A new day

Working in a day care (early childhood education center) has been a change from years at a desk. Changing diapers, wiping tears and runny noses, and going for walks around the room with my two favorite girls is a new way of looking at life. The paperwork I left behind is not important any more, the kids are.

When I walk into the classroom for my shift, my two favorite girls, both of whom are almost two years old, come running over and give me hugs and grab my hands. We proceed to walk around the room several times. It has become a ritual and I can't tell them no. The unconditional love is just wonderful to receive from these ladies.

On my first day at the new job, I was sitting on the floor and leaning over to pick up something (toys or the like) and there was one of my girls standing by me. All of a sudden I feel this very light brushing of a hand on my bald head. I am the only bald guy there. She was just trying to figure out what happened to my hair. Bald may not always be beautiful, but it certainly can be a novelty. The next day, in a different classroom with other kids, I found my bald head being the center of attention again as the kids drove several toy cars and trucks over my head.

All this serves to remind me that I am the oldest person at the center, my coworkers are about the same age as my children and I have more fun with the kids than with any of the adults in the building.