Birmingham Mom Collective is happy to partner with Ardent Preschool and Day Care in their mission to create an environment for children to grow and thrive. To see if Ardent is the right fit for you, contact them today to schedule a visit at one of their four Birmingham locations.
A Little History
My name is Erica Spray. My son, Cooper, is now 20 months old and has been in daycare since he was seven months old. As painful as it was, my husband Shane and I decided at that time that I should take an offer on a new job that was presented to me. Before pregnancy this would have been the ideal job for me, after all.
We enrolled him at a daycare that I will not name. I will, however, say that it was a nightmare. The things we saw and experienced at this daycare almost made me never want to send him anywhere ever again. There was one incident in particular that I will never forget as long as I live. I drove up to the daycare to pick up my son and two other toddlers had gotten out of the front door and had almost made it onto a very busy highway! I heard breaks squeal, and I began praying. Thankfully a good Samaritan stopped in the road and picked up one of the little girls and brought her back to the facility. My heart was racing as I ran inside to make sure my son was inside, then I held him tighter than I ever had before.
There was no backup plan for us. We did not have any family that could watch him during the day. However, none of those things even crossed my mind. From that day forward I never took him back there again.
Now What?
I told my work that I would need to work from home for a few months until I decided what was best for my family. We looked into over 20 daycares! (That’s no exaggeration.) We had one school that we wanted as our first choice, but they were not accepting applications. Then, one fateful afternoon, we got a call back from Ardent Preschool and Daycare. Shane and I both went to tour the school, and we were impressed from the moment we walked in. The staff was welcoming and professional. The facility was safe and well maintained. The babies all seemed happy and clean. We left the tour with a glimpse of hope.
One month later, Cooper began attending classes at Ardent. I use the word class because of how structured they are. It’s more than just a daycare. The teachers and staff are invested in your children, and not a minute of their day is unplanned. They serve a well-balanced breakfast and lunch each day, as well as multiple snacks. The breakfast and lunch are home cooked by their in-house cook! Even my picky eater says her name on the weekends because she comes in and personally serves each classroom daily. Her larger-than-life personality gets the kids engaged in lunchtime, which makes dinnertime so much easier at our house, too!
Forever Grateful for Ardent!
My once-shy son now hugs the staff and is making friends. He recently began praying before meals at home, and he is so proud to show us how much he is learning. He does sign language when we sing his ABC’s, and he is learning how to craft and color. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be well advanced before he starts kindergarten due to the structure and curriculum he is exposed to each day at Ardent. They really do make learning fun!
Two weeks ago, our original first-choice daycare called us with an opening, and we didn’t even think twice. There is no way I would ever pull my son from his school. I cannot overstate enough how important my child’s safety and education are to me, and with Ardent, I do not have to stress about either one. Like all of the other children, they treat my son like he is family, and everyone knows each other on a first-name basis. Ardent Preschool and Daycare gave me peace of mind and re-established my trust in the early education system.
Ardent Family Bonus Offer
Ardent Preschool and Daycare is currently running a seasonal bonus offer! This offer includes the first week of care for free with no administration fee and is available at the Greystone and Valleydale locations, while space is available.
For more information visit Ardent Preschool and Daycare on Facebook and Instagram.
