Childcare, in a Family Way
When I stopped by to visit with local little young’uns Kyler, Sam, and Cora on a beautiful February afternoon, they were busy painting cardboard on the sunny screened porch. They dipped their brushes in spill-proof paint cups and sang and danced as they made art. Like most murals created by 2 year-olds, it was perfect, and they were proud to show it off to me. As I sat down at the kitchen table to chat with Patricia Lopez, her husband and business partner Gustavo Sanchez ably herded the kids into hand-washing and changing activities to drawing with markers.
“My ‘Tavo!” said Sam, patting and hugging Gustavo on the leg. Kyler took lids off of markers while I talked, as Cora danced around the boys, then brought a tangled mass of toys for Gustavo to separate. O, the youthful exuberance!
“They have a lot of energy because they just got up from their nap,” Patricia explained, as all three started merrily bouncing into the living room.
We hopped right through the house, past toys and books and puzzles, onto a second screened porch, where the kids showed me their new giant dollhouse. (Color me jealous. I had the Barbie townhouse, and it was nothing compared to this, although, come to think of it, it did have an elevator.) Blocks and foam provide building play on the porch. The play kitchen in the real living room appeared especially inviting.
Looking around, you can’t help but notice that this place is childproof, with kid-friendly spaces and centers in every room. That’s no accident, but a result of carefully following the regulations set by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education.
“Ocracoke Child Care Family Home,” as Patricia and Gustavo call it, received its official state home daycare license on January 14th after many months of inspections and home improvements. Ocracoke parents now have a new, year-round childcare option.
A state childcare license is required if you care for more than two children in your home who aren’t your own, and you do it for pay. A licensed home daycare can take in up to five preschoolers, plus three school-age children, at the same time. It can also accept Purchase-of-Care vouchers for subsidized childcare for low-income workers.
Patricia and Gustavo didn’t intend to open a home childcare when they moved from California to Ocracoke a year ago. Patricia came to the island to accept a fulltime teaching position at Ocracoke Child Care. OCC board member Teresa O’Neal and then-OCC teacher Juju Baker had both worked with Patricia way back when (in the 90’s!) on another coast at Malibu Methodist Nursery School.
In the meantime, Patricia worked as an Herbal Life distributor, and spent time with her grandchildren in Bakersfield, CA, where Gustavo owned a martial arts studio.
“I’ve always wanted to live on an island,” she said about the appeal of moving across the country to Ocracoke. “I also wanted to go back to work with children – it’s my passion.”
When Ocracoke Child Care closed unexpectedly last August, some parents asked Patricia about babysitting their kids. She agreed because she loves the kids, and needed the money.
“We don’t have any income unless we’re working,” she said. “It was very hard for us when [OCC] closed. I was expecting to work ten more years and then retire.”
But even when their jobs disappeared (Gustavo worked at OCC, too), Patricia felt committed to Ocracoke and its children.
“We burned all our bridges in California to come here,” she said. “We decided to live here and we’ll do what it takes to stay.”
Doing what it takes means having their rented house brought up to state standards for a home childcare. Among other improvements, Patricia and Gustavo had to remove a gas heater, place gates to separate the kids from the kitchen stove, and install approved fire extinguishers. Patricia, who has a certificate from UCLA in early childhood education, also took continuing education classes last fall to help with the licensure.
“I’m really excited for them,” said Allison O’Neal, whose daughter, Chloe, attends the home childcare two days a week. “They worked hard to get their home up to the required standards to be licensed. They stepped in to fill a hole, and offered a much-needed service in the community. And the service they are offering is a caring and quality one.”
Patricia and Gustavo have plans to put up a fence and approved playground equipment in the front yard. For now, the kids can play “outside” on the two screen porches, or walk around the neighborhood with Patricia and Gustavo. They like an adventure to the little beach over the third bridge at Oyster Creek.
“I like Ocracoke, I like the lifestyle,” Patricia said. What does she miss about California? That’s easy: grandchildren, shopping, and farmers’ markets. Though their two grandkids, ages 5 and 8, will come to Ocracoke to spend the summer this year, and Patricia has adapted to shopping online, she still finds the lack of fresh veggies on Ocracoke to be a “challenge.”
Gustavo has also embraced island living. There are fourteen kids and four adults enrolled in his Judo classes at Angie’s Gym, and he’s an active member of the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. He’s also tax-preparer, and helps Ocracoke’s native Spanish speakers to do their taxes. He plans to hold some classes in recordkeeping so his customers can be ready for next year’s tax season.
Being bi-lingual is an asset on Ocracoke, and Patricia and Gustavo speak both Spanish and English to the children.
“In the last hour of the day, when they are getting tired, we watch bi-lingual music videos,” she said.
Actually, these kids will be tri-lingual. Sam and Cora use sign language to communicate with their father, Jeffrey Walters, who is deaf. The twins are teaching their playmates and caregivers to sign as well.
“We are all learning sign language,” said Patricia. “It’s a good thing about being a teacher – you get to learn a lot.”
Patricia gave me a copy of Ocracoke Child Care Family Home’s handbook, which includes their mission statement: “We believe that young children learn best through play, through hands-on experience, through having their ideas and feelings validated, and through being allowed to explore a world that applauds their individuality.”
The parents who are using their services are happy with the home childcare.
"It's great to have such a welcoming, fun place for our kids to go," said Nicole O'Neal. "Kyler loves going there and we are very thankful for them!"
“The twins love Patricia and ‘Tavo,’” said their mom, Jessica Caldwell. “If you have to leave them, it is wonderful to leave them in such a welcoming home.”
