This shirt got me thinking about the early childhood profession. Based on conversations I have had with numerous providers across the country over the last year, I think I am safe in saying that we as providers don't often find ourselves in a WE > ME situations but rather THEM vs. ME or THEM > ME situations.
The THEM can take on all shapes and forms. "THEM" can be parents or licensors or decision makers or family members. The list can go on and on. The "THEM" that I hear about most often are the ones who monitor our programs. I hear constantly from providers how hard it is to do their jobs because of people who set policies they have to follow in their childcare programs. Quite often the people in decision or policy making positions have no first hand experience in an early child hood setting let alone in a family child care setting. Why is it people who have never done family child care feel comfortable making decisions about our profession without thoroughly researching it or at the very least talking to family child care providers directly before making decisions?
I can only assume it has something to do with the fact that our profession is not always thought of as a profession but rather as babysitting. When it is thought of as babysitting it changes the amount of professionalism that is tied to child care. Anyone can be a babysitter right?
I truly believe that in order for child care providers to experience less frustration caused by "them" we as providers have to come together and speak out. We can't rely on others to speak up for us. The most important reason is because they are not the experts in the filed of child care - we are. We have the knowledge and the experience to advocate for ourselves individually and as a whole profession. It starts with simple conversations with friends and family about what we do and then moves onto anyone else that we have the opportunity to talk to about our profession. It's kind of like the Breck shampoo commercial from the 70's. "I told 2 friends and they told 2 friends who told 2 friends... We need to start the conversation.
The state where I live is facing some rather significant changes related to the Early Care and Education field. Decisions are being made that are not in the best interests of child care providers but more importantly not in the best interest of children. The We>Me shirt really got me to thinking, what if all early childhood professionals took this on as their motto? What if we all joined together with the same mindset and stood up for our own children as well as the children in our programs? What if we all joined together to save childhood? What if all the decisions we made that affect children were made for the good of the child?
I have vowed to do all I can to see that the decisions based in my state are for the good of the children, what are you going to do for the children in your state?
