The Kangaroo Kingdom
The Kangaroo Kingdom, located in Lafayette, is not a day care or a place where royal kangaroos reside.
It is, however, a haven for infants, toddlers and young children to learn and explore through educational classes. The Kingdom is also a place where parents exchange stories about everything from birth, breast-feeding, solid foods, potty-training, biting, pre-school selection and everything in-between. The gym area is completely padded, so the little ones are able to become confident in their large motor skills.
When the woman that started the Kingdom was ready for a change, one particular customer refused to let this spot disappear. Annadell Burke, who had been bringing her daughter to the Kingdom since she was only six weeks old, decided to take over.
“When the previous owner was ready to move on, it broke my heart that something this wonderful would just go away. So, my husband and I talked about it and here we are,” says Burke. “The only way I was willing to do this in exchange for being a stay-at-home mom was because my husband is in the process of recovering from a mild traumatic brain injury — so he stays home with the kids, and I only work from 9 to 1 most days.”
“Since I purchased an existing business, much of the work was already done. But you have to examine everything and make it your own. You have to take a close look at the business plan, the overhead, etc. — unlike working for someone else, everything is your responsibility. A friend of mine likes to say, ‘It all hits your desk, everything from toilet paper to taxes,’” says Burke.
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