member_spotlight

What is your name?
Maria Hanus

Tell us a bit about yourself
Aside from running my home childcare business over the past 14 years, I am also a very busy mom of 6 amazing children and I have been married to one incredible guy, Paddy, for 15 years now. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, reading, painting and long bubbly soaks in the tub!!

Where are you located?
I am at Rosebank Rd. and Sheppard, in Pickering.

What is your Daycare name?
Little Steps

How did you come up with your daycare name?
It wasn�t until 2001 that I decided to name my business. I can�t take any credit for the name � my daughter, Rebekah, 3 at the time, overheard me brainstorming ideas and repeatedly suggested �littlestep� which is what she called littlefoot the dinosaur from the movie series �land before time�. It is very fitting !

How long have you been providing daycare?
I have been in the childcare field for a very long time from working as a nanny to working in childcare centres � to providing care in my own home, all combined for a little over 18 years now.

What was your "inspiration" to get involved in the daycare field?
Shortly after returning to work with my 2nd child, and being one of those crazy parents calling 3x�s a day, I realized more than anything that I wanted to be with her. That is when I decided to give up my career to be a �stay at home� mom. It was the best thing yet � once we got settled then I opened up our home to share with some very special families over the years.

What is your favorite part of your "new" profession?
There are too many things to list about the job I love. It�s the little things that give me great pleasure from those little chubby fingers to their dimpled smiles to their first words to their paintings �. their questions and answers � the simple things in a very busy and hectic world.

What was your old profession?
I was in an administration position at York University.

If you had a $1000 to spend on things for your day care, what would you buy?
Hmm, where would I start � I guess practical � yes � I�d hire Sherry T. for a consultation to better organize my stuff/my space� some new equipment to set-up for �mini� learning centers and oh yes, a washroom near the playroom. I think I just over-spent.

How did you learn about the daycare association?
I initially heard about it thru the Y-PACE (associated with YMCA) drop-in program in1993.

How long have you been a member of the day care association?
14 years now.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
That�s an interesting question. I have to look at myself where my family would be � that is, my eldest, Hannah would be in University, Zachary in his last year of high school, Rebekah just starting high school, Jonah in elementary school and Nathan just starting grade 1!!! OMG!! 5 years !! In the meantime, it will be a time for me to explore my options maybe going back to school for midwifery � teaching JK � volunteering time in the community � the possibilities are endless!