A little about me......

Hello, , my name is Sheila, mother of three wonderful boys. My eldest son is a happily married father to my first grandbaby and a Paramedic here in Calgary. My youngest recently graduated High School and has been accepted into Mount Royal for his Bachelor Of Science. It is with great sorrow that I mention my precious son Brandon's passing... Thank you to all that have sent their condolences.

The early years......

It seems that I have been around children most of my life.  As with most young girls, I started "sitting" for young children at the age of 12.

After my oldest son was born, and my 6-month maternity leave was coming to an end, I found myself unable to part with him so soon, choosing instead not to return into the "workforce" and consider a new career as a Child Care Provider.

It wasn't a hard decision to make, how many other professions allowed me to spend my day with a handful of little people... the daily perks of children's laughter; wide-eyed innocence; hugs; kisses, and let us not forget being the tallest at my "work" space... well, the tallest until they reach the age of 12.

Following the birth of my youngest, I knew I would continue the tradition I had set forth with my older sons and continue operating Toddler Haven, providing my little man close interaction with other toddlers; and sharing the warmth of our home with other families.

What began well over 32 years ago has enriched my life!  Now that my own children are older and I no longer have extracurricular activities that cram the calendar of most busy parents, I enjoy the freedom to custom set a schedule that may work for familes in the years to come, a privilege that has been lovingly supported by my husband Gregg, my children, family and friends.

Not just a "hockey mom"

Although a dedicated childcare provider, I am a mom first. I kiss "boo-boo's"; snuggle during storytime; give piggy-back rides; paint with my fingers; sing childrens' songs; dance silly with little people; set up the most amazing Hot Wheel Track; practice ABC's; bake homemade treats; enjoy the sprinkler/water balloons in the Summer; tobogganing/snowmen in Winter and I can often be found enjoying the playground equipment alongside the children in my care ~ riding down the slide or swinging with a tyke too young to venture by themselves, safe upon my lap.

I have experience with Autism; Asthmatics; Attention Deficit Disorder; Hyperactivity; Speech Therapy and the care and treatment required while caring for a young burn victim. I ran the Health and Safety committee while working part-time at Canada Safeway; managed both my older sons' hockey teams for 4 years and served as Assistant Coordinator for their hockey league.

Knowledge gained through these adventures I bring with me to Toddler Haven.

Other interests.........

I have been a dog obedience instructor for 30 years and although I no longer compete personally at CKC registered shows I still enjoy training family/friends' dogs. Having a love of animals, our family pets consist of an assortment of dog/cats, African Cichlid fish, and a Leopard Gecko.

 I enjoy spending time outdoors relaxing; bike riding; hiking; swimming, Tae Kwon Do; strength training, reading, listening to music, playing cards and board games... although, I must admit Trouble can become very competitive while playing one on one against my husband ~ Hey, "Pop that magic bubble" :)

My most challenging outside interest would have to be this web site.  What started out as a "just for fun" attempt during the spring of 2004 to inform parents/caregivers about my day home, has become both a creative outlet for myself and I admit, a small obsession.  A special thank you to my eldest son,  when he understood my desire to build this website lacked the required knowledge to fully develop, he presented me with my first  HTML and Java Script books... it has now been 20 years and if you can view my website, I think I'm getting the hang of things.  Being the daughter of a Scot you could see where I prefer to save money and do it myself.....

The wonders of a child.......

Each child is exceptional and I can't help but be in awe watching them develop in their own unique way.  I look forward to each opportunity spent with little people, enjoying the wonders of a child, as they acquire their own qualities and capabilities.  I thrive to be a worthy mentor and am grateful to be part of each days new experiences and discoveries

Sheila                                                             


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