Dear Director
A Letter to My Child’s Daycare Director
On this short Thanksgiving week, I’m pausing our usual weekly planner to share something from the heart—a genuine thank you for everything you do in your role as a Childcare Director.
You may not hear it often enough, but the work you do matters more than words can say. This letter is a small way to honor the dedication, love, and care you pour into your staff, families, and the children you serve, each and every day.
Dear Director,
I see you.
I see you waking up before the sun rises, trying to get your own family ready while also managing last-minute callouts and unexpected changes to your day ahead. You sacrifice quiet mornings with your kids so ours can have an organized day.
I see you every morning, greeting families with a smile, remembering hundreds of names and stories. And I see you still there at pick-up, sharing anecdotes from the day—after hours of hard work, exhausted but always kind, always present.
I see you stepping into the classroom to give teachers a break, your own lunch in hand. Calmly rocking babies or changing diaper after diaper without a second thought.
I see you shoveling the sidewalk before anyone else arrives, making sure the path is clear and safe. I see you patching chipped paint, plunging toilets, vacuuming halls, and doing a dozen little things most of us never notice. Because you fixed them before they became a problem.
I see you answering emails, doing your best to keep track of details, and trying to stay ahead of everything. You juggle it all with patience, even when the inbox never seems to empty.
I see the love you pour into your team—staying up late to plan thoughtful gifts or meetings that leave them feeling supported. You’re not just their boss; you’re their cheerleader, their guide, and their anchor.
I see you comforting sick children in your office, wiping their noses and holding them close until their parents can arrive. For that moment, you’re their safe place, and they feel it.
I see the extras you add to the lunch order so a child you suspect may not have enough at home, can have seconds. The jackets and mittens you buy with your own money because you noticed a family couldn’t afford it. I see the care in the details, the way you make sure every child is looked after.
I see you on those really hard days too, the ones no one else notices. I see you holding back tears after a difficult conversation with a frustrated parent, finding a quiet moment under your desk or in the supply closet just to catch your breath before stepping back out with a steady voice and calm smile.
And I know this is only part of the story.
What you do isn’t easy. So this Thanksgiving week, I just want to say thank you. You don’t do it for recognition or thanks. But you deserve both.
Thank you for everything you do that we see. And for all the things we don’t. You are more than a Director. You are the heart of this community. We see you. We appreciate you. And none of us could do this without you.
With Love,
Parents Everywhere
And if you aren’t a Childcare Director, but are thankful for one in your life, please share this with them!