Omaha, NE – Each month, the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative highlights a dedicated provider from our Family Child Care Network who goes above and beyond for children and families. Get to know this month’s provider!
Michelle Decker
A mom of 7, with 5 grandchildren and 2 more grandbabies on the way!
Started her first full-time babysitting job at just 11 years old!
Operates a screen-free program and focuses on learning through play.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your family.
Hi there! I have a blended family consisting of 7 children! I have 2 sons and 5 daughters. I was a single mother with two daughters when I met my husband in 2010. He had 4 children (3 girls and 1 boy), and we decided to have a Brady Bunch and add one of our own after we were married. Our two older daughters have given us 5 grandsons, and we have two more grandbabies on the way!
How did you become a Family Child Care Provider? Have you always worked with children?
I have always loved working with little ones. I taught Sunday school and really enjoyed working with the kids. Growing up in a small town, I was THE babysitter. My first full-time job was watching 2 children every day after school till their mom got off work. I was 11 years old. After my divorce, I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and decided to go work at the Nebraska State Penitentiary because working at Walmart as a single mother wasn’t cutting it. I worked there for 15 years. I always had a dream to run a daycare in my home, but landlords never approved it. In 2023, my husband and I left the big city and bought an acreage outside of Beatrice, Nebraska, and I knew my dream was about to come true.
What early childhood or business credential have you earned?
I have completed the Getting Down to Business course. I have taken 4 out of the 7 Early Learning Guideline courses. I am currently taking the Family Child Care Business Series. I also have a BA degree in Criminal Justice and an AA in Psychology.
What is unique about your program?
I have developed a program based off of what I liked about the daycares that my children were in and even what I remembered as a kid. I removed the things I didn’t care for. I think one of the biggest things about my program is that I have no screen time. I’m guilty of giving my children my phone to keep them occupied while I had to do something. However, this is my business. I get paid to take care of your child. We occasionally have a dance party with my phone every couple of weeks, but having no screen time is helping these children learn better through play. Imaginations are growing, and we have a good time.
What have been your biggest business challenges?
The biggest challenge is being new to a town and trying to open a daycare. I quit the prison and only had one child enrolled with a couple of drop-ins here and there. I am finally full after 3 months. It took some time, but it was worth it.
What do you attribute to your success?
God! He helped me get here and answered my prayers! Secondly, my husband’s support. I could not have done this without him. My family and friends have really been helpful with sharing my business page and supporting me through all of this. The support from all of my important people has been great. I have put lots of time and energy into creating my daycare to make it what I envisioned. I had to spend late nights and weekends creating a curriculum, menus, activities for the children, and decorating, and they all understood.
What is a business accomplishment you are proud of?
The daycare is open!!! Leaving a career of 15 years to pursue my dream of having my own in-home daycare is an amazing accomplishment!
What is your vision for your child care business?
The early years are the most important times to nurture a child’s love of learning. I have created a quality program for the children filled with care and learning. Children learn best in a safe and welcoming environment and through play. My vision is to keep going strong with what I have created, and help prepare children for school and their future.
If you had one piece of advice to give someone, what would it be?
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it takes to achieve it.” – Earl Nightingale. I read this years ago, and it has stuck with me, especially when I was starting my daycare.
Learn more about this year’s featured providers!
Elida Canjura | March 2025
Háblenos un poco de usted, de su pasado y de su familia.
Soy una maestra graduada en mi país de origen, El Salvador, CA donde ejercí mi carrera por 10 años
Luego emigré a este país a través de mi mamá, y me radique en, Fremont NE, donde trabajé en todas áreas de producción que existen a qui en Fremont, y dia a día me daba cuenta la necesidad de tener un cuidado infantil donde podría dejar a mis hijos tranquilamente y poder salir todos los días a trabajar.
¿Cómo llegó a ser cuidador familiar de niños? ¿Siempre ha trabajado con niños?
Un día vi un anuncio en redes sociales que iba aver unas clases de cuidado infantil a qui en fremont, y me fui suscribir para poder a sistir, y a si concluí el proceso, muy agradecida en esta ruta de mi preparación encontré a muchas personas que me ayudaron y guiaron para poder concluir con todos los permisos estatales y poder obtener mi licencia de cuidado infantil, y ser el primer cuidado infantil hispano a qui en Fremont.
¿Qué credenciales de educación infantil o empresarial ha obtenido?
A qui en el estado tengo todos la preparación de cuidado infantil requerida por el estado, me gradué el año pasado de, serie de negocios en cuidado infantil familiar. ( continuo prerandome mas)
¿Qué tiene de especial su programa?
- Tenemos un ambiente educativo y estimulante
- Clases preescolares
- Actividades educativas
- Enseñanza de español / inglés
- Estimulación temprana
¿Cuáles han sido sus mayores retos empresariales?
El abrir puertas como mercado en un lugar, donde esta área de cuidado infantil eres la primera en cuidado infantil.
¿A qué atribuye su éxito?
A Dios y a mi familia por qué somos un equipo que me apoyan y me ayudan en todo momento
¿Cuál es el logro empresarial del que se siente orgulloso?
Ser un líder en cuidado infantil de calidad ,proporcionar un entorno seguro y enriquecedor donde cada niño pueda crecer feliz y seguro.
¿Cuál es su visión de su negocio de cuidado de niños?
El abrir puertas como mercado en un lugar, donde esta área de cuidado infantil eres la primera en cuidado infantil.
Si tuviera que dar un consejo a alguien, ¿cuál sería?
Que siempre sigamos nuestros sueños y nos dediquemos hacer lo que amemos hacer.
