Since high school, Sheila Stratton knew she wanted to be a wife, mom and caregiver. She said her passion for children was undeniable, so she dedicated herself to hands-on learning.

She worked as a nanny, opened an in-home day care and took every class and training available to focus on her dream to one day build and own a child care center.

In 2011, Stratton renovated a former KinderCare building and opened Le Bon Enfants on 313 Edwin Drive near Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. The center serves 90 children with a support staff of 28 and one full-time cook.

In September, Stratton built and opened her second child care center in a new 8,800-square-foot facility at 1957 Laskin Road near Hilltop.

“I’ve been wanting to do this my whole life,” she said.

It took 14 months for Stratton to

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