I grew up with a mother who was an in-home childcare provider, I babysat frequently, and now work at a daycare during summer vacation as well. Whether you work at a daycare, are an in-home childcare provider, or just occasionally babysit, here are seven things that you probably understand about working with kids.

1. Silence.

They say that silence is golden. While this can be true during nap time, silence is a scary thing when the kids are playing. It often means that the kids are doing something that they should not be -- and hoping you don't notice. So really, silence can be one of the most dangerous things from a child.

2. Kids say crazy things.

Whether it's a joke that they think is funny or a situation that is misinterpreted, kids do say the darndest things. For example, I work at a daycare, and one day a kid told me that his dog is a Republican. Where does that even come from?

3. The biggest messes often come from the littlest kids.

Have you ever seen how big of a mess a one-year-old can make? Whether it's with their toys or throwing their food across the room, little kids tend to make a larger mess than the bigger kids do. At least the big kids clean up after themselves...most of the time.

4. Kids have very selective hearing.

There are many times when I'm at work where I can be screaming a child's name at them while two feet away, and it seems like they can't hear me. I've honestly wondered if the parents call them a different name at home. However, as soon as you whisper, "who wants candy?" in a room full of screaming kids, every single child has hearing like a cat.

5. Groups larger than 3 can be very loud and very dangerous.

In my class at the daycare, I almost always had 12-15 kids every single day. They got mad each time I would not allow them to play in groups larger than 3. However, for my own sanity, I can't let them play in groups any bigger while in the classroom, or it's like a war zone.

6. Working with kids is not much different than working in a zoo.

Whether you have two kids or fifteen, you understand that kids are crazy and have an unreal amount of energy. They run in circles, jump up and down, scream at the top of their lungs, and cry. A lot. Sometimes I have questioned if I'm still in a daycare or if I'm actually working at the zoo.

7. You wouldn't trade your time with the kids for anything.

The kids drive me totally insane 99% of the time, but there is nothing else I would rather be doing. I love coming home everyday covered in glue, paint, and glitter from craft time. I love seeing the looks on the kids' faces when they finally understand the days of the week or what number comes after 24. Watching the kids grow and change every day is something that I will never get tired of, even when I have a rough day at work. It is so tiring, but in the end it is all worth it.