My journey in childcare began shortly after I graduated high school, when I took on early morning care for a family of five. A bucket of beads spilled across the floor, a baby crying for her bottle, two boys fighting over a Nintendo, and five minutes to get out the door. Within an hour, I began to understand just how intimate a nannying role could be. I could feel how much trust parents were placing in me, and I could see the relief that came from knowing they left their children in the care of someone they trusted. That is where I found a deep sense of purpose. Families relied on me, they trusted me, and every single day I got to show up and make someone's life just a little easier.
After I began this work, I enrolled at Greenfield Community College, where I studied early childhood education and worked full time in private childcare. Connecting what I was learning in class to the work I was doing in people's homes brought me an immense amount of joy. I was extremely passionate about education and childcare, but more than anything, I loved showing up for families in the moments they needed it most: giving an extra hand with breakfast, taking the trash out, and soothing tantrums when parents were running on empty.
I went on to study psychology and health and society at the University of Vermont, where I developed a deeper understanding of families, attachment theory, and how the health and well-being of children and parents are often connected. After earning my degree, what had started as a temporary role became my whole world. I was matched with several different families through national agencies, becoming an integral part of many homes across the state, and seeing how difficult it was for Vermont families to find care through in-state resources.
Over the years, I have gotten to know the families of Vermont closely and come to understand many of the troubles and triumphs that accompany raising children in this beautiful state. You have all taught me the true meaning of “it takes a village.” You have shown me the importance of community, extra hands, and powerful role models when raising a family, and you have let me in on the struggles you face living in an area where daycare is sparse and early education resources are slim. So I set out on a mission to make these early years more manageable.
I created Roccio Care Collective so I could spread the work I was doing beyond the households I was working in and to help parents get the support they deserve. I have spent years learning what makes an extraordinary caregiver, the type of person you want to call on when you need help carrying the load. That goes beyond what is presented on a resume. It is understanding who they are and how they show up when it matters most.