By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
More than 125 children in the last 49 years — that's how many Mary Mellick has opened her home to in Hays through her child care.
"The kids are part of our lives. My husband and I, they're just like special grandkids and we're like grandparents to them at this point," Mellick said.
Mellick opened her child care so she could stay home with her four children, but it soon became a lifelong career. Although she faced challenges such as long hours and balancing her family life, she has continued to build lasting relationships.
"A good number of [former children] come by," she said. "They still treat me like family... I don't want that type of relationship and love between us to end."
In the early years, Mellick’s own children helped out at the child care, where she often cared for up to 10 children a day, clocking in from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mellick usually cares for children from infancy through about the age of 9, with many later returning as parents and bringing their own children to the child care.
Mellick said she has no plans to retire, so she has scaled back to caring for about three children a day to continue doing what she loves.
"The biggest challenges are the everyday struggles of toddlers and their mood swings. Raising other people's kids isn't always easy," she said.
Mellick said the close connections she has formed with the children she has cared for have even led to invitations to their weddings and graduations.
At her child care, Mellick employs a play-based learning approach, focusing on activities that teach social skills and promote appropriate public behavior. She added that the toys are purchased out of her own pocket.
Mellick said she has seen many changes since starting her child care, including shifts in family dynamics, generational differences and new state regulations that she has had to adjust to.
"For many years, this profession was not respected as a profession or a career, so I'm glad to see that the mindset is changing," she said.
Mellick advises those entering the child care field not to give up too soon, even when the rules and challenges seem overwhelming.
"The rewards are bigger than a paycheck," she said.
Brandy Ridgway, a parent who brought her children to Mellick years ago, nominated her as September’s Child Care Champion.
"Mary continues to treat them as if they are the most valuable children in the world," Ridgway said of her children. "She goes out of her way to engage with them, show them love, encourage their growth and challenge them to be their best.
Her care and influence extend far beyond the walls of child care, leaving a lasting impact on both the children and their families. Mary truly embodies what it means to be a Child Care Champion."