Kelly Renaud
Before Motherhood, I worked in a privately owned daycare centre providing 24 hours care for parents working shifts.
After my first child was born I returned to work. In just three years of his life, my son had attended both private home care and a non-profit daycare centre.
5 months into maternity leave with baby #2, I realized with some sacrifices I could stay at home with my children. I started my own private daycare.
Fast forward through 12 years of providing private day care and raising my family of now 5 children, my husband returned to school. I traded in being a daycare provider to placing my two youngest children in private care and returned to the recognized work force outside my home.
Through my years as a parent I have explored and experienced the many options of childcare. The childcare that worked best was the type I chose for my family based on our changing needs.
The financial sacrifices of staying home were far outweighed by being able to care for my own children and providing care for others. My husband and I have enjoyed the freedom of choice to return to work when we made that decision.
Having 18 years of parenting and 15 years as a child care provider under my belt, I agree that every family should have the option of childcare that works best for their family. All child care should be treated equally regardless of whether the child is in a daycare centre, home day care or family care at home.
The mission of Fund the Child is to bring exactly that to all Canadian families.
Kelly Renaud
Director of Parental Rights