Jennifer Cox

Age should never be an excuse to do less or to stop learning. It took some time for me to discover my passion for learning new things. Now that I am a Senior at Eastern Washington University, at 45 years old, I am wondering what I will learn next in order to improve my work with children and their families.

Having my own children ignited my curiosity in how they learn and develop. After my daughter was born in 2002 I was able to quit my job at a local print shop and stay home with her. Because of my dedication to my own children I had friends ask me to care for their children in my home. That is how my child care business began, and how my love of learning about child development took a more formal turn. I helped raise two full time kids and on some days had as many as eight children in addition to my own running around the yard and doing science experiments in my kitchen.

In 2010, After 7 years of full time in home child care, my regular kids were off to school and so was I. I graduated in 2013 with my AA in Early Childhood Education and transferred to the Children's Studies program at Eastern where I am scheduled to graduate in March, 2016.

My family is incredibly supportive of my new career and very understanding of the huge amount of time that school has taken. I work hard at my job as a preschool teacher and as a student, but my priority is my family. We love to spend time camping and taking road trips with extended family and friends. I never miss one of my daughter's choir concerts and I miss going to my son's band performances now that he has graduated. Whether we are spending a quiet night with a movie or are hosting a Bar B Que where the adults are outnumbered three to one by the children, I am happiest when I am with my family.