Heather M.

Meet Heather

• Comfortable with pets
• Has a car

I'm currently a stay at home mom, whose spouse works several days a week from home. This schedule has freed up some time for me, some of which I'd love to fill with babysitting. Long before we had a family (2 kids, currently 4, and 20 months), every job and internship I've had, as well as volunteer work, has revolved around kids. June 2016 will mark one year since we closed our children's boutique of 7 years. During that time, while running our business, I came into daily contact with parents, grandparents, caregivers, kids and babies; it helped keep me on my toes as far as ages and stages of child development. Throughout the year leading up to our business opening, I babysat for 2-4 families at any given time. Most of these families knew one another, and often their kids were together under my care. Ages ranged from 2-9. Read more During the past two decades (yeah, I'm a mom of "advanced maternal age"), I've earned my Bachelor's in Studio Art, as well as my Master's in Art Therapy. During college and grad school, I spent plenty of time babysitting. Additionally, I held a variety of child-based occupations. Some of these jobs included: -interning as an art therapist in conjunction with the Child Life program on the pediatric oncology unit at Rush Medical Center -art therapist / counselor at a residential treatment center for teen girls -art therapist / primary therapist on an acute, inpatient, psychiatric unit for kids, ages 2-18 -art therapist / classroom assistant at the JCC's program for young children with autism, ages 6 mo - 6 years Some of the children that I babysat during the earlier years are now in their 20's, some hitting 30 if we go back to my junior high and high school years, (how does it happen so fast?!) I've also spent the last two months temporarily assisting a family with both childcare and household needs. Those kiddos are ages 1 and 4. As parents, we have a very creative home, and incorporate some kind of project nearly every day. I feel that almost every moment has the potential to be a teaching moment (without the kids ever realizing it)! We're not afraid to use the word "no," and time outs do happen. We try to eat as healthfully as we can. All that said, some days absolutely involve TV and chocolate! We try our best, and believe in "all (or maybe "most") things in moderation." Basically, I could sit and play, laugh, create, imagine, build, and so much more, with kiddos all day!

Trust & safety

Experience

References

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