It's so hard to believe that after 22 years I am looking at the end of my home daycare career soon.  Next school year will be my last one. I am excited about moving in 2 years and fixing up all sorts of house things and painting, and about the next chapter in my life but I am so sad that each time I use theme materials is my last time doing so.  I know in spring 2023 I will be crying often as I say goodbye to my daycare children, my loft, my stuff that I've lovingly collected for all these years.  I want to have a huge party with all my former daycare kids coming for a final goodbye picture.  Some I don't have contact with anymore and some probably wouldn't care to as it's been so long since they were my daycare kids. I'm not even sure I can list all the kids I have cared for but I remember the ones that were here for any amount of time. It's nice that lots of them are Facebook friends with me so I can see the children grow up. Because it is my last year and 2 of my daycare parents are going to be having babies I won't be enrolling new kids, which is nice in a way, I'll finish out the year with the ones I have now.   I am so honored that I got to spend countless hours with so many wonderfully smart, funny, creative young people.