Mother, Mentor, Maker: Arielle’s Journey to Creating a Preschool Sanctuary

Wellness Extract Presents — Mothers: The Healing Hands – Part 3 

Walk into Green Valley Sunshine Kids in Mission, British Columbia, you’ll find that you don’t just enter a daycare, you step into something much deeper. A space filled with calm intention, loving care, and purpose-driven passion. But behind the cozy classrooms and creative chaos is a woman whose mission goes far beyond childcare. 

The third feature in the Wellness Extract’s Mothers: The Healing Hands series is Arielle Yelle: mother of three (soon to be four), founder, early childhood educator, and the heart behind Green Valley Sunshine Kids Daycare & Pre-school.  

Let’s learn more about her story: of motherhood, mentorship, and the making of a preschool sanctuary for families. 

Creating a Space with Heart 

Arielle opened her daycare and preschool with one clear intention: 

“To create a place where children feel safe, and where parents like me feel confident,” she says. 

For her, it was never just about child care; it was about creating an environment that felt like an extension of home. Not just for the kids, but for the educators and staff as well. 

“I may not be in the classroom,” Arielle explains, “but I see everything. I built this place with care and intention. It’s more than business. It’s a community.” 

Passion for Children. Passion for Purpose. 

When you ask what fuels her, Arielle says it’s simple: love for children and love for the work. 

“The passion you have for kids just naturally blends into your work. It becomes one,” she explains. This deep-rooted passion is what helped her build Green Valley Sunshine Kids; not just as a daycare, but as a sanctuary for young families. 

The Emotional Load Is Real 

We asked her about the biggest challenge she has faced as a mother and a business owner and she says, “emotional overload and guilt.” 

“Sometimes it’s just thinking about all the things that need to be done, both at work and at home,” Arielle shares. “And when you feel like you’re not doing enough in either role, the guilt sets in.” Like many moms, Arielle wrestles with where to give that “extra.” But over time, she’s found her strength in support. 

“My support system is my husband and my staff. They hold me up so I can breathe, refocus, and keep going.” 

Motherhood and Mentorship Go Hand in Hand 

One of the most beautiful lessons Arielle has learned?  

Motherhood and her work in early childhood education constantly shape each other. “You learn to be more patient with your own kids and kids at daycare by being around other moms working there,” she says. “I learned how motherhood and field of daycare are mingled together.”  

Advice for Moms Starting a Business 

“Trust the process.” 

She says that it’s about being patient but not simply sitting and waiting around. Keep working toward your dream and being patient while things unfold.  

“Sometimes it can be longer, sometimes it can be sweet and short.” For Arielle, it took two years of hard work, patience and persistence, to bring her vision to life. But she stayed with it, trusted the process and now she’s created something truly impactful. 

Wellness Is Not a Luxury; It’s a Necessity 

To Arielle, wellness isn’t optional. It’s essential. It’s something that everybody needs. 

“When you’re holding space for so many others, you have to hold a space for yourself, too,” she says. She sees wellness as a holistic concept; one that starts with acknowledging your own needs.  

“It should always be you first, so I can take care of everybody else. Sometimes it’s a pedicure, sometimes it’s just time for myself, or grocery shopping by myself.” That’s her time; to reset, to provide quality time at home and at work. 

Not Just a Family, A Legacy 

“I’m not just raising a family,” Arielle says. “I’m building something that nurtures other people’s families.” That’s the real purpose behind Green Valley Sunshine Kids. It’s not just to care for children, but to support the parents raising them, to offer space and support, and to lead with love. 

“That’s the calling, and it’s worth every stretch, every sacrifice, every breath.” 

Her Favorite Memories as a Mom? 

It all goes back to the first years. “From birth to their first birthday, that’s when you see them discovering life for themselves. Their first steps, first words, first everything,” she shares. With her fourth baby on the way, Arielle is excited to experience all those special firsts again and to witness her own growth as a mother, once more. 

Wellness Extract celebrates women like Arielle; mothers who lead, nurture, heal, and hustle both at home and in their communities. To the moms dreaming big while raising little ones: you are seen, supported, and celebrated. 

Stay tuned for more stories from Mothers Who Lead with Heart series.