21/08/2026
Today we celebrated our incredible school leavers, and what an emotional day it has been. 🥹❤️
We had the wonderful Josie from diddi dance Torbay, Central Exeter & Surrounding providing some fantastic entertainment as always! We shared lots of snacks and cakes, and then came the part I was absolutely dreading… saying goodbye. I tried to talk and completely failed through the tears, so Shirley stepped in and read the amazing poems she had written (thank you Shirley, your way with words is like no other!) before I presented the children with their leaving gifts. 🎓🎁
We spent some really special time together, talking about all the wonderful memories and good times we have shared. There was lots of laughter, lots of love… and quite a few tears!
I honestly cannot put into words how grateful I am to have built the incredible community that we have at Helping Hands. Watching how much the children love and care for one another, and seeing the beautiful connections between our families, is something truly special.
When I started my little childminding business, I never knew what it would become but I did know I wanted to be able to help more families and create more spaces where children could have the wonderful experiences, adventures and opportunities we could offer. Over time, Helping Hands has grown into something I could never have imagined… something truly special and, completely irreplaceable. ❤️
Something I’ve never let go of is the high standard we offer and I am so incredibly grateful for the amazing team we have. The time, love, care and dedication they give to every single moment with the children is something I never take for granted. I know how lucky we are to have them, and how lucky the children are to have them too.
And I can’t help thinking that 3 year old me, who always had her baby doll tucked under her arm, would be SO proud of what we have created and the impact we are now having. 🥹❤️
Saying goodbye never gets any easier. I genuinely thought it might… but trust me, it hits you every single year! 😂😭
Because the bonds we build here are so much more than simply “caring for children” or “working with children”. We have magical days, big adventures, little everyday moments, endless memories, and most importantly, we care deeply about every child who comes through our doors.
We are completely invested in giving them the best possible start in life. So to hear emotional parents today telling us that they feel we have done exactly that means more than they will ever know. ❤️
It is such a bittersweet feeling. We would happily keep them with us forever, but we also know that the time has come for their next big adventure. We have watched them grow, supported them, celebrated them and helped them develop the confidence, independence and skills they need to take those next steps into school.
To all of our wonderful school starters, we are SO proud of you. 🎓❤️
Go and have the most amazing adventures. We will miss you more than you know, but we cannot wait to see all the wonderful things you go on to achieve.
Thank you for letting us be such a special part of your childhood. 🥹
Love,
One very emotional childminder. ❤️😭
