Someone Special

There are times when God brings someone into your life at the exact moment you really need it.  So it was when I met my friend Linda.  Ben was a little over three and had been in preschool for a month.  And he was on the verge of getting kicked out.  He clearly did not want to be there and was doing everything possible to make sure he got sent home every day.  We gave him consequences at home, but nothing seemed to work.  And it was increasingly and glaringly clear to us that the preschool had no desire to help us through it.  They wanted him out. 

We needed a new daycare situation fast.  A coworker recommended her mom to me, except that her mom couldn't do five days a week.  Then she mentioned that her aunt also did daycare.  Linda was my coworker's aunt. 

The minute I walked into her house and met Linda, I knew it was the place for Ben.  There was no chaos, the kids there were happy, the place was clean.  Ben started the next day.  We loved Linda so much we moved Lia there as soon as we could give notice at her daycare. 

Now, almost four years later, Linda is like family to us.  Even though we've had to move to a daycare closer to our house once the kids started school, the kids always ask me when they can go visit Linda.  Linda's cool demeanor, take-no-prisoners-attitude, and generosity and warmth provided a wonderful atmosphere for my babies.  She was absolutely what Ben (and I) needed those few years ago.  And she never gave up on us even though these were years before Feingold, when Ben's behavior was still a major problem. 

This past summer I took my kids to Linda's house on Fridays to break up the summer monotony, so they could visit Linda and their friends.  I think it says something that Linda is always on my kids' invitation list for birthday parties.  You can always tell someone's character by watching how little kids react to them.  Linda's character is impecable. 

I am so thankful for Linda's influence in our lives and I know that she will be a friend for many years.  And if anyone needs a daycare in Elk Grove, let me know and I will give you her number!  (And Linda, sorry again for insisting on a picture with the kids at 7:30am when you weren't expecting it!)