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Please
allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Sonia
Howard. I am originally from New York and of Puerto Rican
descent. I am married to a wonderful man, Brandon. He
is a certified tile installer and the owner of
Master Tile and Remodeling.
He and I have six children between us four of which live at home. We are also very proud
grandparents to a sweet little boy. We both share the same dedication
to being the best parents we can be.
I enjoy being a mom more than anything I've
ever done or experienced. I
am convinced that my purpose on this earth is to be a positive influence
on the children that are in my life. I know that being an
exceptional mother is what I wish my legacy to be. I'm always
learning and evolving. I'm focused, very organized and goal
oriented which works well for me as a mom and in my business. I've
had very profitable jobs in my life, but nothing brings me more
happiness and satisfaction than being a mom.
My Previous Employment
I've been a Registered Family Daycare Provider since 1995 I have been self-employed since 1988. Prior to opening Tender Lovin', I owned and operated a Personal Care Home for the elderly in Grovetown for 7 years. I was the sole caretaker of six women for over seven years. I provided personal care in the form of feeding, dressing, transporting, nursing, and caring for personal hygiene to clients with dementia, down syndrome, Alzheimer's and other disabilities. The clients lived in my home and I was responsible for their care 24 hours per day seven days per week. This business, while gratifying on many levels, consumed all my time and energy. I longed to be able to spend more time with my children and out of that need, Martinez Tender Lovin' Daycare was born.
I
wasn't always a care taker, though. I attended Marist
College in Poughkeepsie, New York where I majored in
Psychology with a double minor (Spanish/Business).
I worked for the Bank of New York for some time. Once I moved down south, I worked for Palmetto Federal
Bank in Aiken in the collections department then a local collection
agency.
My Motivation and Goals
What sets Tender Lovin' apart from other daycares is the strong relationship that develops between myself, the children, and their parents. I never enroll a child simply to fill a vacancy. When I enroll a child, they and their parents become part of our extended family. I commit myself to giving parents 100% of my abilities and then some.
When I am planning my program, I ask myself, "What would I want for my own child?" I treat every child with respect and love them, as if they were my own. I enjoy teaching them new things and knowing that I am making a difference. I am not a babysitter. I am a professional providing a service that goes way beyond babysitting in so many ways.
I am proud of the fact that I provide over and above the caliber care parents are expecting. I am not rigid in my thinking and am open to suggestions and consider myself to be approachable. I strive to provide the highest echelon of care. The kind of atmosphere I would want for my own children. This is my main motivation.
I am constantly looking for new and exciting ways to keep the children challenged and happy. Ultimately, I work to provide a service to parents that truly brings them peace of mind, when they leave their children and go off to work.
My Hobbies
I'm a creative type person. I
create jewelry in my spare time and I
love to garden; growing roses in particular. I try all sorts of
art projects from drawing (not very well!) to mosaic. I love to spend
time with my children and grandson. I enjoy nature, candlelight, singing and listening to
music.
I'm a huge New York Yankees fan!
I absolutely love the mountains. Give me a creek and a rock
to sit on and I'm in heaven! I write poetry and short stories.
Publishing a book is
one of my long term goals and dreams. Photography is another of my
passions.
