February is Parent Recognition Month. Strengthening Families Washington, of the Department of Early Learning for Washington State, believes there is no better way to recognize a parent, grandparent, foster or adoptive parent than by acknowledging the numerous and impressive things they do to strengthen their family and those around them in their community.

Seattle’s Child is proud to sponsor the Washington Unsung Hero Awards, recognizing our everyday heroes and honoring the important role caregivers play in children’s lives. There are 28 nominees for the 28 days of February, and Seattle’s Child will highlight each and every one.

Congratulations to the Unsung Hero for February 5: Lina McDonald – Silverdale, WA:

Lina is an oustanding caregiver who makes my child a part of her family.  Since Lina began providing care, Leyna’s vocabulary has increased exponentially!  She has learned to like more foods, she has learned to help care for others and has shown more interest in doing thins for herself.  We are a dual-income family, so this is a blessing!  Lina has become so important to our daughter that we hope to have her there for many years to come.

Nominator:  DeAnna Salmon 

Lina and Emy are the most caring, loving, day care providers. They treat my son as if he was their own. They bend over backwards to help out families and they especially went out of their way to help me while my husband is deployed. They make me feel guilt free and allow me to know my son is in a safe loving environment they truly are an unsung hero.

Nominator:  Elizabeth Thormann 

Lina McDonald and her business partner Emelyn Domadal have made it possible for me to continue working outside of my home.  Our family had recently moved from Port Orchard to Bremerton at the beginning of the school year.  We had a terrific provider in Port Orchard, but when we moved, it didn't make sense for us to continue using her.  I needed someone who would be able to care for both of my boys- age 7 and age 1.  A Children's Haven appealed to me immediately because their mission is to provide the care they wished they had when their children were younger.  My youngest, Jacob, is slow to warm up to people, but every morning, he is so excited to see Lina and Emy.  When I had a family emergency that sent me back home to Hawaii, they offered to pick up my son from my home in the morning, take him to school, pick him up from school, and drop him off at my home at the end of the day so he wouldn't miss any school.  With my husband being deployed every 3 months, their love and care is essential to the emotional health of my boys. I know they don't do it for the money.  Lina's husband is a JAG officer in the Navy and she wouldn't have to work if she didn't want to, but she feels she's been called to provide this service so other parents don't have to make the decision she had to- providing a caring home for her girls or climbing the corporate ladder in finance.  A CPA by trade, she could be making a lot more money doing far less work elsewhere.  Every day I drop my boys off at their house, I feel so confident that they're getting such amazing quality of care.  I know that they love my boys as if they were their own children.  I know that they treat them as well as I would.  I know that they will not be disadvantaged as adults having had a working mother because they provide a safe, loving, and engaging environment that they thrive in.  I know that I am fortunate to have them as my providers and I'd love to let the rest of Washington know how valued they are.  I am also impressed by their ability to engage families in a strong partnership.  I feel that they appreciate the importance this partnership has.  They invite families to their home for gatherings so parents can get to know each other.  Even while we are guests in their home, they continue to care for our children so we as parents can establish a genuine connection with each other.  I love knowing the parents as well as I know their children.  It fosters a genuine culture of family.

Nominator:  Tiffany Stutesman

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