Fernandez Childcare Provider

Hilda Fernandez runs a day care center at her home, enabling her to raise her own child while providing other people’s children with a loving and safe environment to grow up in.  “My business is a very special,” Ms. Fernandez says, “I offer a loving, care and safe place for children, I also offer families the opportunity to know what their child does during the day.”  

Ms. Fernandez moved to California from Michoacan, Mexico when she was 5 years old and has lived in California since that time, moving to Watsonville in 2000.  After she had her first child she opened a day care center in her home.  “I started thinking about opening my own day care when I was pregnant with my first and only child,” she said, “I looked at so many day care centers but I couldn’t find one that I felt happy with….I had the mother's feeling of wanting to stay home and care for my child myself.”

Ms. Fernandez focuses on communication in her day care center.  She is dedicated to communicating with the parents of the children that she cares for and she also communicates with the children, encouraging them.  “I offer every child the opportunity to sit down and read a book in a quiet place, or play in the play area.  I want them to know and understand their environment, meet new children and have social conversations when they wish.”

Ms. Fernandez sought out the El Pajaro CDC to get help with her tax preparation and financial situation for her new business.  “When I first started my own business it was hard to see myself as an employer and not an employee,” Ms. Fernandez says.  “I didn't know anything about record-keeping or preparing for tax season.  I have learned very important information that is helping me grow as a professional.  I learned so many things about taxes that I started working with H&R Block thanks to El Pajaro CDC.”

“My life was changed for the good,” she said of opening her own business, “not only financially but also because I have more time to be with my family and I have more economic independence.  I am seeing myself as a business-woman and not a baby-sitter.”  Ms. Fernandez is planning on expanding her day care so that she can accommodate more children.  “I want to have a big place for the children to feel free to explore and learn while having fun in a loving, caring and safe day care.”