In the late 1970's I worked as a district psychologist for day-care centers in Bratislava, Slovakia. There were about two dozen day-care centers in my district, and I visited them regularly.

It was my job to oversee the quality of the care as far as the mental development of the children (ages 6 months to 3 years) was concerned.

I have always been a firm believer in teaching by example, so rather than just watching the aides and then telling them what to do and what not to do, I always went down on the floor and spent some quality time with the children. They loved climbing all over me, and one girl in particular enjoyed throwing herself into my lap.

One day, upon seeing me again, a three-year old boy shook his head and said, "Don't you ever go to work?!"

"I am at work," I replied.

"But you're not working," he explained. "You're just playing with us!"

Gosh, I miss those days!

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