Day 124
Suzanne Jean Harrington Treichler you are something! Doug and I might be the only children related to you by blood but that detail has never kept you from collecting more children along the way. The many, many individuals you have blessed by your mothering ways are more than we can count. You are indeed something. Here are some of my Suzanne stories and recollections from the daycare.
Suzanne started a daycare business in her home with Zoe Street, her first infant. Doug and I doted on this little lively vibrant child. Zoe's siblings would also find their way into Suzanne's home. Suzanne moved the daycare to Barrington Baptist Church in 1982 deciding it should be a ministry rather than a private buisness. It has remained a vibrant ministry option for working parents ever since that day. What a credit to Suzanne.
Any woman who was determined to not work and raise her own would waver with one foot in Suzanne's daycare. Her's was probably one of the best daycare options in the state of Rhode Island. Your child would have a schedule that would include a time of being read to, playing outdoors in the yard with sand, water, sticks, whatever they could find, collectively strolling to a neighbor's home and feeding the very fat bunny with strands of grass, listening to books read by Suzanne and her workers, eating scheduled snacks, and laughing and learning to play nicely with other children.
If Suzanne felt your child needed a hair cut you would find your child's hair cut when you picked them at in the afternoon. She never felt the need to ask you. This always made me chuckle. My mother's confidence sometimes went beyond the normal bounds, but hey, you put your child in her care and she defined what that meant.
Suzanne always gave each family a video of their child. It was her running commentary I loved listening to. These videos were treasured by the working parents as Suzanne captured their children engaged in wonderful play. I can still see the chubby little toddlers in their bathing suits with their little butt cheeks hanging out gleefully playing in water in the front yard of the Barrington home. Oh, the silliness that was captured. The videos were her way of offering them connection to their child's daily routine.
Suzanne would sooth a little one for how ever long it took in the morning. Her heart would break with their little sobs. I can see her rocking a child back and forth as she would wait for them to gain a peace. Out of her mouth never came disparaging words about the parents who had to work. Suzanne, to this day, is not comfortable with gossip or negative comments. She and her mother, Emily Harrington always discourage it. Being negative with them left you feeling like a jerk, for good reason. They are the defenders of the world.
Suzanne has mothered many children through her daycare providing security for so many little ones now adults well into their 30's and 40's. There were many parents who struggled with one thing or the other and Suzanne would listen and many times follow that with practical help or prayer. The answered prayers of this woman would fill a good sized book, quite the interesting read.
What a gift to have a mother who has blessed so many individuals in life. She is one amazing person and I am so honored to call her mother. Oh, the stories that have come out of the daycare are many and so very interesting. Suzanne and Bob have books in them. They need to start writing!
I love you Suzanne Jean Harrington Treichler! You are someone I am so very proud of! Thank you for being you.
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