By Jolene Farley
Kayla Vis has operated a day care in her rural Beaver Creek home for six years. She currently cares for 12 children, watching anywhere from five to eight children at a time.
Being a day-care provider takes unlimited energy. Vis simultaneously puts on shoes and coats, pushes kids on the swing, keeps a watchful eye on the active children and handles anything else that comes up.
"You do not get a break when you do day care," said Vis. "If you think you are going to sit down, then that’s not the job for you."
Vis started doing day care to be home with her children. She and her husband, Steve, have three children, Kyle, 9, Zack, 5, and Dalton, 2.
She begins her day at 6 a.m., and her last child leaves at 6 p.m. on most days. Open Monday through Friday, she will watch kids ages 1 year and older. Vis charges $1.75 per hour per child.
Vis doesn't charge a guaranteed fee each week, even if the kids are not at her house. "If they go to Grandma's I don't care; that's fine," she said. "That’s good for them."
Vis really enjoys working with the kids. "They've got some interesting stories if you've got a minute to listen. Sometimes they are pretty funny."
She said the most hectic time of her day is right before lunch, when the kids are hungry and tired. "There is a certain order and routine you have to have," she said. "It's like any other job. Some days you have your bad days."
Vis is unsure if there is a day care shortage in the area, but parents continue to call to see if she has openings.