A little boy, wobbly after his nap, with blonde hair sticking out from his fair head, wandered into Judy Mills' arms. Affectionately, she asked how his nap was. A helper walked in, asking about snacks. Outside, in the comfortable, tidy yard, a passel of small children calmly talked and played, guided by three employees. Mills continued petting the youngster while directing her helper and talking about her future.
Mills, known to parents up and down the Wood River Valley as "Grandma Judy," shut the doors Friday, July 28, on one of the most enduring businesses in the region, her daycare center on state Highway 75 south of Ketchum. For someone who has helped nurture scores of babies into well-meaning teenagers, the decision did not come easily.
Grandparents used to be the obvious childcare givers to their children's offspring. Since everyone lived together, it made sense. But those days are mostly behind us. Ketchum, however, has been home to everyone's grandmother.
Mills began taking care of babies and young toddlers at her daughter's Ketchum daycare center in 1986. Even before her daughter, Marcia Walt, moved to New Mexico, Mills had taken over the business. She bought the log cabin south of Ketchum, where she lives and took care of numerous children, in 1990. What has made her such a treasure to this community was that she took babies, something many childcare centers aren't equipped to do.
"My grandchildren called me 'Grandma Judy,' so they all called me that," Mills said. The name stuck. Asked how many babies she's cared for in the 20 years she's been at the job, she laughs a little.
"I have no idea. Must be hundreds. I went to the Wood River High School graduation this year and five of the graduates were here, and one at Community School. There have been a lot of children. Some act like they forget, but some remember and say hello. They're all each individual and special children, and so blessed to live here."
Influenced by health issues, Mills decided to retire this year. In addition, she said last winter was an "eye opener." Indeed, snow and ice made the entrance and exit to her daycare operation dangerous to maneuver.
"I was worried about parents, and I couldn't do as many things as I used to by myself," she said.
Her big dog, Hank, wandered by as she talked, at home among toys and toddlers.
"Hank is 13," she said. "He's been around for the whole thing. Another dog, Ruffian, the kids loved. He used to sit with them for sing-alongs."
Mills retires also knowing she's touched many lives. On the walls are photos of children everywhere, artwork by her kids and Christmas cards still hanging. She is moving to New Mexico to an expansive ranch where her daughter and husband live and work. She'll also be closer to her three grandchildren, Mercedes, Boone and Patrick.
She isn't going without some pause, however. There are aspects of her job she knowingly will miss.
"One thing is just being able to enjoy babies, watch them develop, walk, become toddlers. Because it's such a small community, I get to see them at different times, at things in the valley, and getting to know families," she said. "I love babies. They're so satisfying to have them, I think. When Marcia started this there were no afternoon programs. The school bus brought the kindergartners here and picked up the afternoon class."
Grandma Judy runs a tight ship, she said. One of her former babies, Maddie Bates, used to tell her she'd come work there when she got older.
Eventually, she started coming in two times a week. "She walks in and steps right into the routine."
Grandma Judy is circumspect but certainly not gloomy.
"I've had a good life here. It's been a pleasure for me, actually."
?Grandma Judy,? center, poses with some of her daycare children and employees on her last day of work, Friday, July 28. Photo by Willy Cook
