We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Read. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.
Hi Michelle, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I have always loved children and have known that I would work with them in some way. Also, I have always loved teaching. So I combined the two early on in my life especially if you count the many times I played school as a young girl. That was in the days of chalkboards. I was an elementary teacher for 23 years and found great purpose and satisfaction in loving, guiding and teaching young children.
When I retired from teaching, I began babysitting and night nannying. Seeing the world from a child’s perspective really helped me enjoy the little things. As these parents began asking me questions especially about their child’s sleep, I realized I could again combine my love for children and teaching by becoming a certified Sleep Sense Consultant helping these tired parents navigate the ups and downs of their child’s sleep.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I babysat as a teen and was a summer camp counselor. I loved teaching elementary school right out of college and when I retired from that, I began babysitting. As a “grandma-wanna-be” I thoroughly enjoyed playing and being with babies and young children. Their enthusiasm for all the little things: bubbles, silly faces, doodle bugs, ant hills, and swinging was contagious. And I was hooked! I still babysit for parents on date nights.
In 2021, I joined a group, the Night Night Nanny by TLC. We work with parents of newborns providing infant care throughout the night so they can get quality rest. Working with them brought back all the feels from when I had my own two sons. It was a beautiful time, yet very hard. I was not getting adequate rest and surviving on granola bars. Those parents began asking me how to help their newborn(s) to sleep better and longer. I didn’t know what to tell them. So of course, I googled it. I discovered there is a whole science to baby sleep and that I could train, study and complete courses to become certified. I did just that and am certified through the Sleep Sense organization. Now I teach expectant and tired parents how to get the best sleep for their babies/toddlers. Helping a child learn to sleep well benefits the entire family!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Having a basic knowledge of child development certainly came in handy as well as my experience with children, but also realizing I can learn new things through every situation and person in my life.
Listen more than you talk and be willing to consider other’s opinions. In my business, I make recommendations to parents often but they know their baby better than me and so I make it a habit to truly listen to what they are telling me in regards to their child and his sleep so that together we are making the best decisions.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My husband has been my greatest teacher, helping me to know my value and remain confident in my abilities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mrsleepsolutions.com
- Instagram: https://.michelle_babysleepconsultant
- Facebook: Michelle Read Sleep Solutions
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
