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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