Temecula Child Care and Preschools: A California Success Story

The opening of Our Kids Child Care and Preschool in Temecula, California is a testament to fact that hard work still empowers women of modest means to live the American Dream.

TEMECULA, CA (PRWEB) July 15, 2004 -- The opening of Our Kids Child Care and Preschool Center this past week in Temecula, California is a encouraging sign that the Great American Dream is alive and well. Just ask Lavdie (Gloria) Hamzai, Our Kids founder. She is an Albanian immigrant who arrived with her family in this country in 1991 with little more than a suitcase, $1,800, and the desire to succeed.

"When we arrived in San Diego thirteen years ago, we were afforded a two-bedroom 'furnished' apartment that included a frying pan, a mattresses for each of us to sleep on, four blankets, four glasses, and four spoons," she said. "That may not sound like much, but when you have little or nothing, you really learn to appreciate the simple things in life," she went on to say putting great emphasis on "really."

When they first arrived in the United States, the Hamzais didn't speak English so as one might imagine the family's success did not come quickly or easily. "My husband's first job was in a bakery where he earned a little more than $2.00 a hour working the graveyard shift while I worked a number of odd jobs to help make ends meet," Gloria said. "And things pretty much stayed that way for a year while we all learned the English language," she added. "As you well might imagine, there isn't a large Albanian community in Southern California so we had to adapt to our surroundings and culture and this was a major adjustment," she said.

Gloria first considered an entry into the child care industry in early 1992 while living in San Diego. A social worker suggested she consider the profession and six months later after completing all necessary legal requirements she opened a modest child care business in her apartment.

As a professionally trained nurse, Gloria naturally gravitated to child care but her professional training doesn't tell the whole story. "Some might say that my maternal instincts are exaggerated, but it is my love of children that led me to decide that I would be most happy in a profession dedicated to the nurturing of children," she said.

And it is apparent she can't help herself. "I live for innocent smiles, unanticipated hugs, and the excitement that accompanies the look on children's faces when they discover something new about the world around them," she said with a telling and endearing smile.

Moving to Temecula in 1996, the Hamzais are now living the American Dream. "My husband is a successful painting contractor and I have just now succeeded in building a permanent facility here in Temecula to house my expanding child care business," she continued.

Asked what she attributed the family's success to, Gloria responded quickly. "Freedom," she said. "In this country, unlike so many others, you are free to pursue your dreams and as long as you work hard, success will come," she said.

Our Kids Child Care and Preschool Center, a newly constructed, state-of-the-art child care and preschool center, finally opened it doors after two months of agonizing delays. Not surprisingly the center is already operating at near capacity. "We still have a few slots available for permanent placements," she said, "and we anticipate filling them before the end of the month."

Asked whether Our Kids will accept drop-ins, children dropped off for an afternoon or day, Gloria made it clear that this is one of the services Our Kids will offer on a continuing basis. "There are times when mothers need to take some time off and we want to be there to help relieve the pressures of daily life," she said.

Our Kids drop-in program affords mothers the means to break away from their busy and sometimes tedious routines. "Every now and again parents like to spend a relaxing day together without having to worry about attending to their children's needs," she said. "That's where we come in."
   
For the complete story about the Gloria's transition from life under an oppressive communist regime to the good life in the United States you can visit Our Kids web site (www.ourkidschildcarecenter.com). Her letter introducing herself to visitors on the About Us page is inspirational, a must read.

For more information about programs and availability, visit the center's web site or contact Jennifer, Our Kids Director of Operations, at (951) 303-6130.

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