The End of a Chapter

It's apparent if you are following along this blog that my life has unexpectedly had a hiccup or two lately.

One of those hiccups has led to the upcoming end of my seven years in home child care.

We have begun talking about moving and what that means so that the children aren't totally blindsided.
The 2 and nearly 3 year old don't quite get the concept of moving, but they know that they won't be coming here after we get to the star on the calendar.

Yes, we put a star on moving day, partly because my son wanted to signify the day some how and because I find visuals help immensely with children. They all know they will be going to someone else's house for day care.  I don't think they fully realize that it is for good this time, not like when I have gone away or had my surgery.

The nearly 4 year old, I suspect some of the grief he is causing his Mom at pick ups is related to processing the two massive changes about to come up in his life.  Firstly William and I moving, and we have become quite good friends with his family so see them a lot during non day care hours.  Secondly he starts JK in the fall.
Since his mom works near where I live, even if I had been staying and continuing work, in the fall he would have finished care with me anyway.
The one year old, well thankfully she is an easy going little girl so should make the transition to her new provider easily.

The 2 and almost 3 year olds are going to a provider I adore and am so pleased she could take over and continue what I started.

It's still rough.  They are like extended family, but closer.

William is taking it pretty well.  We have had a lot of transitionary children come and go these past two years.
He has also seen through the pictures some of the kids who were here a long time, but left just as he was born or  a year or two afterwards.
He is sad.  He will miss the current day care crew dearly, but the concept of moving isn't new to him.
He still calls the house on the corner Christof's old house and they haven't lived there in 2.5 years and he talks about how Emily (was in care with me from 21 months till she moved) moved to England and that's coming up on 2 years in October.

I started working on the project I making for kids good bye gifts.

Seven years is a long time and for chunks of that time most of the children I have looked after have been with me 2-3 years.
There are a lot of awesome pictures and memories.
I can't imagine what I am going to be like on the last day of work if I was already bawling as I put the pieces of the project together.

It will be very very weird not working from home.  Next to working at Swiss Chalet through high school and college, home day care is the longest I have ever worked at a single job.
Yes I worked in child care centres for 5 years leading up to working from home, but for 1-2 year stints at each place.

It's the end of a chapter.  The beginning of the new chapter is some what frightening, but also exciting.

The sadness of leaving those behind that I love and cherish will fade, but the memories created will always remain.
Also I will be visiting from time to time and with luck we will be able to see everyone I hope.

It is going to be a very hard two days on the 15th and 16th.
It will likely be harder then the move itself.