Charlotte Baker
Charlotte Baker did not grow up like many of our readers - she grew up in Denmark ! Her family was made up of her mom , dad , and a brother . Unfortunately , her father passed away when she was 21 .
“ I moved to America when I was 19-years-old ,” Baker said , “ to San Diego , where I worked as an au-pair for a fiveyear-old .”
Baker said her mom was the most influential person growing up .
“ My mom is a very strong person and can handle anything life throws at her ,” Baker said .
Growing up , Baker attended school at Nordfyns Gymnasium in Denmark , a upper-secondary school in a small town North of Funen .
She said the strongest influences in your professional life was when she worked at a childcare facility in Denmark .
“ It was very Montessori-like , the way we know Montessori in America . Kirsten Pedersen was the director ’ s name ,” Baker said . “ She got me interested in the type of childcare I would eventually end up learning from Huntsville ’ s Tomorrow ’ s Promise
Inc . founder , Kaye Boehning .”
Baker had always been interested in children , being an au-pair , and when she first moved to Texas and began working at Tomorrow ’ s Promise after being given a tour by Kaye to enroll my daughter . She offered Baker a job on the spot .
“ The life-defining change that shaped me into the person I am today was moving to America and meeting my wonderful husband , Malcolm ,” Baker said .
Baker ’ s philosophy on life is to live to travel .
“ I go out and see as many things as I can . Especially when I was young and able to afford it ,” Baker said . “ I also believe in spending as much time with your family as you can .”
Baker ’ s typical day at work is just what you might imagine .
“ You never know what you ’ re going to walk into when you ’ re dealing with children ,” Baker said . “ I don ’ t think a single day at work has been the same since I started .”
She added that there are basic skills necessary to work daily with children .
“ A cool head and being able to roll with the punches is a necessity ,” Baker said . “ You also have to have adaptability , and the ability to laugh at yourself .”
Baker said managing people and dealing with the wide variety of personalities she encounters is the most challenging aspect of her job .
“ You learn how to properly talk to people when we ’ re dealing with so many different personality types ,” Baker said . “ It can make a world of difference .”
When Baker isn ’ t working , she loves working in her yard at home and being with her husband in the backyard , “ which is my oasis .”
When asked what she would change about herself , Baker took a moment to reflect .
“ I take everything to heart . I may not show it , but I am actually a very soft person inside ,” Baker said . “ I would also like to work on becoming more compassionate and understanding , and I ’ ve made a ton of progress according to my people .”
In all her travels , Baker has found that she prefers the warmth to the cold .
“ If I could live anywhere ? I would live on a warm beach somewhere . Where ? I don ’ t care . Just give me a warm beach ,” Baker said , with a warm bright smile .
Written by Brenda Poe
10 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2022