For more than 37 years, Sandy Morris has cared for children from under 6 years old up to sixth graders.
‘It was not something I had planned to do, but I was home with my other children and neighbors started asking if I could watch their children,? said Morris. ‘So, I started watching their children, then other people found out I was watching children and then it sort of blossomed. And I was in a good location close to the school, walkable, and that’s how it started.?
Morris handled the first 20 years by herself. Once her mother retired, she began to help her out.
‘She was very good with children,? she said.
To keep a ratio of one adult per six kids, as per regulation, Morris soon began to hire more help.
‘It is the good help that made me do it for as long as I did,? said Morris. ‘They were wonderful people that I had.?
As the years went by, children got harder to watch, which made her hire even more help.
‘I not only had me and another person, but young high school girls who would help me after school, through snack and play time, then help outside on the swings, and outside play,? she said. ‘That was really a great help.?
Morris said she also had a lot of teachers? kids, so she took summers off, which also added to why she could do the job for so long.
‘I dearly loved all the children and got to be real good friends with lots of the parents, that I am still really close with,? said Morris.
‘I probably couldn’t have found a better profession. I went through secretarial school and graduated, and then I fell into this (daycare) and never ever went out to work.?
Morris started out only making 50 cents per hour, but as the years increased, so did the pay.
She and her co-workers always enjoyed feeding the kids? breakfast. The two favorite menu items included French toast and pancakes.
Because she was licensed through the state, they would have to come out and observe the food that was cooked.
‘It was good, because they were making sure the kids were eating the proper protein, fruit, and vegetables,? she noted.
Morris said perhaps the reason children got harder to watch over the years was because they got smarter.
‘I truly believe that the kids have gotten smarter, but they also don’t listen as well,? said Morris. ‘Years ago, I would tell them something and they would listen and obey, but you were also allowed to do more discipline back then also … but they are still lovable.?
She also said kids became harder to watch and entertain due to technology.
‘Kids used to be happier with less, than they are today, but that’s normal, I guess,? she said.
One of her favorite memories was picking apples with the kids from three trees in her yard.
‘We took them with the kids to the cider mill to press the apples and they let the kids each jug their own cider. We got almost 100 gallons from those trees,? said Morris
In later years, she focused her attention on pre-school kids and let the older kids go on to Latchkey.
‘As you get older, you get more tired ? and kids are a lot of work too,? she said.
Morris said she never regretted not becoming a secretary.
‘I think that I really sit well with this position, I love children and I have a lot of patience, so I can’t imagine sitting down all day at a desk,? she said
Morris’s last day was June 8, and she had a retirement party June 9. Her husband retired seven years ago after working in finance at General Motors.
‘I told her it’s time to move on with our lives and stop watching kids,? he said.
Morris has 3 children: John, 43; Steven, 40; and Laura, 38. She also now has 11 grandchildren.
What is Morris going to do now that she is retired?
‘I want to travel a bit, do some sewing, and of course still watch my grandchildren.?