Working as a teacher at a daycare has been one of the hardest but best jobs I’ve ever had. You have a class full of children that rely on you and grow with you. You do so much with and for these children that sooner than you know it, it’s almost as if they’re your own. Even with doing all of the things we do and getting paid a lot less than we should, many people like to call us “babysitters.” So, here’s a list of 15 things that we are because we are early childhood educators, NOT babysitters:

1. Facilitators

We solve any and every dispute whether it’s over a piece of food on the floor or a toy truck.

2. Teachers

We literally help them learn basically everything that they’ll need to know as they get older.

3. Potty trainers

We teach them how to go on the potty and get as excited as they do when they learn.

4. Booboo kissers

We kiss all booboos... Even ones that may not exist.

5. Hype men

Our favorite word is ‘wow’ and we get excited about everything they accomplish. We even get excited about everyday things, too.

6. Waiters

We serve them all of the 800 snacks that they ask for each day and even share some of our own snacks occasionally.

7. Magicians

We make things appear out of thin air just about every day.

8. Storytellers

Some stories are told twice or maybe even 30 times.

9. Singers

Everything is a song.

10. Actors

The number of times we’ve had to act genuinely scared when the kids say “boo” or “roar” is astounding and we should all receive Oscars, if I’m being honest.

11. Friends

We’re definitely your children’s favorite people and it’s okay.

12. Hairstylists

No, their hair doesn’t look so good at the end of the day because it stayed the same since you dropped them off, it looks good because we’re constantly fixing it.

13. Comedians

Hearing your children’s laughter is what brightens our day.

14. Nose wipers

There can never be too many tissues available.

15. Giant kids

Our imaginations are far too beautiful and complex than most adults because we have to keep up with the little ones.