She's been at it for many years, taking care of kids, but just not her own kids, some one else's."I feel they are my kids, when they come to the nursery, you know, they aren't the mother's kids anymore, they are our kids and our jobs to take care of the kids," says Isabel Cortinez, A Day Nursery of Abilene, child care worker.
Cortinez says it's been such a rewarding job for her and the best part was seeing her kids all grown up.
"Seeing the kids growing, seeing them leave, go to school go to college. I've taken care some of the kids, and their kids and some have gone to college and come back."
Cortinez wasn't afraid to speak her mind about the worst part.
"The worst part of being here is the pay," says Cortinez.
Her former director says since she recently retired she's been truly missed.
"There's a big hole in everybody's heart and the parents of the school agers, she took care of their kids when they were little, so she has touched, touched everybody," says Brenda Peak, Director of Center for A Day Nursery of Abilene.
Cortinez says it was hard retiring and leaving these kiddo's behind and she is going to miss them.
"I didn't want to leave and I don't want to cry right now, it was hard for me to leave."
She is happy she spent all those years with kids and recalls saying things to parents that would startle some.
"I got a funny attitude when I would talk to them I would say when you come here look for your kids, if you don't see them down here kind of look up there, they may be up there you know."
She's been dedicated to these children for 33 years and we wish her a happy
retirement.
Congratulations Isabel Cortinez.
