I Wasn’t Always a Child Development Specialist… (My Full Story)

Before the credentials, the podcast, and the toddler advice — there was a girl who started in fashion and found her calling by accident. This is the real story of how I got here, and why nothing in your path is ever wasted.   You’ve heard the advice. You’ve seen the credentials. But today, I’m pulling back the curtain on the full journey — because I think you need to hear how I actually got here. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest, unfiltered origin story — from fashion merchandising at Marist College, to teaching in an urban district, to becoming a mom whose daughter needed Early Intervention, to opening my own childcare center, and eventually landing right here… in your ears. This one is personal. And I think it’ll hit different if you’ve ever felt like your path was “wrong,” or like you’re way behind where you thought you’d be. In this episode, you’ll hear: •Why I left a stable fashion career in my 20s with zero plan •The volunteer experience in my last semester of college that changed everything •How becoming a mom — and my daughter’s speech delay — pointed me toward Early Intervention •What I actually did as a developmental specialist (and why it’s different from OT, PT, and speech) •The decision to leave teaching and stay home — and the math that made it make sense •Why I eventually opened a childcare center, and what led me away from it •And the chronic illness chapter I don’t talk about enough If you’ve been wondering why I give the advice I do, or whether you can actually trust me with your child’s development — this episode is for you. Because everything I teach comes from classrooms, from homes, from my own kids, and from years of hands-on experience. Not just a textbook. 💛 If this resonated, send it to a friend who’s in a “what am I even doing” season. She needs it.   Follow Me: 👉 Visit my website http://www.ashleyventrice.com                  👉 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ashleyventriceco                                   👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyventriceco                                                👉 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashleyventriceco 👉 Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/ashleyventriceco   Join:                                                                                                            👉 Toddler Community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1641FC2sDa/