there were just more Teachers like you, these kids now days would have a change in this crazy place we live. I truley respect you and what you do. It is not easy now days.

I understand what you mean about being a surrogate to your kids.  I use to work in day care for a short while.  There was one beautiful little boy there with a very troubled home life.  The child was sweet when he wanted to be but as he was taught violence at home that is how he communicated any negative feeling at the preschool.  There were times we had to sit and hold him in the time out chair to keep him from hurting the other kids.  We made it a point to try and help him understand why it's wrong to hurt others and how to control his anger.  It was tough going but eventually we made some progress.  Before I left he had started separating himself from the other kids by sneaking off in to the office when he felt overwhelmed.  (technically he should not have been in there alone but we decided to bend the rules in his case.)  Eventually child welfare finally got around to removing him from the home and placing him with an aunt.  I still wonder how he is sometimes. I hope he is well and has managed to overcome his anger issues.

I remember he really took to me but I was only there as part of a training program.  I had to leave once my training was over.  sadly I could find no day care openings after leaving, or at least none that weren't affiliated with a christian church .