NEWBERRY — After 25 years, Miss Susan’s Childcare owner Susan Bouknight is looking to retire. Bouknight’s goal is that someone will share her joy of the business and take it over.
Born and raised in Newberry, Bouknight attended Newberry High School, graduating in 1966. From there, she took a two-year secretarial course at Columbia Commercial College in Columbia.
While in school, Bouknight married her husband, Gary, later graduating. Together, the Bouknight’s had their first son Benji.
“I stayed at home with him for a while and then went to work in the public school system as a media assistant at Boundary Street School,” Susan said.
Bouknight worked at BSE until her next son Aaron was born, staying home with him until he was about 18 months old. Following taking care of Aaron, Bouknight went to Speer Street School, where she would work as a resource assistant until 1975.
Government title funds were not coming available that year, Bouknight said and because she would not have a job when school started back, she knew she had to do something.
Bouknight said a friend asked her about keeping her two children along with her sister’s child that year.
“That’s kind of how it all got started,” Bouknight said.
As she began doing that out of her home, Bouknight said keeping those children along with others continued to build up for 15 years.
“It just came time to either stop or build something to get out of our house,” she said.
The rest is history
In 1990, Bouknight said they bought the land at 1911 Golden St. in Newberry where Miss Susan’s Childcare is currently located.
When they opened in May of that year, Bouknight said they probably had around 16 children. Bouknight said she basically worked off word-of-mouth and things caught on. By the next year, the business added on two more rooms as they needed more space.
With separate rooms added, Bouknight said she separated the two-year old children from the four-year old children, which is the system they operate by today.
Miss Susan’s Childcare, although licensed for 72 children has about 55, Bouknight said, which is her personal goal.
Right now, Bouknight said ages 4 months to 5 years old are represented there. While they cater mostly to the pre-school aged child, Bouknight said it is kind of up to parents to recognize when a child is too old to attend.
“It’s just kind of when they age out,” she said.
Miss Susan’s is currently open from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parents provide breakfast for their children prior to bringing them, Bouknight said. However, they go by government suggested menus for lunch for the children. Snacks are also provided. Including part-time and full-time, Bouknight said they have around 14 employees.
The philosophy at Miss Susan’s, Bouknight said is to take care of the children like you would want someone to take care of your own.
Bouknight said she had a parent tell her once that when a child came into daycare, you had to remember that you were taking possession of a parents’ most prized gift they have been given and that you want to treat that child like they would want it treated.
“I have always remembered that,” Bouknight said.
Bouknight said when she built Miss Susan’s Childcare, she did it similar to an extension of her home, never wanting it run like a rigid, structured business.
“I’ve never wanted it to feel like it was cold,” Bouknight said. “I wanted everything to be welcoming, warm and friendly and for people to feel as if they could come and go any time they pleased.”
Bouknight said while the door does stay locked, it never meant a parent was not welcome at any time to come in and check on their child.
During the day, Bouknight said the 2-4 year old children have preschool. During the summer, they do two-week themes, Bouknight said. There is also an opportunity for them to play outside during the day. Bouknight said the five year old children come in after preschool and usually join in with whatever is going on.
Bouknight said she loves the job of the children and working with their parents.
“All babies are cute and sweet and they all have their own personality,” Bouknight said.
A new chapter
While she still enjoys it, Bouknight said he really has had mixed emotions about selling it, but knows it is time.
Bouknight said it took her about a year to make up her mind to sell the business. She and her husband are past retirement age, Bouknight said and neither have retired. Bouknight’s husband currently works at Georgia Pacific.
“Life is short and there are things I want to do,” Bouknight said.
She and her husband enjoy spending time at the lake and the mountains, traveling and just enjoying life, Bouknight said.
The most rewarding compliment, Bouknight said is when she’s had a child go through there, grow up and start a family of their own, later choosing to come back and ask her to keep their child.
“To me, that is one of the highest compliments anyone could pay you,” Bouknight said. “It’s just the little things like that.”
While Bouknight said she is not ready to close by any means, she hopes that someone will come along and continue the business as there was a need. As of yet, Bouknight has not set her definite date of retirement.