Machell Chapin s Burlington home is quieter these days.
The play kitchen set and assorted toys that provided hours of fun and entertainment for the children she cared for on weekdays still line the walls of her living room. In her backyard is a mud kitchen shielded from the sun by patio umbrellas, a balance beam and a ball run, all built by her husband, Sean.
Over the years, Chapin has tended to scraped knees, witnessed first steps, taught important life lessons and enjoyed countless hugs and conversations with the children in her care. It s the difference that you make in a kid s life, the hugs, the kisses, the I love you s , Chapin said on a recent morning while sitting at her kitchen table when asked what she most enjoyed about running a daycare. I made a step with at least one of them somewhere. Maybe they learned to read the word the here. Maybe they learned to get along with each other better here.