What's Your Mom's Name?

Ever asked 2, 3, and 4 years this question?

We were reading a book about why I love my mommy and then I needed to choose someone to blow out our story time candle so I said if your mom's name starts with an "S". They looked at me like I was crazy. So I went around the circle and asked the children what their mom's name was. Here were the responses ...

Child 1 - "Auntie Boo"
Child 2 & 3 - "Doctor"
Child 4 - "Mommy"
Child 5 -  "Well, my dad's name is *****"
Child 6 - "Mom is what I call her but her name is *****"

When I told them their mom's names, I received that same look as when I asked them who had a mom with an "S" name.

It was a great conversation about how everyone has a name and even though mom's are mom, they also have their own name just like us. I suppose I took it for grated that children would know their mom's name without hesitation because my son calls me/refers to me as Maggie frequently. That's what he has always heard from being around the daycare with me.

Advance apologies to those mom's who will now be beckoned by their first name :)

Thanks "T"

I have a child (previously in care) who is dropping in for a couple of weeks after school. He's in grade one now.

We had our ups and downs towards the end of the year in which he would begin kindergarten - he was outgrowing the program and with no other children his age enrolled at the time it was a challenge to meet his developmental needs without going far beyond the needs/level of readiness of the rest of the group. Naturally, this became very frustrating for him.

Today I met him at the door of the daycare and he was all out of breath. I said, "wow, did you run the whole way?" "Yep" he said, "do you want to know why?" I said, "sure." He said, "well, because then I have more time here."

Made my day.

(Note for his mom: I forgot to tell you. There was someone leaving with a stroller and very full hands when "T" arrived today and he opened the gate for her and waited to close it behind her. That made me smile too!)

Questions, Lots of Questions

I love how many questions children ask.
Note: when my child starts saying why? to everything I say, ask me if I still feel the same way.

I love how their questions involved a thought process my mind completely skips. I decided today was a good day for painting. I had purchased some glitter paint the other day with absolutely no intention on how, when, or what to use it for.

Today I put out paint with some of the glitter paint stirred in.

Child: "Maggie, why is there glitter in this paint?"
Me: "Well .. uhm ... uhm ... because I put it there."
Child: "Oh."

It was really that simple to me. I had truly given it no thought. When I went in the cupboard to get the paint I saw it there and added some in. Just because. I could tell from her response she was not satisfied with my answer; she already knew I put it there. I carried on ...

Me: "I thought maybe you would enjoy painting with glittery paint so I bought some glitter paint when I saw it at the store and today I mixed it in with our regular paint. It will make your picture shine and sparkle."

Child: "Yeah. I'm going to give this to my mom. I like glitter paint."

Much more satisfied. One of the many rewards of working with young children - they challenge you to think and explain rather than simply do.

a skipping rope? no, it's a ....

We recently did some organizing and rearranging of the outdoor toys at the daycare and the children have been re-discovery toys they had long forgotten we even had. The toy of the day today was a skipping rope. At least that's what I called it. To the children it was legs, a snake, a gas pump, christmas lights wrapped around a tree, a telephone, an ice cream cone, a microphone, a pully, letters, a horse lead ... you name it, they likely created it during our morning and afternoon outdoor time. That's one of my absolute favorite things about the minds of young children; that one object can be so many different things. Without any thought or hesitation. It just is. Because it can be. It's truly that simple. We should all be more like children. Well ... okay, more carefree, creative, and imaginative. But don't forget to make it look natural ;)

The things we miss ...

Living in a hurried world, we miss out on countless moments to just observe our children and truly value the learning that is occurring in even the most routine of tasks. Here's one of those moments.

We are unable to stop and view every moment objectively as the person who snapped this photo had the opportunity to do; but, isn't it a great reminder of what we would see if we only took one extra minute? A single moment full of concentration, thought, processing, and understanding.

Educator vs Parent

My son (24 months) and I had an evening alone last week ... we made dinner together, jammied him up, and headed out for a walk before bed. We listened to the birds, talked to a few dogs, saw a mini excavator (aka digger) and a fire truck. We live on a quiet street out of town so this was a very eventful evening. We returned home, played in the living room for a short while, and headed off to bed. I'll be honest and admit that I am not the bedtime person in our house so things started off a little shaky ... "Where's daddy?" "My want daddy." "Daddy, my want to come with you." We chatted about daddy's whereabouts and when he would be home. He rested his head. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw the eco made never played with fire engine on his shelf. Toddler made siren sounds followed. He began shuffling his way to the edge of his bed nodding yes (his way of asking permission to get off his bed). *Insert dilemma here* The parent thinks not a chance mister, it's bed time. The educator thinks teachable moment; what a great connection he made, can't waste the natural learning opportunity while consistency and follow through bells chimed in the back of my head. I compromised with myself and told him to stay on his bed and that I would bring the fire engine to him for a couple of minutes. Good, right? We talked about the fire truck and he told me about "outside. fire truck. go go." I felt confident in my decision to let the educator over rule the parent ...........  until I tried to take the fire truck away.


I used to feel offended when a parent with a child in my care would suggest that I didn't really understand because I wasn't a parent. I felt like I totally understood; I had completed years of education and knew all about child development, behaviour and guidance, health and safety. For the last two years I have gained an immense appreciation for what it was they meant. They never meant it negatively, it was just a simple fact. I truly didn't understand what it was like to feel parental guilt; to maintain consistency in parenting while juggling the demands of a career, relationship, and household; to make decisions for your child that you feel are right only to be judged by those who do not agree ... the list is neverending.

Happiness

It's an amazing thing to be surrounded by such joy and happiness.

Inspiration

The inspiration for this blog is fairly obvious ... it includes my own son as well as all of the children with whom I learn and am inspired by each day. Thank you to each of you for sharing your world with me.

Every day I reflect upon the moments that made me smile, the moments that challenged me, the moments that I wish others could have experienced, the moments I forgot to appreciate, and the moments I hope to always remember.

I hope through the use of this blog I can share those moments with you.