09/09/2026
And just like thatβ¦ theyβre off to KINDY. ππ
We are feeling all the feelings over here.
We have been so incredibly blessed that these three families trusted us with their babies over the years. Somewhere along the way, they stopped feeling like βdaycare familiesβ and simply became family to us.
Now, before anyone gets too emotionalβ¦ technically none of them are actually going anywhere because theyβre all coming to our Afterschool Program. π But shhh. We are still allowed to cry about the fact that we donβt get them all day, every day anymore.
And while every single one of these kiddos holds such a huge piece of our hearts, there is one little man who makes the lump in our throats just a wee bit bigger and our eyes water just a little bit more.
Our OG Wings & Roots kiddo. π
When we opened Wings & Roots in February 2023, he was the only child in our little crew who hadnβt already been in our care before or wasnβt one of our own kiddos.He took a chance on us right alongside his family.
For the last 3 years and 7 months, we have had the absolute privilege of watching him grow through so many stages of his little life.
We heard first words.
We watched friendships begin and grow.
We gave hugs and kisses to scraped knees. Watch his teeth become loose.
We celebrated all the little victories that somehow turn into really big ones.
We watched him grow from one of our littlest daycare kiddos into this smart, funny, kind little man who is somehow ready for kindergarten.
And somewhere along the way, the lines got a little blurry because he became besties with all four of our own kiddos too. π€That meant he got the privilege of tagging along on more than just daycare adventures. Hikes, baseball games, river days, family outings and all the random little adventures in between. He built friendships with our kids outside of daycare too and truly became such a special part of both of our families.
And we cleaned mud off his body.
So. Much. Mud.
Honestly⦠the mud. You really have no idea !!!!
There are kids who come into your childcare program, and then there are kids you get the incredible privilege of growing up alongside. He will forever be part of the beginning of Wings & Roots and part of the story of how this little daycare became what it is today.
We could write forever about these three kiddos and the families who trusted us to love them, teach them, comfort them, cheer for them, wipe their noses, feed them approximately 400 million snacks, clean up their messes and watch them become exactly who they are meant to be.
So for now, we will shed a few tears knowing we donβt get them all day, every day anymore.
We will be ridiculously proud watching them walk into kindergarten.
And we will cherish the fact that this isnβt really goodbye at all.
Because come school bellβ¦ theyβre coming right back to us. π
We love you, our little Kindy crew.
Go show them everything youβve got. π€π€§
Shalanda McFarlane
Tanya Sambrook
Kailee Ramsell
