--------------------------------------------- people ------------------------------------ Junior Rachael Parker holds a baby at the First United Methodist Day Care Feb. 25. Parker worked at the day care since her freshman year. (Photo by Amy Beene) r..-c-.-~ael PA: Some smeared cake ~ U over their faces. Some just cried. And some simply smiled. Junior Rachael Parker recalled the days when she attended birthday parties for the children she took care of on an almost daily basis at the First United Methodist Day Care in Searcy. "When the kids turn a year old, we have birthday parties for them," Parker said. "We have had some who will cry the whole time. So you have pictures of them sobbing, and others love to dig into their cake." Parker, who has worked at the day care for three years, said she took care of about 12 children this year whose ages ranged from 2 months old to 1 year old. "It's a challenge, but I love it," she said. "They keep you so entertained and on your feet." She said the spring semes– ter was hectic because of more children and viruses that spread aroWld. "This semester has been extra busy because we have had five new babies come in/' Parker said . "[The day carel had to buy a new baby bed because there wasn't enough room for all of them." She said two viruses spread in the day care, causing a little extra work. "I love watching them grow up. 1 get to see them crawl and take their first steps." --JunIor Rachael Parker "This semester has been really hard because there have been two viruses that have hit the day care," Parker said. "It's the worst time we've had with it. We have never had this many sick before." Fighting off both viruses, one child had to quit coming to the d ay care. "One of our babies, Luke, has had to quit coming because his immune system is shot," Parker said. "He had two viruses right in a row. Doctors said it would take months to get his immune system back up and running." As a special education major, Parker said she wanted to teach kindergarten after graduating from Harding. She said the job at the day care was good for her because she wouldn't get to see the infant stage in her career. "I love watching them grow up," Parker said . "I get to see them crawl and take their first steps." By~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==