Adapting...

 One of the things I have loved about my almost 4 decades of pet grooming is that I have been able to adapt my work around my family. When I had a baby, I groomed pets in people's homes on evenings and weekends when she was with her daddy. When she got older, I had a mobile van. I worked all day and then picked her up after school (often with a pal.) They could have a snack and do homework, then play while I groomed a few more dogs. She was grown and doing her own thing when I opened my grooming studio at home and thought my days of creating my life around a child were over. 

I decorated one end of the grooming studio so customers could sit in a rocking chair, have a cup of coffee and a home-baked goodie and wait while I groomed their pet. This has been a success for eight happy years. And then The Owlet was born. She has been coming to work with her mama since she was a tiny bundle. We added a baby swing. We added a bassinet. When she got a little bigger, we added a bouncy chair. Things got crowded. We removed a rocking chair and added some toys. Now she is crawling, pulling up, getting into everything. It was clear that more space needed to be dedicated to her needs. I had a few ideas, and luckily sister Deb is an early childhood development specialist. I asked for her help, and the plotting began. The idea was to gift the Owlet with a space all her own for her first birthday. Sister could come to Maine this weekend, so we moved the timeline up just a bit. We were as excited as kids at Christmas. 

Chris helped by assembling a child-sized bookcase, a whiteboard, and a magical play tent. We had a vision and teamed up to make a cozy space for The Owlet. 

The new shelf is filled with beautiful wooden toys from Deb, aka "Aunt Dovie." Puzzles, blocks, and all sorts of developmentally appropriate toys to help a baby explore and grow. 

A wee rocking chair was gifted by a kind customer. It belonged to her great-grandmother in Canada. Now it is a sweet perch for an Owlet. 

We added a cozy play tent (with twinkle lights!) and an ottoman that doubles as a seat and has toy storage inside. A cozy Ruggable rug is comfy and machine washable. (Important in a grooming studio!) 

We kept the coffee maker, a rocker for customers, and the table that holds home-baked goodies. We added some pastel heart decals on the walls. And now, my career has offered me another chapter. A place and space to allow my granddaughter to grow and thrive. Grow on, Owlet!