Hello! It's time again for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, and I am happy you stopped by to join in.
From August 1977 to June 2000, I was a stay-at-home mom to my three sons, and truly, that was my main career and passion.
For 16 of those years, I also ran a licensed daycare out of my home called Kidcrossing, specializing in infants, toddlers, and twos.
Living in Silicon Valley, I saw a growing need as more and more moms entered the workforce and needed reliable childcare. At the same time, I was facing instability in my marriage and realized I needed a way to support myself if it ever came to that. (which it did)
And with my son Michael’s disability, leg braces, and medical needs at the time, traditional daycare wasn’t an option for him. So I built something that allowed me to be present for him and provide for my family.
Looking back, I can see how God was already making a way before I even knew I would need one.
What started as a need became a thriving business.
When I first opened, I charged $88 a week per child. By the time I closed to become a live-out nanny, I was charging $275 a week per child for six children.
Let’s just say… location, location, location! 😄
Now I don't know how people can afford childcare.
2. Of the jobs you've had throughout life, which was your favorite?
My own mom stayed home, and that example shaped me more than I probably realized at the time. One thing led to another: being a mom led to running a daycare, which led to becoming a nanny once my boys were grown and off to college and the military.
I loved my daycare years, and I especially loved my 12 years as a nanny. My Nanny kids are now in their mid-20s, which makes me feel both proud… and slightly old. 😉
One recently earned her PhD from Northwestern University and works in sustainable chemistry. Her twin brother is a senior mechanical engineer in the aircraft industry, and their younger sister is also a chemical engineer.
Watching them grow up has been one of the sweetest “paychecks” of my life. I'm still close with the parents. They are an extended part of my family.
For the after-school talks, the sick days, the summer, the Christmas vacations… all of it. My sons never had to wonder if I’d be home; they knew. And to me, that was worth more than any title or paycheck.
Well… loving children, for starters. But also running a full-fledged business out of my home.
I had contracts, policies, and routines (because toddlers without structure? No, thank you 😄). I even put together a monthly newsletter that parents actually enjoyed reading.
We built a little family-like community, annual alumni summer BBQs at the park, Christmas parties, and Halloween BBQs during our neighborhood block party (which just so happened to be excellent advertising… totally by accident… of course 😉).
I stayed full with a waiting list, especially for infants, and created a monthly curriculum for my toddlers and twos to keep their little minds busy and growing.
Did it require special education?
Yes, I earned my early childhood education certificate, kept up with the required yearly training in child development, nutrition, and safety, and business classes.
Because behind every “just playing with kids” or "you're just a babysitter" comment… was a woman running a successful business. 😊
A few days after graduating from high school, I began my working journey at California Dental Service in San Francisco. The position offered me a salary that was notably high for someone of my age, allowing me to gain financial independence quickly. With my newfound income, I was able to secure my first apartment, which was a junior one-bedroom with an ocean view. Additionally, the following year, I made the significant purchase of a brand new car. I loved living on my own with no roommates. I honestly think those TV shows, " That Girl " and the Mary Tyler Moore show, influenced me. Fun fun times, and it gave me the confidence I would need years later when I would be solely responsible for my three young sons and myself.
I also worked part-time at Macy’s in the Children’s World department. Just 13 hours during the week and a 5-hour Saturday shift. The real perk? Keeping my boys clothed with that employee discount!
I’ve always had a little side hustle going direct sales, crafts… you name it. I guess you could say I’ve always been a bit of a scrapper. Oh, and I have been with Avon since the 1980's. I no longer sell to people - I order once in a while to keep my discount. I keep waiting for them to fold, and after 135 years, they're still plugging away.
My last business venture was with Kannaway in 2010, a CBD, hemp, and wellness company with a yearly trip to Denver for the Cannabis Cup. Now that was a trip. 😇
I found myself officially “retired” when all three of our adult children fell on hard times, moved back home at the same time, and the house was full again! It was a delicate situation, especially since they were used to living on their own and wanted to still live life on their own terms. (Cooking bacon at 2am while the rest of the house is sleeping) It took a lot of adjusting as we navigated this temporary season together. There were some challenges, but after a couple of years, they all found their own places again, and I was so happy for them to leave. It was a wild ride, but I’m grateful for the memories we made during that time! Now they appreciate it all, with one of them knowing what it is like to have never-ending house quests. So what goes around eventually comes around.
And when I look back over it all, I can see how each season had its purpose, even the unexpected ones.
