Date posted: 5-9-01

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By Veronica Thomas

DeKalb News Service

ST. CHARLES -- A bellowing voice, big smile and infectious laugh are the first things you notice about Elaine Goc. But there is more than meets the eye.

Goc, 54, has overcome many challenges to remain one of the most popular childcare providers in St. Charles. The respect she's earned is evidenced by the fact that few people call her Elaine.

"Even my grandsons call me Mrs. Goc," she said.

She began baby-sitting in 1979. After moving to St. Charles a year earlier, she realized her youngest child had no one in the neighborhood to play with.

"My other kids had friends, but Becky didn't," Goc said.

Goc met a woman in her church choir who had a 10-month-old daughter.

"She was getting divorced and going back to work," Goc said. "I said I would baby-sit for her if she taught my kids how to play the piano. That's how it all began."

People in the neighborhood saw Goc outside, and began asking if she was interested in taking more children.

"In 1980, I started watching two more kids for $1 an hour. I got to be full-time three or four years into it," Goc said. "I liked it because it gave me time to be with my kids and be involved in their activities."

Goc now watches 31 children during the course of a week, from 24 different families. Her day begins about 7 a.m. and doesn't end until 6 p.m.

"During the day I have anywhere from one to eight children," she said. "Their ages range from 6 months to 6 years."

Many of the children Goc watches come part-time.

"Some are here all day for eight hours," she said. "Others only come for 15 minutes after school. Most kids aren't here every day. Some have set days and some just are in and out occasionally.
"It's before and after school that I have the crowds."

Debra Harkins, a secretary at Munhall elementary school in St. Charles, feels confident leaving her daughter in Goc's care.

"She is a wonderful baby sitter," Harkins said. "Her proximity to my work is awesome. All the children she watches go through the school system, so she knows all the teachers. She's a very loving, giving warm-hearted person, who makes you feel comfortable. Mrs. Goc loves every child in her care."

Heidi Cook, a St. Charles bus driver, agrees.

"When I drop my kids off at Mrs. Goc's house I don't worry," she said. "I know they will be well taken care of. You hear about terrible things happening to kids these days, but with Mrs. Goc, I don't worry."

Goc doesn't follow a strict schedule, but says the day is balanced between activities and quiet time.

"The kids like to play with toys, color, and build with blocks," she said. "They love to play with the baby I watch. I also take them to the library for story hour once a week."

She allows them to watch one movie a day and one TV show.

Parents play an important role in Goc's business success.

"The parents are always willing to help," she said. "They bring supplies like paper for the kids to draw. They also donate toys." Parents also help by picking up kindergarteners from school when it rains.

"My daughters are also a big help," Goc said. "Sometimes they will stay and watch the kids if I have to go somewhere."

Last summer Goc had more kids than normal so she hired the daughter of a friend to help out.

"I normally have about four to eight kids a day in the summer," she said. "Last year I had more because some parents had already used up vacation time." Several of the parents work in school districts and have the summer off.

Formal training

Goc took a job right after high school, and then stayed at home to raise her family. She said one of her proudest accomplishments was graduating from Washington State University in 1999 with a degree in human development. Goc took telecourses at night and on the weekends to complete her degree.

"I took classes that dealt with what I do here," she said. "I've had kids come through the door with attention deficit disorder, family problems and learning disabilities."

Goc believes children in a home daycare enjoy many of the benefits that kids who stay at home with their mothers do.

"When I was in college, I visited a lot of different daycare facilities," she said. "In many of these places, the kids couldn't be held or cuddled because the daycare centers were afraid of lawsuits. For a child to grow and develop normally, they need to be loved and hugged. Kids in daycare need these things too. Without them, I think a child could be more aggressive or standoffish. In home daycare situations, as long the person is caring, kids get the love they need. The kids here act no more or less aggressive than any of my own children. They all get love and hugs."

Goc sometimes has to turn people away.

"It's hard," she said. "I wish I could take everyone. There's an incredible demand for quality childcare."

Goc doesn't have a waiting list because most people need someone right away.

"It could take two years for a spot to open up," she said. "Most people who start with me are with me forever."

Goc also baby-sits five physically or mentally challenged kids. There is a shortage of childcare for disabled children.

"Easter Seals has begun a program, but even before they opened their doors there was a waiting list of over 50 children," she said. "People with disabled kids would love to work, too."

Goc has many calls from parents wanting her to take their disabled child, but says five is all she can handle.She believes children benefit from the experience of being around others who are diverse.

"I want the kids to get used to being with people who are different from them," she said. "It's only by the grace of God they're not handicapped themselves. These kids didn't ask for their disabilities. I make all my children treat each other with respect."

Christmas is a special time for Goc. Every year she rents a theater and treats all of her families to a free movie.

For years, Goc lived in the family home and used it for her business. When her husband died in 1998, she decided to buy a townhouse. One of Goc's daughters now lives in the family home and allows Goc to continue to use it for her business.

Goc said it was an adjustment not living in the house anymore.

"I used to be able to roll out of bed and go downstairs to work, " she said. "Now I have to roll out of bed, get in the car and drive to work like everyone else."

Goc gets most referrals by word of mouth. Harkins found out about Goc from her daughter's school.

"I had just moved to St. Charles and needed a sitter," Harkins said. "I asked the school secretary about one. She gave me Mrs. Goc's name."

Goc doesn't plan to stop baby-sitting in the near future. She said she will continue, "Until it ceases to be fun. Until it becomes a job."

"The worst part of my job is keeping everyone's schedules straight," Goc said. "The best part is getting paid to do this."

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Source list:
· Elaine Goc, Child-care Provider, St. Charles. (630) 584-1452
· Debra Harkins, Secretary Munhall School, St. Charles. (630) 513-6990
· Heidi Cook, Bus Driver, St. Charles.