not grandiose gifts or actions, he’s not into those big romantic gestures!  It’s in the small things, like buying popcorn for me just because he knows that I like it. He does things like that for me almost every day.”  How sweet! 

Belinda told a funny story, “I was driving home with my three year old grandson, Bubba, in my husband’s old junky truck.  I started hearing a clicking noise and I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.  When I slowed down, it stopped, and when I started moving again, the noise started too.  I thought something serious was wrong, so I pulled over on the side of the road.  I asked Bubba if he heard it and he said yes, but didn’t know where the sound was coming from either. So, this slowing down and speeding up lasted for about 15 minutes. Turns out, it was Bubba making the noise all along.  He was playing with me.”  Bubba is a character.  Belinda said Bubba is probably her biggest fan. “He often tells me that I am the best Nana ever… we have so many good times together.”

How will people remember her later? “I like to think that I’m leaving footprints for others to follow; teaching and helping people.  Always remember that even in your darkest moment there is laughter.  I love to laugh and believe that there is great humor in life. Without it, it’s pretty dreary out there.”  So, some good advice… remember to laugh, and as Belinda has told me several times, it’s especially important to remember to laugh at yourself!

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Angela S.

Robin @ Kids Matter

Angela is originally from Huntington, West Virginia.  Her sister, who lives in Lexington, invited Angela to come to Kentucky for a life change.  She came, liked it, and stayed.  And, we are glad she did! Angela’s background, before coming to the CCC, was working in human resources.  She loved to interview, train, and teach employees.  A lot of her background in West Virginia was in the education field.  She said, “I love talking to people and interacting.  I am a nurturer.  I get that from my mom.  She taught me to love to make people feel better and to diffuse problems. “Angela came to the CCC five years ago, and has worked in several departments, including the call center where she now works.  She said she really looks forward to the program opening to new clients again, because the program does so much good for families!

The most influential person to Angela, as she was growing up, was her mother.  She said, “Mom was the most generous, loving, caring person I know.  She was a stay at home mom, who didn’t work until all her children were in high school.  She was always accessible.  When I lost my dad and brother, Mom was very strong through it all.  She’s my heart.”

As a teen, Angela was kind of a loner.  She was very family oriented and loved to spend her free time reading, which is still one of her favorite hobbies.  (Along with her two puppies: Sugar, a Chihuahua/Terrier mix, and Princess, a 6 week old Lab.)  Angela said, “I’m in a circle, and they are the world circled around me.  We learned to be each other’s best friends.  I think if more people would do this; the world would be a better place.  It’s important to know that no matter what, your family will always be in your corner.”  To her, family means faithfulness, love, generosity, and wholeness.

Angela has been married to Wesley for eight years.  She said that he’s her rock and her safe place when the world gets too hard.  They have seven children, and seven grandchildren.  It looks like seven is their lucky number!  The person Angela said she admires the most, is her daughter, Chant’e.  Chant’e was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident a few years ago.  Doctors had expected her to be paralyzed from the neck down, but Chant’e is a fighter and worked very hard in her recovery.  She now has her own apartment and continues to work hard and thrive.  What an inspiration! When I asked Angela about the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, her reply was, “… my daughter opening her eyes when they rolled her into ICU after the accident.  A tear fell down her cheek when I told her she would be ok.  The Lord was with her.” 

Her greatest influence on her children, “… they say that I am God fearing, very strong, kind, generous to a fault, and very loving.  I hope that I’ve shown them that they can be too!”  Raising her children to be the successful, respectful parents and contributors to society that they are, is her greatest accomplishment.  Angela said, “… they are awesome people, and I’m not saying that just because they are mine.  I’ve done a good job with the help of the Lord.”

Her parting advice to us all, “… always be kind, generous, and loving.  It does pay!”

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Sherry B.

Robin @ Kids Matter

Sherry is from Russell Springs, Kentucky.  She was born, raised, and continues to live there.  As a child, she said, she was so bashful that she would hide behind curtains and doors when company came.  Those of you, who know Sherry, can easily see that she’s changed a lot in that area.  Sherry is now very outgoing and friendly.  She rarely meets a stranger, and always has a friendly smile and greeting.   She said, “I always try to have a positive outlook.  Life is hard enough as it is, if you’re grumpy it’s just that much worse.”  Very true, being grumpy doesn’t help anything!  

Her earliest memory is from the age of two.  Her great-great grandmother was ill so, her family went to visit her. She was later able to tell who was there and what they were wearing.  Sherry was not in trouble much as a child, but she had a very inquisitive mind.  She was always questioning things and asking why.  She said she got payback for this in the form of her daughter, who is just like her.

Sherry is on her 16^th year working for the Child Care Assistance Program.  She said she has seen a lot of changes during that time.  She said, “I enjoy working with people and always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.  When the clients come back and tell you how much it helped them, it really makes you feel good and shows your success.”  Before coming to CCAP, Sherry worked in sewing factories for several years.  She said she still likes to sew and make things like curtains, cushions, and etc. when she has time.  In her spare time, she also loves to read thrillers and watch old movies.

March 27^th was Sherry and Wayne’s 32^nd wedding anniversary.  They have one daughter, two canine babies, and two grandpuppies.  Sherry said, “…marriage and being a mother; those two things are for me, what life really is. Family means everything to me. I’ve learned that it’s not just blood relation, but also people who come into your life and are there through thick and thin.  You may not always agree on everything, but you do support and cherish them all“.

Sherry said, “My most important influence on my daughter was in making sure she has a strong foundation; teaching her the difference between right and wrong morally. We tried to give her a sense of belonging and the tools she needs to make the right decisions, to know where to go when she needs help, and that her church family is there to give love and support when no one else is.”

In talking about significant life events, Sherry said the most amazing event was the birth of her daughter.  It changed her life in such a wonderful and beautiful way, and brought a lot of joy to her life.  The hardest event in her life has been the illness of her husband, Wayne.  It changed their lives very dramatically.  She said, “He was never a quitter. There were times we struggled, met hardships, and worked through problems together.  He’s my rock.”  She said it’s hard now to make decisions on her own, but it has led her to pray a lot and come closer to her family and her church family.  She is amazed by how everyone has stepped up and helped them out in so many ways, even down to just having someone to talk to.  What an amazing support network.  It’s evident that neither Wayne nor Sherry are quitters!

I asked Sherry about an act of human kindness… if she had witnessed any that stand out to her.  Her immediate reply was, “This last year, in itself, has been an act of kindness toward us.  I don’t even know where to start…the amount of cards and prayers is amazing.  We have a prayer chain through 13 states praying for us.  We received cards from churches everywhere and financial support from people we don’t even know.  It has shown me that though we get down and think that the world is in bad shape, there are a lot of good people out there!”

Sherry said she sees her future, “...still in CCAP, working on Wayne’s recovery, with at least one grandchild, and just living life and enjoying it. “  Her advice to us is, “… you can find negatives everywhere.  Look for the positives.  Life is not easy.  You kind of get out of it what you put into it“.  I really looked forward to doing this interview with Sherry.  Having witnessed only a small part of what she has gone through over the last couple of years, and how she handled it, I really admire her for her strength, love, and positive outlook on life.  So, thanks Sherry, for sharing with and inspiring us.

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Patti G.

Robin @ Kids Matter

I would like you to meet possibly the most ardent Kentucky Wildcat fan in the state. Patti is originally from Louisville, but has been a UK fan since the age of two.  She pretty much inherited it from her father.  She said, “My heart bleeds blue for UK.”  She has a variety of UK clothing too, and supports the team by wearing blue and white most days.  She takes a little razzing from her co-workers, because her office is composed of at least 95% U of L fans.  When I asked Patti the most important lesson learned in life, her quick reply was, “…to root for UK!”

Patti met the love of her life, her husband, at the age of 15. They have now been married for nearly 29 years.  She said, “I have been blessed from the day I met him. He is the rock for our whole family.”  One of Patti’s coworkers told me that she has never seen two people more in love than Patti and her husband.  What a great way to be known! They are the proud parents to three children, two boys and one girl, and have two grandchildren.  They also have two Pomeranians, Red and Chocolate, who are her babies since her children have left home.  Patti’s family is very close and especially loves going for weekends in the country.  They enjoy spending time in nature and away from the rush of city life.  Patti said, “The most important thing I’ve taught my children is that nothing is more important than happiness, not even success.  They should look for what makes them happy, no matter what anyone says and that family comes first, no matter what.” She said her children would probably describe her as a trustworthy parent.  They can tell her anything.  And as loyal, because she is always there for them and they are the most important people in her life. (Other than her husband)

When she was a child, Patti dreamed of being a teacher when she grew up.  She worked in child care for about 15 years. Her favorite job was working at the Ford Motor Co. Daycare.  She said it was great because they had funds to do whatever they wanted and had “top of the line” of everything in the center.  It must have been great to have the funding the children deserved.  Patti started working in the Child Care Assistance Program in 2007 as an Eligibility Specialist. She transitioned to her role as Registered Provider Specialist about a year ago. She said her work as an ES has helped her a lot in her current role.  Patti said, “I am glad to be working for a company where my work is benefitting people.  Parents are grateful for our help and that makes it worth it!”

The most significant event in Patti’s lifetime was the terrorist attack on 9/11.  Her oldest son is in the military.  So, it brought home the fact even more, that you can’t take any day for granted.  She said, “…today may be the last day you get to speak with a particular person, so make sure you do it.  Otherwise, you may have regrets about it for the rest of your life.  The most important thing you can do in life is to show someone else how much you care about them.”

Patti’s greatest hope for the future is that we don’t see so much crime and negativity in the world.  She said, “…people need to realize how good we have it here in the U.S. and appreciate humanity, instead of showing the lack of regard for themselves or others.”   She said, there’s a time for seriousness, but you have to let your guard down and have fun sometimes too.  Patti has a good sense of humor and is known for dancing to and from the printer in her office and making up some interesting songs that are all her own.   Reminds me of the saying, “laughter is the spice of life…”

Pool and Spa Safety Tips

Pool and Spa Safety Tips

Robin @ Kids Matter

Simple Steps Save Lives

Learn how simple safety steps save lives in and around pools and spas.

Parents and families can build on their current safety systems at pools and spas by adopting additional water safety steps. Adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience, because you can never know which one might save a child’s life—until it does.

Staying Close, Being Alert and Watching Children in and Around the Pool

·       Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water.

·       Teach children basic water safety tips.

·       Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.

·       Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa.

·       If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.

·       Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.

Learning and Practicing Water Safety Skills

·       Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.

·       Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly.

·       Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.

Having the Appropriate Equipment for Your Pool or Spa

·       Install a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and spa and use self-closing and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools.

·       Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa.

·       If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install door alarms and always use them. For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing pools or spas.

·       Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water.

·       Ensure any pool and spa you use has compliant drain covers, and ask your pool service provider if you do not know.

·       Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order.

·       Consider using a surface wave or underwater alarm.

For more information about how to pool safely please visit the Safe Kids website.

There is also an interactive video game, called “The Adventures of Splish and Splash”, and other educational and interactive materials for adults and children.

Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Child Interested in Reading during Summer Break

Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Child Interested in Reading during Summer Break

Robin @ Kids Matter

1.     Join a reading club at your local library.  This allows for interaction with their peers and may broaden the range of books from what they would normally read.

2.     Read the book then, watch the movie or cartoon.  It’s fun to see the words you’ve just read come to life on screen.  Afterwards, you can discuss the differences in the two.

3.     Have a book-themed celebration.  For example: have an ice cream party after reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Don’t treat it like a reward for reading, which makes reading seem like a chore.  It’s just as an occasional special experience.

4.     Help your child practice reading skills as part of everyday activities such as reading a menu, looking at a map, identifying letters on street signs, or reading a recipe.  This helps build vocabulary.

5.     During long trips e-books or books online may be a good option to help pass time.  There are many free books available for all ages.

6.     If you have relatives far away or your child has a friend who has moved out of town, encourage your child to write letters.  It’s a good way to practice spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  And it’s really fun to get letters back from them. 

7.     Challenge your child to write a biography.  It may be a biography of their own life, or of a celebrity or sports hero.  Younger children may draw pictures and tell you what to write for each one. 

8.     Change it up and have kids read a bedtime story to the parents.  This gives children a sense of pride in doing something that is usually the” parent’s job”. 

9.     Buy a notebook for your child to use as a journal.  It may be for everyday use, or just to record fun experiences from summer travels.  This is a very special keepsake that they will likely love to reflect on in later years. 

10.   Make a special trip to the library and let the kids pick out several books that interest them.  Getting a variety of books that catch their attention is good.  You can schedule library time every two weeks or so to change the books out for new ones.   The Association for Library service to Children (ALSC) offers a list of award winning books that will be helpful if you want suggestions.  They also have recommended book lists, games, puzzles, and other great library related suggestions for parents, children, and educators.

Happy reading!  Hope you have a wonderful summer!

Relay for Life

Relay for Life

Robin @ Kids Matter

What Is Relay for Life?

•Organized, overnight community fundraising walk.

•Teams of people camp out around a track.

•Members of each team take turns walking around the track.

•Food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie.

•Family-friendly environment for the entire community.

Because it’s a team event, individual participants are not required to be there the entire time. But it's so much fun; you'll find it hard to leave!

What Makes a Relay Event Special?

Many moments create the unique Relay experience. Event details vary by location, but all events have key moments in common:

Survivors Lap

During the Survivors Lap, all cancer survivors at the event take the first lap around the track, celebrating their victory over cancer while cheered on by the other participants who line the track. Relay for Life events also recognize and celebrate caregivers, who give time, love, and support to their friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers facing cancer.

Luminaria Ceremony

The Luminaria Ceremony takes place after dark, so we can remember people we have lost to cancer, honor people who have fought cancer in the past, and support those whose fight continues. Candles are lit inside of personalized bags and are placed around the Relay track as glowing tributes to those who’ve been affected by cancer. Learn More »

Fight Back Ceremony

This emotionally powerful ceremony inspires Relay participants to take action. The Fight Back Ceremony symbolizes the emotional commitment each of us can make in the fight against cancer. The action taken represents what we are willing to do for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for our community to fight cancer year-round and to commit to saving lives.

History of Relay for Life

In May 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, ultimately raising $27,000 to help the American Cancer Society fight the nation’s biggest health concern – cancer. A year later, 340 supporters joined the overnight event. Since those first steps, the Relay for Life movement has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, raising nearly $5 billion to fight cancer.

Please join us in support of finding a cure for cancer.

Relay For Life of Madison County

Friday, June 13, 2014

6:00PM to 6:00 AM

At Michael Caudill Middle School

101 Summit St, Richmond KY

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Rebecca A.

Robin @ Kids Matter

Meet Rebecca, the middle child of five, from Lexington, KY.  She grew up on a horse farm and rode horses a lot when she was younger.  Another common childhood activity was chasing peacocks.  She chased them all the time, but never caught one.   Her mom loves to tell the story of when Rebecca used to climb the rafters in the barn.  One day she fell from the rafters into a barrel.  Only her head and feet were sticking out at the top of the barrel.  Her older sister went for help and told her mom that Rebecca was, “broken in half”.  Luckily, she only had a few scratches from the fall.   She spoke fondly of her grade school, Athens-Chilesburg, which has been converted into an antique mall.  She said it’s interesting now, to walk through the school and point out to her children where she attended classes.   She and her husband of nine years travel a lot, and that though Arizona is beautiful with its red rocks and mountains, Kentucky is home. 

She is very proud of her three children.  Her oldest son just graduated High School. Her daughter is a sophomore in High School. Her youngest, Preston, is in the 4^th grade.  She has stressed the importance of volunteer work to her children, and likes them to take part in volunteer activities.  She said, “It’s important to teach them to help others and makes them feel better about themselves.”  A story from just last month shows that the lessons learned from this have had an impact.  While Preston was in the lunch line at school, the boy in front of him didn’t have the money to pay for his lunch.  Preston paid for it and he did it for the right reasons.  He didn’t even go home and boast about it, his teacher told Rebecca what he had done.  Her goal as a parent, “…is for my children to grow up and be able to be independent, successful, and genuinely good people in life”.

The family also has two rescued dogs, Toby and Romy.  Romy is technically her dog, but she is much closer to Toby.  Toby was rescued from an abusive home, and he still has health problems as a result of the abuse.  But, he is loved and well taken care of now.  Rebecca said, “Toby likes to ride in the car and he gets something to eat at every drive thru we go to, even at Starbucks!”

Rebecca used the Kids Now scholarship to get her degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education.  She worked and went to school, she was a busy woman, but stuck with it.  She said that one important lesson she taught her kids is that you should never stop learning, and they really like that.  She continues to demonstrate that as she attends EKU, working on a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Studies with a minor in Special Education.  She plans to graduate in the spring of 2016.  Good luck Rebecca!

Her first paying job was working at a pizza restaurant at the age of 16.  Since then, she has held a variety of jobs, and has always worked.  She said, “That’s how my family is.  We started working as soon as we were able to…”  Rebecca said her worst job ever was telemarketing; selling vacuums over the phone.  She left the job after a week.  I think we can empathize with that… it doesn’t sound very pleasant.   At the age of 22 she got a part-time job as a floater in a very well-run child care center.  Rebecca loved it so much that she decided to go to school, study, and make her career in that field.  She was working in a child care center and doing trainings part-time for the CCC.  When a position came open to work here full time, she applied and was hired.  So, she has been working in the Training/Resource & Referral Department ever since.  She is a Child Care Aware, Technical Assistance Specialist.  She said, “…being able to improve classrooms and the quality of programs children are in is very valuable.”

When I asked Rebecca if she had any regrets, she said, “…a million and we are not going over them.”  We all have regrets, but all we can do is learn from them and go forward doing better and learning in the process.  Happiness to her is, “… seeing how I can help somebody else so they will be happy.  Seeing their happiness makes me happy!”  That’s right in line with her advice... to smile and try to have fun, even when you don’t feel like it.  A smile usually makes you feel better!

Meet the Child Care Council Staff

Introducing Veronica R.

Robin @ Kids Matter

Veronica was born in Augusta, Georgia, but grew up in Darmstadt, Germany.  As you probably guessed, she is an, “Army brat”.  Both her mother and father were in the Army.  She didn’t come to Kentucky until she was around 14 years old.  She said, “At first I didn’t like Kentucky.  The southern people and way of life caused a kind of culture shock for me.  But, as I’ve gotten older… I can’t imagine living any place else.”   She still speaks a little German, but has lost most of it, because it’s not called for very often in Kentucky.  However, Veronica is part Dominican, so she also speaks Spanish.

Growing up overseas and in the military has had a great impact on her values regarding family and parenting.  She was raised in a very strict manner, with tight rules and responding with, “yes sir, no sir,” but was able to play outside freely, without having to worry about safety and things happening like we do now. She said, “As a child, I knew my place and respected it. I have tried to parent my children that same way.”  One of her fondest memories from childhood is when she was a girl scout and went to Paris for a field trip.  On that trip, her mother told her to be aware, that she would see more than many others will get to see in their lifetime.  Veronica said, “…it was true.  Remembering that time pushes me to achieve more and get back to that point.  Sometimes I imagine going back there and living my life out. “

The two things Veronica is most proud of in her life are graduating college; she was the first graduate in her family, and being a mom.  She said, “They are the best things I ever could have done.” She is the mother of 13 year old twins, a boy and a girl, a 7 year old boy, and is pregnant now.  She is due in early December and is not planning on finding out the sex of the baby before it is born.  She has a wonderful man in her life, who is the father of three children, making them the, “New Age Brady Bunch”.  She said, “He’s a superior guy who has helped me through the tough times.”  She is very proud of the children, saying they are all great athletes.  They play soccer, which she coaches.  She wouldn’t trade them for the world!

In her spare time, which she never seems to have enough of, she likes to travel.  That love probably comes from her childhood and being part of an Army family.  She loves to see landmarks, tour museums, and try different foods.  Sounds like fun!  However, Veronica may need to slow down a little on her travels.  She described herself as a, “speed demon”.  She said she has almost received about 60 speeding tickets.  She has been able to get out of most of them, and only has four on her record.  One judge even advised her to start walking instead of driving, because he was tired of seeing her.

Veronica came to work for the CCC in 2012.  She actually worked in the West Region for a few months before being transitioned to the East Region, without even moving her office.  Her advice to other eligibility workers is, “don’t take things personally in the office.  There is a difference between sympathy and empathy, and personal involvement in your work affects the way you see things.  Remember you can’t please everyone, and at 4:30 you have to leave your work in the office and go home.”  She said, “I see my future as still working at the CCC, just married and raising my family and winning the lottery would be great too!”