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My poor little Luke is sick today.  I got that call that every working parent hopes not to get at the office – day care calling to let you know your kid is under the weather and needs to go home.  He’s got a chest cold and was running  a fever.  So, I tied things up at work and headed out to collect the kids a bit earlier than normal. 

I turned the corner onto the street the center is on and saw a crane and a Bobcat in the parking lot, and as I got closer I saw the pilons in the driveway entrance to the lot.  Today is the day they changed the sign in front of the building.  No longer will the former sign be draped in the large, temporary, plastic sign with the Bright Horizons name and logo.  Starting today, the sign is a large, bright sign that lies at the edge of the parking lot, perpendicular to the road so passers by can see it without fail.  Let me tell you, it’s bright and large enough, I don’t think NASA will miss this sign, but that’s beside the point.  They had already removed the former sign and were working on moving the electrical connections from the old sign’s location to the new. 

I parked across the street, and as I walked across the street, I noticed that they had also added the Bright Horizons name and emblem on the front of the building itself, situated between two windows at the front.  There is certainly no mistaking what this place of business is now. 

Less than one week following the date that marked one year since the loss of Benjamin, the center is now free of any association with the former business, whose name was launched into national attention last January after the tragedy.  For those still associated with the two remaining centers, formerly Minee Subee, this is the final step to being further from the stigma that the former business name now carries.  I think this is the ray of hope that we needed, too, which tells us that the business is solid under the new ownership of Bright Horizons, and that we are all moving on.

I continued in and collected my children, and I held their hands as we left the building.  As you can imagine, the Bobcat and the crane were a huge hit for Luke, who stood in amazement at the machinery working in the parking lot.  His eyes got big, his voice high, and his excitement was nearly contagious as he yelled, “Wow, look at that crane, and that digger!!”.  The wind continued, and seemed to get sharper with chill, so I rushed the kids to the car and got them buckled in. 

As we pulled away from the parking lot and the kids admired and commented on the new Bright Horizons sign, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds that had been hiding it.  As we’ve done so many times before, the kids waved to the building as we drove away, saying, “Bye Minee Subee”. 

Yes, kids.  Bye Minee Subee.

Jenny Other beginning, Bright Horizons, change, Minee Subee, sign

I have to admit that I was nervous about the change when our center transitioned to a Bright Horizons center.  I knew in the back of my mind that this was a good move for all involved, but, wasn’t sure how the changes would effect our family and our relationship with the center staff.  I am glad to say that the transition was relatively seamless, and we are happy with the many changes that have gone into effect.

The staff has responded positively to the change, and our Director and Assistant Director have been quite responsive to concerns of parents with respect to changes in staff, tuition, and center operation.  I think the entire staff have addressed the transition well and made it a transparent change for the families, especially the children.  There are a few specific changes that I’m quite pleased with.

First, they now use a carbon-copy incident report, so the parent gets a copy to take home.  Previously, they used a single document which was kept in the child’s file, and a copy was not given to the parent.  I’m sure one could have been provided, but I never requested one, never got one.  I prefer having a copy to take home because when I arrive to pick up the kids, I’m trying to focus on responding to them when we greet each other, and getting them out the door so we can get home.  When I have ever had to sign an incident report for either child, I try to listen to the explanation of the incident, but, honestly, my attention is often diverted.  It’s nice to be able to go home and reread the report to see just what went on.  This also allows me to keep better track of when something happens and what actions are being taken by the staff if it’s a repeated behaviour like biting.  Luke has some tasty features, and has been targeted a few times by other kids, but I wouldn’t say it’s chronic.  Now, though, I can keep my own record of Luke tastings or other altercations which leave physical evidence. 

Another positive, when ours begins working, is the new computer log-in system.  I haven’t successfully used it to date, but, there is now a computer log-in at the front door where each parent enters a pin number and can access their ‘account’.  This allows visibility to tuition payments, attendance, and is another means for sharing information with the parents regarding the center.  Having not been able to log in yet, I haven’t encountered the madness of stopping near the door along with other parents to log in to the computer and take the time to check in or check out.  I haven’t noticed any bottlenecks for entry or departure, so I assume it’s a decent system.  Once I get my log-in to work, I will begin to enjoy this feature.

Drop-off changed amidst this transition, too.  Perhaps it was lower enrollment, or perhaps it was the fact that the babies arrive later in the morning, but we no longer drop the kids off in the infant room like we used to.  We now deposit both kids in the 2’s room, which suits Luke just fine because that’s his classroom.  Both kids are greeted by two of their favourite teachers, which makes the drop-off much more bearable for Mommy and Daddy.  They enjoy a bowl of cereal (or in Kaitlins’ case up to 8!!) and play time until all the kids are moved to their respective classrooms.  It’s rather nice, and I think the kids enjoy being in a classroom with toys and books that are closer to appropriate for their respective ages.

Tuition statements went from weekly to monthly, which is not easy for my meager brain to grasp, but, is probably easier for the business to manage.  It’s also less wasteful to print one monthly document per family, as opposed to four per month.  I can appreciate the environmental friendliness of this move. 

The center changed the format of the fall’s Thanksgiving Feast.  Historically, the 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, and Kindy classes sang songs and dressed in Thanksgiving themed costumes, and it was really cute.  Usually there were one or two kids in each class that actually knew and sang the words, one or two who cried, and the rest just stared out at the parents or tried to talk to them from the front of the room.  It was always adorable.  Following the songs, the children and teachers presented the ‘feast’, lovingly prepared by the children, or so the story would go.  Turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and potatoes were the usual fare of the feast, and it was fun to eat at the child-sized tables while sitting in child-sized chairs.  The kids were always excited to show off their costumes, and most ate along with the parents.  I have been to all of these presentations, and was comforted to see that the children whose parents couldn’t be there got to sit with their teachers, unless they were familiar with another parent and chose to sit with them.  Either way, nobody was left out. 

So, the new format is quite different.  For those of us with more than one child, it was a little tricky navigating the different rooms so we could all be present to feast with each of our kids.  This year, each classroom had their own ‘feast’, and there were no costumes, no rehearsed songs, no “presentations”.  Instead, parents were invited into each classroom to join their children in giving thanks for a nice meal, and for our being together.  I can’t speak for each room, but, the 2’s had a short little jingle they rattled off, followed by a big “thank you”.  The kindergarteners individually said what they were thankful for and also joined together to sing/speak a little ditty they’d practiced.  This being the first year for individual class feasts, and the timing involved in trying to let the parents see each of their kids made for some interesting moments, especially in the 2’s where the kids haven’t quite mastered the virtue of patience.   Aside from some timing glitches, the new format has its up sides.  Once they iron out the minor details, I think it will be a successful and festive occaision that we will look forward to each fall.

The winter holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah were celebrated as they have been in past years, with a small tree and a small menorah displayed at the front of the center.  The kids created picture and other crafts for both holidays, so each of the kids came home with some version of a stocking, and some version of a menorah or dreidel.  Suffice it to say, our holiday art project decoration collection did not fall short this year. 

Overall, the transition to a public, corporate child care center has been pleasantly trouble free.  I am fortunate to have found a great group of teachers, and an equally great group of fellow parents.  Both of my children have made friends that I’m confident they’ll have for many years to come, even after they get to public school.  I’m glad we stuck with it.

Jenny Other Bright Horizons, change, positive, public, transition

Wednesday the 12th was the last field trip for Kaitlin this summer.  They went to Kiddieland, a local amusement park for children.  Kiddieland is running for its last season this summer, falling victim to changing times and a slow economy.  What was once a hot spot for kids all over Chicagoland will soon me a mere memory.  Since the kids don’t go to day care on Thursdays and Fridays, this was her last official summer field trip.

When I collected the kids that evening, the director, Miss Betty, pulled me aside and said she had something she wanted to tell me about in person, since we were going to be gone the following week (on our vacation).  She sounded rather chipper and in good spirits as she informed me that the child care business had been sold.  As of Monday the 17th, the center would become a Bright Horizons center.  She said that rates and staff would remain the same, for now.  I asked about curriculum, she said it would likely stay the same a while, but certainly Bright Horizons would eventually implement their own curriculum throughout the center.  Miss Betty said she would like to keep the curriculum they use in the kindergarten, but right now that is yet to be discussed.  Of course there will be changes over time, that’s a given.  At the moment, I felt surprised, but not entirely, and after a little more chatting about the change, the kids and I left and went home.  Betty informed me that the staff were going to be told in a meeting that evening, and a letter would be distributed to parents the next day.

By the time I got home, the magnitude of this started to hit me.  Minee Subee is a small, family owned business.  There are only two of them now.  The business has been rocked, as has the community, by the loss of a child at one of the centers earlier this year.  We knew that eventually, something was going to happen to the business, we just didn’t know what that would be.  Now we know. 

Bright Horizons is a corporate provider of “child care, back-up care, early education, and work/life solutions”. Most people know of them as the on-site child care provider at many large companies. They also have an acquisitions team . Correct me if I’m wrong, but, when you’re going to try to give families a warm-fuzzy about the kind of care you’re going to give their children, I’m kind of thinking that advertising your ability to eat up the small guys is not the way to go. Just me, I guess.

I have mixed feelings about the whole situation at this point.  That evening, I called a couple of fellow parents and we talked about our feelings and thoughts surrounding the sale of the centers.  In the end, we all agreed that this is the best for everyone involved.  The centers will hopefully be able to emerge from the negative associations with the name, which have existed since January.  We, as parents, will hopefully be able to relieve ourselves of the wonder of what will happen to our center, no longer wondering if it will be closed suddenly for any reason. 

On the other hand, our two centers will now be part of a much larger community, and we’ll no longer be the small, local day care that we enjoy so much.  There will be a corporate entity guiding the processes, and our childrens’ experiences.  We won’t be unique.  We won’t be a name.  We’ll become a number.

So, we went on our vacation last week, and it was wonderful.  The kids returned to the center yesterday, Monday the 24th, and when I picked up the kids I noticed a few small changes, but nothing blaring.  First thing I noticed was the computer monitor near the front door.  Miss Betty explained that we will have to “check the kids in” on this computer each morning, using a unique login.  This computer will also allow us to access information about our “account”, and review our payment status, attendance info, etc.  Not knowing the full story on this process, I am leaving my judgement aside for now.  There was Bright Horizons literatue spread along the counter near the front door, with brochures on a number of topics, branded with the BH logo.  There was a letter from one of the managing directors welcome us to the BH family.  Then, I saw the FAQ sheet, and took a copy home to read.  Nothing new really.  Staff to remain the same, new director coming at the other center (current director is in the family that sold the business to BH), programs to remain the same, blah blah blah.  I work in the corporate world, I can see that they’re simply saying, “For now, nothing will change, but change will come – sooner or later”.  All fine.  Then I saw something about the tuition payment method change.  This part made me nervous, indicating a withdrawl method replacing the current credit card payment method.  Yikes, that could be scary, but again, I’ll reserve my judgement until I learn more.

There is more to this than simply new ownership.  The center will change in appearance, and will eventually morph into the homogonized corporate template, with a smattering of child-like decor to please the eye.  Perhaps our fund raisers, which we did to raise money for equipment in the school, will end because the corporate office will be responsible for upkeep and upgrades to the center.  We all know how well corporate offices keep up with the little offices, too.  Perhaps certain celebrations, unique to Minee Subee, will have to cease.  My favorite was always the Thanksgiving feast, in which the 2’s and up put on a small recital of songs, and the kids all helped prepare a Thanksgiving meal including turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.  Perhaps instead of celebrating “Lovely Ladies Day” and “Magnificent Men Day” in place of the Hallmark Mother’s and Father’s Days, we won’t celebrate either.  And who knows about the winter holiday season.  I know of a few big-box providers with centers in the area where holiday celebrations were stricken from the schedule, in the interest of not offending anyone.  Talk about political incorrectness.

Anyway, I’m trying to keep positive thoughts about this whole thing.  My kids will be with the same teachers, and hopefully BH will have a better benefits package, or some other incentive to offer the teachers, which will encourage them to stay with the center.  For now, I just wait for the changes to start rolling in, and to learn the new things I’ll need to learn as a parent at a Bright Horizons.  I’m not much of a conformist, despite the fact that I work in a corporate office, and live in a house in the suburbs, and all that jazz.  That, I think, is what peeves me the most about being part of a conglomerate like Bright Horizons.  I chose this small, local, private center for the family-like feel it had, and many other aspects that I enjoyed over the larger places.  Hopefully, the feel will remain, and the only difference we’ll feel in the end will be the name.  We’ll see.

Jenny Other Bright Horizons, change, Kiddie Land, Minee Subee, sold