Hello!

I have often thought over the last several years that I would love to blog about young children.  This is my first attempt, and it feels as though I am starting an adventure.  I have daydreams of many people reading this and commenting on how wonderful and wise I am; in reality probably only a few people will read this.  Still I hope that my thoughts will inspire, reassure, and entertain parents, teachers, and caregivers of young children.

Why do I want to share my thoughts?  I have been involved with children for many years.  I am a mother of two and a grandmother of two, and if I have any regrets about having children it is only that I would have loved to have had more.  Children can make you bang your head, pull your hair, and wander in circles while talking to yourself, but they also fill your life with joy and wonder that cannot (I feel) be found in any other experience.  They make you laugh, sing, cheer, dance, and find wonder in everyday things.  Professionally, I earned a BS in Early Childhood Education at SUNY Geneseo in Geneseo, NY.  I did home day care when my children were young, and have worked in child care centers for the past 28 years.  As a child care provider I have been a lead teacher in the infant, toddler, preschool, and schooler rooms.  I have done substitute work in preschool rooms for special needs children, and for the last 17 years I have been a Director.   At the present time I direct a Christian child care center in Rochester, NY.  In my personal life I have been a room mother, band parent, Girl Scout leader, and Sunday School teacher.  Although I have worked with every age child, my heart belongs with young children. 

Who am I?  In addition to being a mother, grandmother, and teacher of young children, I am a sister, a sister-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a daughter.  I have cared for my babies and my grandbabies, and I have spent hours by my mother's bed while dementia took her away from us.  I am a cook, a reader, a gardner, and a knitter.  I love to sing and dance (if only I could carry a tune or keep a rhythm!).  I enjoy working out every day and I am a vegetarian.  I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, and look to Him for guidance in my life.  (If you are not a believer, the purpose of this blog is not to preach, so don't worry.  This is just to tell you who I am). 

Why do I feel the need to share my thoughts?  During the years I have worked with may different children - chidlren of different races and religions, children with different socioeconomic backgrounds, children with special needs, children who are considered "normal", children from very rural areas, and children from urban areas.  Since I provide child care in New York State, the Office of Children and Family Services, the licensing agency for child care centers, requires that I obtain 30 hours of training every two years, but I usually have at least twice that since there is so much to learn.  This is an exciting time because brain research is constantly discovering new things about children and the way that they grow and learn.  As I have spent time with children, I have discovered that my beliefs and ideals are becoming more firm and I realize that we need to stand up for children and for what is right.  

Why now?  I spend a great deal of my time with parents, and I find that so much of parenting is driven by fear.  While parents have always feared for their children and wanted the best for them, the present time is more complicated than earlier ones.  I worried that my children would become ill, that they wouldn't do well in school, or that they wouldn't be happy.  My parents worried that their sons would go to Viet Nam or that their daughters would find "free love".  Parents in earlier days worried that their children wouldn't live to grow up (before antibiotics many of the illnesses that made us miss a day or two of school would be killers) or that the trip across the ocean or across the prarie would be fatal.  These should be easier days since many of the old dangers are gone, but new ones loom.  The media is filled with stories of abuse and molestation by strangers and by trusted friends and new poisons are found in our water, our food, and our toys.  The economy is poor, our elected officials cannot be trusted, money is tight and time is tighter and conflicting advice abounds.  Parents who want the best for their children are pulled in many different directions.  Things are not much easier for those who teach young children.  I hope to address some of these issues and help parents and caregivers to enjoy these years with children.

What's next?  I look forward to sharing my thoughts and ideas.  I also look forward to sharing ideas that are fun and educational in a developmentally appropriate way - ideas that can be used in the classroom or in the home.  I also have some ideas for ways to make things easier at home so that parents can do what they are meant to do -spend more time with their children.  I hope you enjoy them.