I first arrived in the United States in February 1996 and I became a citizen of this great nation in 2001. Like many, I arrived to work hard and prosper. I worked in restaurants and factories in different shifts and positions.

Little by little I made progress and achieved my goals. After several years of planning I opened my home-based Family Child Care business in 2009. Since then, I have been working as an Educator in my community and I provide Family Child Care to families who also work, study and need a place where their children can be properly cared for, not just for recreation and fun, but to also receive an early education.

Anyone who knows the hard work of educating children from ages 0 to 5 also knows it is not an easy task. We continually deal with new situations that arise, create curriculum, meet countless EEC regulations, and help parents with their personal circumstances, all of this, at times, can make this work feel somewhat strenuous.

We work from 6:00AM to 7:00 PM at night. And at the end of each day we must also attend to our own families and personal life. By then, we are completely exhausted, not only physically but also emotionally. We don’t have any fringe benefits, health insurance, vacation days or sick time.

That’s why I think it is so important that every worker in the state of Massachusetts, in every profession, have paid sick days in order to care for their own health issues and the health of their children and significant others. Having sick days is not a privilege but it is a necessity.