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When I first made the decision to quit my job to become a family childcare provider, the main thought that crossed my mind was, “I can do this better” than all of the other providers I have come in contact with. Not only can I do it better, I must do it better because our children need me to. My only objective was to work hard to make this dream a reality. Remembering the experiences that my child had suffered at the hands of other providers was painful, but it gave me the determination, courage and diligence to keep trying. If I were to be used by God as a vessel to work to improve the lives of our nation’s “little ones” then that was enough for me to feel fulfilled.

Where would I begin? After all, my BA degree was in Business Administration and Political Science with a minor in Accounting. Although I babysat when I was younger and worked in an after school program in high school as an assistant teacher, neither experience qualified me to own and operate my own business with children. After completing the 25- hour course, I decided to continue doing research. I believe that when you are working at a job you should always work toward your next job. Meaning, begin with the end in mind.

HHCLC Director,
Mrs. Tillman's Book

For example, when I began working as an in-home childcare provider, my dream was ultimately to own a childcare center. Therefore, I set up my apartment and prepared all the paperwork as if I were already running a childcare center. I was diligent and patient with children. As a child, doing chores and being responsible proved to be a wonderful foundation for developing a good work ethic.

When the children went home and my child went to sleep, I spent evenings and early morning hours fine-tuning my parent handbooks, announcements and newsletters. I wrote menus and fed the children meals with nutrition standards required by the United States Department of Agriculture. I designed a curriculum and daily schedules for each age group. I also began to look outside of the home for a larger space.

Before you embark upon this endeavor, be sure that you know why you are doing it. For example, ask yourself if you are attempting to break into this business because you think you will be instantly wealthy or is it because you sincerely want to improve the quality of lives for children and their families? Let me set the record straight - the childcare industry is not the business that will instantly bring you millions of dollars. As a matter of fact, you may never make millions owning and operating your own center. However, if you are in this business for the right reason and your heart and soul is into it, you will be rich in love, rich in spirit, rich in passion, rich in being the best that you can be for children – because by being your best you are able to give your best in return.

I was never guided by the motivation to “get wealthy”. Since the beginning, I have been driven by my passion to make this world a better place for children. Therefore, when I began looking outside of the home for a larger space, my objective was to be able to touch the lives of more children. My philosophy was if five children could be affected in a positive way; so could 45, 105 and prayerfully thousands.

I went to City Hall, other property managers, and contacted real estate agencies to inquire, but nothing seemed to be working out the way I thought it should. Most of the people that I talked to said that space was not available in a particular area of the city or that they didn’t want to take on the liability of housing a childcare center or “day care”, as it is often referred to. I also spoke to a licensing specialist and other people who were very discouraging. One lesson I learned as a child was that patience and persistence must take precedence in your life. In addition, what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us (Oliver Wendell Holmes).

So when things didn’t immediately work out the way I thought it should, I continued to pray and wait for God to lead me. At that point, I didn’t do anything but stop and listen. I stopped pounding the pavement. I stopped calling all of the realtors and property managers bugging them day and night and I stopped harassing the contacts that I had made at City Hall. I began to focus more on right here and now. I strived to make my in-home school the best place it could be. I worked at home for approximately ten months. On October 8, 1993, I received a phone call from the property manager that I had spoken with seven months earlier. He informed me that a childcare center located in an apartment complex had gone out of business after twenty-five years. He also said that he heard many good things about my in-home childcare. The next words that came out of his mouth changed my life forever, “Would you like to have the center?”

I was notified that the other center lost a child, but was eventually found eight hours later. It was clear at that point that I wanted the location. My family was very instrumental in helping me clean and organize the center. My mother, who was a first grade teacher for over 25 years, was very helpful in setting up the center based on the Division of Licensing requirements. I borrowed $5000 from my Godfather to pay the first and last months rent. We also used $6000 in savings to purchase supplies and equipment. I never attempted to apply for a loan from the bank or SBA. I believed that if it was for me, God would give me a way to work it out. We were blessed to be able to use the existing tables, chairs and cabinets that the previous center left.

During November through January, I was able to make an appointment with the Division of Licensing to get pointers on how to operate a center. Although the visit was disappointing, it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened. I spoke to the licensing specialist about my plans. Then she told me that many people come to her also wanting to open a center. However, she discourages most of them and I wouldn’t be any different. She commented that she had two centers in the past that went out of business. She stated it was extremely difficult to own and operate a childcare center and it was not a get rich scheme which many people think. In fact, she flat out said that I could not do it. My background was not in early childhood education and therefore, I had no expertise for the childcare industry. In addition, she contended that people go to school for years and still are not successful.

What she didn’t know about me was that my idea of success was not “to get rich”. It was working smart, being the best person that I could be and living each day like it was the first day of my life. In addition, anyone who knows me knows that I welcome a challenge. As I sat there listening to her say that I couldn’t do it I remembered reading the book the, The Little Engine That Could” to my son the night before. That children’s book is a wonderful tool for teaching children and adults about courage and self-determination. I did not leave her office as she had hoped, feeling defeated and in despair. I left with faith knowing that with God all things are possible. As I walked out of the door into the parking lot I began chanting, “I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!…I know I can!”