I had been looking forward to my morning off of going to the dentist. It meant I didn't have to prepare lunches for myself or my daughter who goes to the preschool where I work. My husband is amazing with her and was going to spend the day with her. I was also intending to … Continue reading Day Off: A Break from the Routine
Tag: parenting
Ode to Our Stroller
I like my routine. Unfortunately, I know this even more when my routine is dashed. The particular routine I'm speaking of here is walking with my daughter to work/school, pushing her in her stroller. I never realized until her stroller got damaged in airplane travel recently how well it had worked for me. As a … Continue reading Ode to Our Stroller
Caring for a Child is HARD Work
There is a long-time misunderstanding that being a stay-at-home mom is not working. Well, it surely is! Taking care of a child is HARD work. I've learned this since my daughter is 15-months-old, as well as I work with babies and toddlers on a daily basis at a local preschool. Even people who can afford … Continue reading Caring for a Child is HARD Work
Seeking Self-Care: Balancing Our Children’s Needs with Our Needs
This afternoon I spent my lunch break taking my daughter to the doctor for a sick visit. I was grateful that the doctor could fit her in at the time I requested. When I returned, my co-teacher asked me how she was doing. I was grateful that she cared about my daughter—her former "student"—but I … Continue reading Seeking Self-Care: Balancing Our Children’s Needs with Our Needs
Personal Growth after Becoming a Parent
This past week I attended a very inspiring talk about parenting and educating children. It was about finding the balance between love and limits and how to better prepare our children to deal with frustration and struggle in school and in life. Also, on how to motivate kids to find and cultivate their unique strengths. … Continue reading Personal Growth after Becoming a Parent
Fussing not Fussy
When a child does something wrong, I have learned that it is better to say they are doing something bad instead of they are bad. In a similar vein, I recently decided while working in the baby room that when a baby is fussing, I will say/think, "that baby is fussing," instead of "that baby … Continue reading Fussing not Fussy
Cool as a Cucumber: Bringing Healthy Snacks to School
Some people assume that if they give their child a healthy snack, they will stand out from their peers in a bad way; the other students will think they are weird, or more likely, their kid will feel bad for having to eat carrot sticks while their friends have gushers, or the like. But that … Continue reading Cool as a Cucumber: Bringing Healthy Snacks to School
Why Money Isn’t Everything
My co-worker once commented that I could be making the same amount of money working as a part-time nutritionist for fewer hours than I work as an early childhood educator. When I decided to pursue a career in nutrition when I was in college it wasn't for the money, and now, when I am working … Continue reading Why Money Isn’t Everything
Playing Should Be Fun for the Parent Too!
In my work in nutrition education, I have learned that when we ourselves are interested in what we are teaching, our students will be intrigued and inspired as well. That is why refreshing lesson plans and allowing for spontaneity during an education session—in any field—is so important. I know this to be true furthermore because … Continue reading Playing Should Be Fun for the Parent Too!
Children: Masters of Living in the Moment
While young children have a lot to learn when it comes to self-regulation, delaying gratification, and how to use a toilet, there are things that they teach us. These include, but are not limited to: -Curiosity -Joy -Living in the present moment As I related in my previous post, the challenge of setting aside our … Continue reading Children: Masters of Living in the Moment
Mindful Nuggets 