A home away from home: Family Child Care provides stability and fun for local childre

[The Patriot]

Three-year-old Alexandria Buskirk carefully stroked a paintbrush to paper, creating the wings of a butterfly. She glanced up at her caretaker, Cecilia Valtierra, before finalizing the design. Valtierra gave her a soft smile and slight nod and the painting was completed. The young artist smiled shyly and leaned back to admire her work. "Alexandria is quiet and sweet," said Valtierra. "But she has an outgoing side and loves to play with the boys."Earlier this year, Valtierra opened up her home to a gaggle of small children and became a Family Child Care provider, a job that suits the former kindergarten teacher.

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