So, for those of you that don't know, I am an education major and I love working with kids all year long. So when summer hits, I apply to daycares, summer camps, you name it. This past summer I worked full time as a floater in daycare and loved nearly every minute of it.
But when you work in daycare, you establish habits and routines that are admittedly hard to break when you leave. I hadn't even noticed I was still in daycare mode until recently. But now that I've realized it, I've begun to annoy even myself but I can't stop!
Listen, I may have chosen they daycare life, but I need to leave it behind me when dealing with other adults. If you've ever worked in childcare, this article is about to get painfully relatable.
1. Calling everyone 'friends'.
I called groups of kids my 'friends' in order to get their attention or address them as a group. And now I do it to other adults.
2. Cleaning up after people constantly.
I am used to following tiny humans around and cleaning up their messes as they go and I find myself doing it to my roommates at home all of the time.
3. Asking people if they're ready for a nap.
I am used to prepping tiny humans for nap time around noon every day. So when adults get grumpy, my daycare brain automatically assumes they just need a blanket and to knock out for a couple of hours.
4. Keeping snacks on you at all times.
Tiny humans get cranky when they're hungry and frankly, so do adults. I always have a snack in my backpack, purse, pockets, car. If you need snacks, I have them, I promise.
5. Two words: Hand sanitizer.
I love kids, but they are germy. I have hand sanitizer in my pocket at all times. If you sneeze in the same room as me, I will offer it to you.
6. Using the teacher voice.
I am always using my teacher voice on my friends to get their attention or prove my point. Usually, it is accompanied by my appropriately named 'teacher face'.
7. Keeping a flexible schedule.
Ever kept a room full of one-year-olds on a schedule minute by minute? Yeah, me either. I'm used to adapting my schedule to fit the flow of the day, even when I don't need to.
8. Singing EVERYTHING.
I turn everything into a song by accident to make it catchy so I remember it. So much so I sing to myself in Target. Frequently.
9. Calling people by first and last name when I'm unhappy.
Listen, nothing lets a tiny human know they're in trouble like using their first and last name. So when I want to let people know I am unhappy with them I pull out the full name like I'm someone's mommy.
10. Calling people cutsie nicknames.
I called half my kids 'sweetheart', 'honey', 'cutie', etc. I do this to other adults when I can't remember their names and it comes off borderline creepy.
11. Being over-prepared.
I have a purse that is full to capacity constantly. I have anything you could possibly need all day in there just in case we would ever need it.
