Tony blog post- 10.03.13
Hi my name is Tony Kee and I am an early childhood educator and expectant father. After ten years working in ‘childcare’ (or ‘early childhood education’ depending on which side of the fence you sit on) I am about to with my beautiful wife, Alana, embark on the journey of having my own child to provide love, care and ‘education’. Look out! So this is my blog, my journal, my tribute to my wife, my baby, my family and 10 years of childcare wrapped up into the final ten week countdown. If all goes to plan I aim to write ten posts, one per week, in the countdown to May 17th (our due date) for the benefit of myself and anyone else who appreciates my crazy take on life as we know it.
My early childhood journey began almost 29 years ago when I arrived in spectacular fashion in the spring of 1984. My unplanned invitation to life came from two very passionate and loving people, Trevor Kee and Gayle Jackson who were married a tidy 6 months before I came kicking and screaming to the real world. I come from a family of early childhood educators and when I was born my mother, who had just completed her early childhood teaching degree, like her mother before her, took me straight to work. From the warmth of my capsule I listened to mum plan and express her ideas for children and childcare. When I wasn’t with mum I was with my family daycare mum called Abla who cared for me at her home in Melbourne or at the footy with dad. Dad eventually decided to become a landscape gardener and over the past 15 years with mum has gone on to create the most beautiful early childhood settings I have seen in Australia and arguably the world (if you’re going to exaggerate, you might as well go the whole way!). They are an inspiration to me and many others.
When my first bratty little sister, Kathryn (who has also decided to pursue a career in childcare), arrived my expanding family moved home to Wonthaggi a small coastal town almost as far south as you can go on the east coast of Australia. Any further south and you’re in Tasmania! In Wonthaggi I suddenly had access to aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents and great grandparents. Having very attentive and considerate parents I had the chance to review my childcare options in town and carefully chose to attend Grandma Jackson’s preschool in North Wonthaggi rather than mum’s preschool. Being spoilt by grandma was the deciding factor and my memories of being four include finger painting, drawing, running around chasing girls, making mud pies and mixing my milk and water at morning tea time.
I have always been lucky enough to be sporty, active and artistic (not autistic mum, I’ve been checked!). When my parents delivered my second bratty little sister Rachael they also decided to put me into a social training and mobility program by moving first to sunny Queensland and then to beautiful Wauchope in New South Wales. During this period I quickly learned how to make new friends and fit in and I attended several different schools in successive years (not from being a brat, I was always probably a little too good at school for my own good, but just from moving around a few times, as many modern families do). We moved to Queensland when mum was offered a job as a founding director at a new long daycare centre on the Sunshine coast and dad became Mr. Mum with baby Rachael. These two things are important and set several factors in motion that affected me and my family. Mum quickly learned what it took to run and organize a successful children’s service and that private long daycare (The Australian government had just announced childcare benefit for families, sparking the growth of new early childhood services around Australia) could provide the funds (through fees) that eliminated the tooth-and-nail fundraising and protest rallies that defined her earlier community-based experience in Victoria. I firmly believe that when run correctly private long daycare providers can offer world-best facilities and practice. I also believe that community-based educators, like my grandmother, are some of the most passionate advocates for children and childcare in the world.
That aside my dad became the first male childcare figure in my life. When we moved to Wauchope to set up our family’s very own preschool and long daycare centre it was dad who suggested that I give childcare a try. He told me to complete my certificate three in children’s services and to treat it “like a trade” like some of my friends were starting. I often helped out at the centre after school anyway and knew my parents philosophies inside out from their dinner table discussions and workplace interactions. Despite initial skepticism I gave it a try and fell in love with the job but it was always hard to bring up in different social circles. When I won NSW Childcare Trainee of the year in 2004 I talked about some of the things I had to deal with when meeting people whilst out with friends. Many people thought I was joking after my friends would discuss their trades (bricklayer, fitter and turner, boiler maker, etc) and I would tell them I worked in childcare. No one had ever met a 6”4’ male childcare worker before!
Over the past ten years I have been lucky enough to work with many passionate educators, beautiful children and families and pursue my study and work in early childhood. Over the next few weeks I would love to share some of the most influential events and attitude changing moments of my life and career leading up to now, ten weeks out from fatherhood!
Included in this I would like to explain why I firmly believe that childcare is not just for girls, how sticks and stones can build strong bones and a few tips on how not to complete your university degree! So stay tuned punters and enjoy the ride. Tony Kee is online and loving it!
I am a third generation early childhood educator and I am passionate about children, families, crossfit and surfboat rowing. Let me know what you think about my posts please share any tips for future fatherhood!
Love it Tones, can’t wait to read more!!
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Thanks Kimmy! You were there when I first started working in Childcare. I loved working with you and the girls at Timbertown CC! You taught me that fun energetic caring educators can be such great role models for children and families. I have started running into children I looked after ten years ago! They are in high school now! Argh! 🙂
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Well done Tony can’t
wait to hear more
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Thankyou Deb! You’re beautiful granddaughters (and their amazing parents) are an inspiration to me and Alana!
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Toney thats Fantastic…….. I can not wait to read more!!
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Thanks Alysha, how’d you go with your CrossFit workout??
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So privileged to have you, Alana & your family’s in our lives.
Child care took on a new dimension when your family came to town. Set benchmarks!
Best wishes for your future. I look forward not only to the Blog but also where you will build your own centre
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Thanks Peta, your family is amazing (and hilarious!). I saw your grandparents taken hostage photos. You guys crack me up!
Your daughter gave me my first glorious job (at maul and wedge) when I was in high school. That definitely pushed me in the direction of Childcare. Haha
Very excited to have my own centre in the near future. I’ve been dreaming it for years!
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Tones, that’s an awesome blog, love ur passion, can’t wait to read more x
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Thanks Tash, love your FB photos. I wish we could see you more!!
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Awesome Tones. So glad you’ve started the blog! Look forward to the 10 week countdown! I will be here reading each week.
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Thanks Tahnee!!! So excited!! 🙂
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You are a terrific communicator Tony – I had no idea what you did for a living, and have to say I probably haven’t met many 6’4″ surfboat-rowing childcare workers, but you are a great ambassadaor for the industry. I suspect this blog will be a wonderful thing to look back on in years to come – the rest of us have very foggy memories of these important days. All the best with your journey – I think you’re going to love it!
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Haha thank you Jan! I have definitely loved writing the surfboat articles this summer!! Not sure what to expect once baby comes so just soaking it all in at the moment! Thank you 🙂
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Tony, I realy enjoyed reading that. I can’t wait to read your next installment. Very interesting and put a smile on my face.
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Thanks Audrey! Can’t wait to catch up with you soon. I’ve heard you’ve got some great nature resources!
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What an awesome, amusing & amazing story – great to read how you have reflected on past experiences & influences that have shaped & moulded the amazing young man, husband and soon-to-be father you have become! Looking forward to reading on & sharing in your on-going real life journey!
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Thanks mum! 🙂
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lov it Tony.. u r hilarious !!! don’t just do the blog for 10 weeks .. start writing a book!! looking forward to the nxt chapter
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Thanks Kel,
Hope the kids are well! Glad you enjoyed!
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This is wonderful read and truly inspiring.. I work in childcare in Ireland and would love to see more males working with children.. Look forward to reading more about your journey…
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Thanks Michelle. It’s been a great journey so far. I wish more men worked in Childcare too. How did you get started in Childcare?
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Hi Tony,
Thank you so much for nurturing and educating our little girl. She adores you and loves coming to ‘school’ every day!
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Thank you Anna! Your daughter is beautiful. It is a pleasure seeing her smiling face everyday. You and Andrew are doing a great job!
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Congratulations Tony. I am sure there are thousands of men out there that certainly missed their calling to the childcare profession due to the faux stigmas attached to men and supposed ‘real jobs’ with the diverse family units we have today, I believe that it is of the upmost importance that young children, especially young boys are surrounded by and nurtured by positive male role models!
William will be truly blessed being a part of yours and Alana’s family and who knows, his childcare journey is only just beginning.
Having just finished my ETC and Primary teaching degree, I am looking forward to really entering into the field and learning from passionate educators like you and your family!
All the best, Leah Wilson 🙂
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ECT obviously 😛
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Thanks Leah, I wish you all the best on your early childhood adventures! 🙂
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