Buttons 'n Bows Turns '25'
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Buttons 'n Bows Child Care and Pre-school owner Vickie Holmes was attending John A. Logan College and working parttime for her aunt, Emily Harrison, at the ABC Day Care Center, remembering that "I wanted to do something with kids, but I didn't know what."
Two-income families were becoming the norm with coal mining still generating large incomes across Perry County. Mrs. Harrison told her niece that now was the time to start what would become Buttons 'n Bows.
"I got a divorce and needed the income. My parents backed me and Sharon Dirler had a beauty shop in a trailer on this lot. Everybody thought the location across from the (Keyes) park would be a great place, we bought it and that's how Buttons 'n Bows began," remembers Vickie.
That was in 1983, and on the eve of the 25th anniversary of Buttons 'n Bows Child Care and Pre-School it's hard to believe that her first kids are now "30-something."
Vickie dates, but never married again. She gets up at the crack of dawn, unlocks the door at 5:30 a.m. and typically walks the last of the kids to the front door at 6 p.m. every afternoon. "It's my life," she said, with no idea of slowing down.
"I started out with 11 kids and it grew to 18 kids pretty quick," she said. One of her first employees, teacher Wendy Hopkins, has been with Buttons 'n Bows since 1986, and another employee, and Bonnie Harrison has been with the center since 1988. All told, Buttons 'n Bows now employs nine child care specialists and teachers.
During the summer months when both parents are working, enrollment runs to upwards of 70 students, but the times are changing. "Pre-K has hurt us a lot," she said. Kids go to Pre-K in the morning "then go to grandma's in the afternoon," she said.
"And, there are so many home day cares now," she said. "We use to be the cheapest, but we have had to raise prices," she said.
Costs of day care climbs as the costs for insurance, staff members and supplies go up.
"We may have to start accepting infants," she said, but she isn't sure.
Three years ago, Buttons 'n Bows expanded and constructed a new attached classroom to the south. "It's wonderful, particularly when it rains," she says.
Over the years, "kids are about the same, but behavior is an issue," says Vickie. Respect and good behavior have to start at home. Some kids have it, some need some help."
"If it doesn't come from home, it's hard," she said.
"Kids are a lot smarter," she said. "They can read before they enter school. "They are good in math and reading, but many of the kids lack social skills," she said. "We teach them morals and respect," she said.
The kids are "with it." Every now and then a youngster's cell phone will go off in their pocket. "Can you believe it! Itty bitty kids with cell phones?" Last year she had a four-year-old that brought a cell phone and called '911.' "Who would believe we have to take cell phones away." she smiled. And, the fact that parents have given up their land phones and routinely jump from plan to plan with their cell phones makes it harder to reach parents, she said.
"My life is these children," and it shows in everything she does, all the way up to the time she finally locks the door at 6 p.m. and has a chance to sit down. You can contact Vickie at 542-3133.