When a Day Care Owner Retired, These Parents Did an Amazing Thing
Dina Saari spent more than two decades lovingly looking after children at the day care she ran at her home in Mountain View, California. Her warm, caring demeanor — she’d always greet the kids every morning on her knees with open arms — made her seem like a family member to the parents of the children she watched. “It’s like sending them to grandma’s house,” says Jennifer Friedman, who had two of her five kids attend Saari’s Kids for Tomorrow day care.
So when Saari recently announced that she was retiring and downsizing from her home to a two-bedroom condo, a community of about 35 parents who’d sent their kids to Saari over the years got together to surprise her with a renovation of the kitchen, living room and main bedroom, and updates to her master bathroom. “We wanted to make sure her retirement goes smoothly and she’s actually in a home as special to her as her home was to us and our children,” Friedman says.
I love stories like this that remind you that there really are still kind people in this world!
What generous and loving families! Best wishes to Dina in her retirement!
What an amazing story. Dina must be an incredible lady. I can only hope that someone so wonderful takes care of my kids one day. Enjoy your beautiful new home!
This story warms my heart. It is a story about the only thing that really counts....love. Thank you to the wonderful group of parents for recognising Dina's contribution to their beautiful children, and thanking her by making her retirement home such a quietly glamorous and calm space. A whole group of generous hearts connected by our most valuable future, our children. Congratulations on your retirement Dina, enjoy your new home and chapter of your life.
Kudos to the designers.
My takeaway is the clever highlighting of the step up into the kitchen, dining area, by changing the floor covering. I am also very attracted to the gold touches, it's luxe without being ostentatious. Note to self - use love and generosity every day.
Such a loving, kind thing to do. I commend these parents for their thoughtfulness. And what a wonderful example they've set for those children! :)
Thank you, Houzz for telling us this remarkable story about beauty and love
What a beautiful story of a giving, loving soul. How generous and respectful of the parents to give back in such a meaningful way. I am sure Sari will deeply enjoy her home.
Such a beautiful story!
Wonderful!!!
Well done parents, children and families! Such a beautiful, thoughtful and generous thank to this wonderful woman!
This is so sweet. Heart warming and uplifting. What a noble way to keep on saying thankyou. And what generosity of spirit to acknowledge her efforts so very very touchingly.
what a wonderful generous group......I imagine a daycare takes a lot of abuse! Now, she can rest and relax in beautiful new things. What an amazing gift
Great to read about such heart-warming stories as this one...well done!
The renovation is beautiful but the story is spectacular and a tearjerker ... thank you to this group of parents and families for brightening her next chapter and touching our hearts with your thoughtfulness and action.
Now that is how to “Pay it Forward”!!!
How very fortunate this community was to have a lady that didn't just run a daycare facility but truly loved their children while doing it. What a wonderful way to come together and thank the person that truly helped shape their children.
❤️❤️❤️
I love all the colors and furnishings in this home! Can you share what color paint is in the bedroom and bathroom? Thanks!
What a heartwarming story!! I'm so happy for Dina. She gave so much to the children she kept over the years and what a lovely tribute from the parents to give to her!
WOW! How special.
The designers did an amazing job. I love everything. It's beautiful. The blue paint on the bar area, the huge mirror in the livingroom are stand outs.
Beautiful story! Thank you for sharing. We all need to hear stories about caring people who can come together to do something wonderful for another person. Such a lovely gift for a very deserving lady!
First, this is the best Houzz story thus far, second, it was done without a gut remodel, and third, I have gotten tons of great decorating ideas from the remodel!
this story!
I love people with kind hearts in this story.
Glad to hear this!
if you are going to show an overhang for bar stools, don't show a chair sitting in that position!
This is a lovely story in so many ways. What a grateful community, and kudos for taking design to the next level by your commitment to consider it gift-worthy!!!!
Inspirational, loving & beautiful
Nice story & loved the changes
Happy Happy story!!
Great Lady, soo glad the parents did something for her!❤️
What a sweet story! Wonderful gift they gave her!
Beautiful story of gratitude!
Gorgeous. What was the budget for this project?
She's so beautiful in every way! The renovation of her condo, sublime. This is was America is about, love and taking care of those that have given so much.
So good to hear about wonderful day care experiences! This was good and right on so many levels!
Man that made me cry, what a great story. We need more of this!
What a wonderful gift. Saari must be a wonderful woman. And the remodeling is gorgeous!
The condo is beautiful so bright and airy. Such a heartwarming story from grateful parents. She must be an incredible lady.
So sweet.
Heart warming. People do care!
Giving back is so much better than taking!
They paid it forward!!! It’s great to see when people take care of a person whom made it possible for them to go to work AND not agonize about thier child’s welfare, and happiness!
Very touching gratefulness for an amazing lady. I feels so grateful as well to the parents who valued the love of a woman in behalf of their children. How I wish there will be more healthy minded individuals in this world who knows how to appreciate and be thankful.
This story is so beautiful. I provided childcare in my home for 7 years to be able to stay home with my own kids. It takes so much love and dedication to do this job. I was ready to move into another "career" after that amount of time. People like Saari that can do this for over 2 decades are really special people with so much love to give to other people's children. I wish her a very happy retirement!
This story made me smile!
What a wonderful story! I too did daycare in my home for 6 years while my kids were young. It's definitely not an easy job and to do it as long as this woman did is amazing.
What a beautiful lady, and a extremely amazing story, It just made me cry through the whole presentation. Yes, there are wonderful people in this world.
What an incredible, heartwarming story ❤️
Outstanding interior design work by Studio Revolution!
I echo all the positive comments above and then some. It's amazing what a group of people who care about the caregiver can do. My hat's off to them and their marvelous Lady Dina.
On a note about the designing, I do like how the blue of the sofa fits the backside of the island as well as the vanity of the bath as it melds the spaces subtly. It's just as Lady Dina has done with entire generations of children and their adult families. A lasting impression for all to pass along.
One of the most wonderful stories EVER!
This one made me cry, what a lovely story.
Beautiful story about a beautiful lady. It's so gratifying to see her goodness rewarded by the generosity of the families whose children she watched for 22 years. Bravo all!
This one made me cry, what a wonderful world with LOVE
That is really so beautifull, I am so much touched.What a wonderfull beautifull lady, and what of beautifull families, thank you for the wonderfull movie
So beautifull!
What a fantastic story - beautiful and uplifting!
Thanks for such an uplifting story. Dina sounds like an amazing gift of a women and I love that the families saw how special she is and pulled together to do something so nice for her. I hope she has a wonderful life in her new gorgeous condo.
This was a beautiful story that brought tears to my eyes!! What a wonderful community effort to thank a truly amazing woman!! May she enjoy many years of continued joy in her life!!
This is beautiful and touching me. Lovely women.
Thankyou houzz for this wonderful story. it moved to tears Iam so pleased that the parents got it . this lady gave them so much children really only need love . Lots of time home child care gets a bad rap thankyou sooo much
Wow, what a great story. Thank you for sharing.
What an awesome commitment, to give back to someone who gave so much of herself to the children!
The families who gave back were very thoughtful... Its so beautiful! Great Job!
What a wonderful story...and wonderful design result as well!
A beautiful story. That, is the true U.S.A
It's said that what we put out we receive in return. For 22 years, Dina gave loving care to children in her own home. When she retired the parents returned the love with the gift of a beautiful redesign of her condo. What a lovely love-circle Dina started and the parents completed!
I truly hope she will be very happy there. These parents and the Houzz group have done a wonderful thing and wonderful work .
What a wonderful thing to do for a former day care "grammie". She must be thrilled with it, and the color and designs are so well done. I have a feeling she will be very pleased to live there and have these remembrances of "her children" and their families. A wonderful gesture of warmth and love! Way to go, Parents!
A lovely story! She must be a remarkable person! Made my day!
Beautiful updates for a beautiful soul! Love and goodness are alive and well!
My favorite story about love and design!
How inspirational and kind! Nice to know their are still good people in this world!
Amazing
Absolutely lovely, starting with the shared commitment to caring and giving back!
What an awesome group of parents who recognized that Dina was more than a caregiver to their children and wanted to do something to celebrate and thank her.