melissabloom earlylil’bloomerschildcare&preschool,babybloomersinfantcenter, explorerschildcare&preschool

I opened Lil’ Bloomers Child Care in June 2007, in my home. By December of that year, we had relocated to our current location, with 73 children enrolled. In August 2008 we expanded our infant classrooms by adding an additional 2000 sq. feet and three infant classrooms. Parents continued to gain interest in our center, which brought us to our second addition in November 2010. That addition allowed us to add two more Preschool classrooms and a Gymnasium. We are currently licensed to care for 173 children—6 weeks through 12 years of age.

Baby Bloomers Infant Center was established in August 2011. We [myself and Heidi Borgen] opened the infant center to help meet the ever demanding need for infant care in the Fargo area. Baby Bloomers specializes in care for children 6 weeks–24 months, and can accommodate 48 children.

Early Explorers Child Care & Preschool is the most recent center added to our child care family located in Moorhead, MN near Rasmussen College on 30th Avenue. We decided to expand into the Moorhead area due to the fast growing residential areas in South Moorhead. Early Explorers provides care for infants, toddlers, preschool and pre-kindergarten children.

how many employees do you currently have?

There are 97 employees between the three child care centers.

what teacher credentials do you require?

The credentials are different in Minnesota and North Dakota. In ND, our infant and toddler teachers are not required to have an AA or BA but we do prefer it. Of our Infant and Toddler Head Teachers 95% have either an AA or BA in child development, elementary education or another child related field. In MN, our infant and toddler teachers are required to have a Child Development Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in a child related field and at least 12 months of experience in a child care setting. The Preschool [3 year olds] and Pre-Kindergarten [4-5 year olds] teachers are required to have a Child Development Associates Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree in a child related field. prior to opening lil’ bloomers, what experience did you have? what inspired you to open a childcare center? how are you involved in the daily activities of the kids? in addition to the standard childcare you provide, what is the most unique service[s] you offer? what is the most challenging part of owning your own preschool and childcare centers?

Prior to opening Lil Bloomers, my experiences involved management, accounting and the social services industry.

I was working as a District Manager for a local Property Management company, but did not feel that I was making a difference in people’s life. I have always enjoyed being around children and watching them grow both socially and developmentally. I took a leap of faith and decided to open an in-home daycare so that I could make a difference in a child’s life by providing a positive, loving, educational environment.

I am not as involved in the children’s daily activities as I used to be and would like to be. I am more involved in the behind the scenes work, but I know that we would not be able to provide what we do if it were not for everyone that does their part, no matter how big or small that may be.

When I was a working mom with three children in child care, they were unable to participate in many activities because I was unable to take off of work to get them there. So, we offer many activities, classes and field trips that working parents would want their children to be involved in but are not able to get them to due to their work schedules. We offer gymnastics classes, tae kwon do, swimming lessons, mandarin language, ballet and creative movement dance classes, and too many field trips to mention.

When a family chooses to withdrawal their child/ children from our care, regardless of the circum- stances. We become very attached and create a close relationship with the children during the time we are caring and educating them. Tears can be seen by teachers, directors and parents on a child’s last day or when a parent tells us that they are withdrawing their child/children. how would your staff best describe you? what quality do you believe every woman needs to have to be successful in business? what would you say your least favorite part of running the centers is? do you think there are any misconceptions in the childcare profession?

This is such a hard question to answer; I don’t care to talk about myself, but I hope that they would say I am approachable, appreciative, fair but firm, caring, hardworking, have high expectations, and that I am busy, busy, busy.

Have a vision for your business. You need to hold onto your values and be confident in who you are and what you are capable of. Having ambition and drive to succeed is also a must. If you are as lucky as I am, you will have a loyal, hardworking staff that have a positive outlook and want your business to succeed as much as you do. It also does not hurt to have a wonderful support system of family and friends.

Not being able to make everyone happy whether it relates to parents or staff. Many times I have to put on the business hat when I would rather not.

I think that one of the big misconceptions about child care is that we are in it for the money. We operate on a very tight budget with over 75% of our tuition being used to pay our staff. That does not leave a lot left to cover things such as rent, insurance, food, disposable items, toys, equipment, improvements and transportation. We will be the first to say that our teachers are worth a lot more then we can afford to pay them. in one word, describe your centers? outside of your profession, what might we find you doing? do you feel like you’ve had to make any parenting sacrifices to be your own boss? how has your family benefited from you opening your own businesses? what is your strongest mompreneur skill? Multi-Tasking. are you able to delegate when you feel stretched too thin? what lessons do you hope you’re teaching your children about owning a business?

Relationships. The relationships that we have with our families is very important to me.

I spend my free time with my husband, children, extended family and friends. We recently took up camping as a hobby. The kids and I love it—my husband, not so much! You will also see us where ever there are classic cars or a car show.

When I initially opened the center, I sacrificed time with my husband and children. I worked 12–13 hour days for the first year the center was open. My family was more than patient during that time because they shared my vision and wanted me to succeed. I am now able to have a more flexible schedule, which allows me to spend more time with my children. what is necessary to make your day run smoothly?

A Diet Coke and a great attitude!

Owning my own businesses has given me the ability to make my own decisions, implement my ideas and have flexibility with my schedule.

I am able to delegate when my plate is too full, however, it depends what I am delegating and whom I am delegating it to. When I am stretched thin, my family steps up and helps out as much as they can.

I want to instill several things in my children. I want them to be dedicated and committed to whatever they are doing. I want them to be responsible, respectful, moral people. I am also teaching them to take initiative and go after your dreams and/or goals. how would you describe your blended family and the challenges and blessings you experience daily?

Our house is never quiet or boring. We have been very blessed with our blended family. The kids all get along and enjoy spending time together. The biggest challenge we have is finding a spot in church where we can all sit together. It is not as easy as you think to find a place for nine people. We get some strange looks when we go out in public together. We are the modern Brady Bunch and we love it!

The fear when you find a lump in your breast.

The concern that sends you to the clinic.

The relief when your doctor doesn’t think it’s cancer.

“But I was still concerned,” says DeAnn O’Hara. “I knew something was wrong.”

At three months pregnant, she had a lot at stake… getting help

DeAnn’s difficult journey began in October 2009. Then she was a customs border patrol officer living in Kenmare, ND, five hours from Fargo. But she’d heard of Sanford Breast Health.

“When I called and described my situation, they got me right in,” says DeAnn. The next day she and husband Patrick made the long, quiet trip.

An appointment at Breast Health led to tests and a next-day consultation with breast surgeon Dr. Michael Bouton. His concern led to an immediate needle biopsy. Two days later, the results.

“Devastating and scary,” says DeAnn. “I was 27, pregnant with my first child and had aggressive breast cancer. Pregnancy hormones likely sped its growth.” one team working together

From then on, DeAnn fought with all she had… for two lives.

DeAnn needed the expertise of several specialists: oncologist Dr. Shelby Terstriep from Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center, fetal medicine specialists from Sanford Women’s, neonatologists from Sanford Children’s, and more. All worked as one to treat DeAnn’s cancer while keeping her baby safe and healthy.

Early steps included chemotherapy to reduce the size of the rapidly growing tumor, a mastectomy in January 2010, then more chemotherapy. Struggling with hair loss, breast loss, fatigue and more, DeAnn somehow found strength.

“I focused on my growing baby rather than myself. I had to get through this for him,” she says. “In a way, my baby saved me.”

Frequent fetal ultrasounds assured DeAnn and Patrick that all was on track. But at eight months, an ultrasound showed dangerously low amniotic fluid, prompting labor induction.

On February 25, 2010, Connor Wayne arrived weighing 4 pounds 1 ounce. A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit team provided immediate specialized care in the delivery room.

“It was a long, painful day, but at the end I had a baby—perfect, but small,” says DeAnn. Connor spent the next 41 days in the NICU. DeAnn visited him daily, fitting in her chemotherapy treatments at the Cancer Center.

“Connor and I were both so well cared for,” she says. “The people at Sanford were incredible, plus I had great support from my family, friends and coworkers. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

Two steps remained: six weeks of radiation therapy in summer 2010 and a final round of chemotherapy. She completed all in early 2011.

Today DeAnn is cancer free. “Amazing,” she says, tearing up. “It was quite a battle…” strong family of three

It’s late afternoon in June 2012…now living in Pembina, ND, the O’Hara family leads a busy life. DeAnn’s home from her day’s work as an import specialist. Patrick’s on duty as a customs and border protection officer. And Connor? He’s healthy, growing and eager to build castles in his sandbox.

“Come on, mamma, let’s play,” he says, tugging on her arm. And oh how mamma plays…