Moments of Joy

Moments of Joy

I’ve shared in the past that I am not a fan of the cheesy get-to-know-each-other icebreakers used at the beginning of PD sessions. Although growth comes with discomfort, I’d rather that discomfort occur during reflection than during an activity that doesn’t have a purpose grounded in growth.

I usually mix up how I start my sessions based on the time of year, my experiences with previous groups of teachers, or information shared with me by the individual who booked the session. In the past, I’ve started by reflecting on our Roses and Thorns, which is always a great way to work on our reflective practices.

Recently, I’ve started my sessions with participants writing down their moments of joy and frustration from the school year. This time of year is always so busy and overwhelming, but it is also the perfect time for reflection. Because we, as humans, often sit in negative feelings for too long, I have the participants share their moments of joy, and we practice “sitting in” that moment.

As humans, we are wired to believe that we can’t hold onto joy and any other emotion at the same time. We let joy slip away and only focus on the things that drive us to overwhelm. I want to remind you that you can hold onto joy and other emotions.

This weekend, I watched as my incredible daughter graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont. It was such an amazing weekend filled with joy and celebration for her accomplishment. While experiencing this joy, I also had to hold on to feelings of grief as I cared for my elderly mom from a distance.

Anyone caring for their elderly parents knows there are so many moments that feel excruciating. While I am prone to feelings of guilt when I am balancing joy and other strong feelings, I spent the weekend really practicing holding onto both emotions. It wasn’t easy because growth is uncomfortable, but now I have an experience to reflect upon in the future.

I am keenly aware that the system of early childhood education doesn’t really set us up for success most of the time. We are expected to keep everything moving at a fast pace, which means we focus on all our frustrations but never sit with our moments of joy.

While we can’t change the system, we can always change the way we work within it. Take the time to be a more present teacher. Sit and enjoy spending time with the children in your care. Soak in those moments of joy. Smile and laugh those giant belly laughs, just like the children in your care.