Working at a daycare is awesome! (Although, a lot of the time, it doesn't even feel like work!) You get to embrace your inner-kid and have entertainment your whole shift! There's some disgusting messes and defiant little attitudes sometimes, but all in all, I've seen that it's one of the most rewarding jobs in the world!

You know you work in a daycare if...

1. You get paid to play and be a kid alongside the actual kids.

Monopoly with the older kids, doll babies with the little ones, you're basically paid to play! And who's complaining? Definitely not me! Sometimes I think I am having more fun than the kids - they're probably rolling their eyes saying, "I guess I can make one more thing in my kitchen for her. Ugh, she's so immature. Does she even realize this isn't real food?!"

2. You've seen and are (sorta) immune to messes of all sorts.

I would almost take the bathroom messes over the dining room messes. Give me a diaper, but food put in cups of milk and peanut butter all over faces... that's when I have to look the other way. Isn't that a lot of working at a daycare - just shaking your head and looking away?! They'll grow out of the food messes... we can only hope.

3. You've honed in on your kid talk and can simplify things on the fly.

The younger the kids you work with, the more you'll have to speak what might seem like another language to outsiders. For instance, "potty" instead of "bathroom" is a big vocab switch. Going along with the new words, you've got to put things simply to your kids as well. "Go put your stuffed animal in your cubby because we're not playing with it right now," turns into "Teddy needs to take a nap. Let's lay him down in your cubby." And captive ladybugs that have stopped moving due to constant prodding and dropping by the kids (inevitably dead) is just "sleeping" as well. (I guess there's a lot of things that sleep at the daycare - teddy bears, ladybugs - everything seems to sleep except for the kids at nap time. The teachers would love to take a nap, though!)

4. You have your future parenting all figured out.

If you're around kids all day (or even for just a few hours!), you definitely get a good taste of what it will be like to be a parent someday. You see what discipline works (proud member of Team Timeout right here!), what activities preschool-aged kids enjoy, how much food a two-year-old will eat, what triggers meltdowns... the list goes on and on! Pinterest helps a little, but hands-on experience is the best way to plan how your little ones will grow up someday! (And it prepares your patience levels, too!)

5. You've learned all the "My Little Pony" names.

... or in my case, constantly need reminding from a three year old which one is which. It amazes me how these little kids can remember all the different names. They're able to tell you without any hesitation that the pink one with the little balloons on her butt is Pinkie Pie and the blue one with the rainbow mane and tail is Rainbow Dash. Do you know there's a difference between a unicorn, pegasus, and pony? Twilight is my favorite. I think. Is that the purple one?

6. You're laughing... all... day.

I don't know about your experiences, but it seems like the funniest things said are always by a little two or three year old sitting on the potty. It might not even be about the potty or what they're doing, but it's just always hilarious! Looking at the world through their little, naive eyes is funny and refreshing, which is just another reason why getting paid to listen to their point of views all day seems like a crime. They should be the ones getting paid! The things they say will come back in my head days later and I'll still be laughing! If you want pure, clean comedy, visit a daycare!

7. You have learned how to multitask.

You're changing a diaper, you're settling a squabble, you're telling someone to get off the table. Now you're washing your hands, you're settling yet another fight over a toy, you're comforting someone missing mom, you're trying to clean up the room... there's a million things going on at once. And you're the sole provider in the room most times. You can't give little Jimmy responsibility - he's literally two. But you do it - you juggle all those tasks and every kid goes home safe and happy every day.

8. Your hands get really, really dry.

Speaking of changing diapers and washing your hands, the daycare will wreak havoc on your skin! You're constantly washing your hands after diaper changes, after wiping noses, before handing out snack. In the winter time, my hands are chapped and bleeding. But it's only a small price to pay. Gotta lather on that lotion!

9. You are constantly pushing kids on the swing.

"Didn't I just push you 20 seconds ago?!" If you're the teacher put on swing duty, you are never off the hook. Like ever. You are stuck the whole playground time moving from one swing to the next. One by one, kids start learning how to pump their legs and no longer require pushing. (Although they still convince you they need a boost to get them started!) But then there's always the kids that purposely drag their feet when you're not looking to slow down quicker. Crazies.

10. You love the calmness when you get home, but you miss seeing those smiling faces.

It gets chaotic, sure, but taking care of all those cute kids is completely worth it! You grow so attached to each and every child you watch and you love being able to have even a small part in their growing-up years. Getting to see them learn their alphabet, interact with their friends, and learn about this big world around them teaches you a lot. (You also learn that there's no way in the world you'll want 10 kids in your house someday!) Breaks are nice and weekends are looked forward to, but having a daycare job can't be beat!