I want you to imagine that you've had a tough day. You feel like everything is going wrong. You walk into your house, drop your bags on the floor, sigh loudly and walk to the kitchen.

Truth be told, I am horrible at sitting with my own feelings. I am, however, an expert on pushing them down and pushing forward. I’ve been this way my entire life. For 46 years, I’ve heard how “strong I am” even when I was suffering inside. It wasn’t until very recently that my parents (who are lovely) realized that they should not have reinforced this notion of me being strong and resilient throughout my childhood.

There are moments throughout the parenting journey that you are stopped in your tracks by a flood of memories. Today is one of those days for me. This is the day that my beautiful (eighteen year old) girl has been waiting for since she was four years old. The day when she gets her first tattoo.

What was it that I noticed? That in the world of early childhood education there is a preconceived notion that there are some roles in our field that are seen as better than others.

Can we PLEASE get rid of the "Busyness Narrative" in the Early Childhood Classroom..

While I understand the importance of the required training hours, I think we've lost sight of professional development's real purpose. The goal of participating in professional development opportunities is to help us reflect upon and grow our teaching practices. When we lose focus on this goal, we are doing a disservice to ourselves and our children.

If you have a child (or know a child) that has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) the Individuals with Disabilities in Education (IDEA) Act played an essential role in the process. In 1975 IDEA (the nation's special education law) was passed. This act ensures that all children with an identified disability receive education (and related services), are prepared for independent living, and their rights and the rights of their family are protected. Governmental changes to IDEA can have detrimental effects.

This cycle of comfort is something I saw firsthand when my students ventured into the outdoor classroom each week. At first the children would be excited. They were thrilled to be leaving behind the four walls of the classroom on a fantastic adventure. Slowly things would change depending on the temperature and our moods.

A few rituals were a part of my previous classroom culture that I wanted to carry over to my new home away from home. One of these rituals was celebrating each child's birthday with a birthday circle. I knew this was a way that I could honor each individual child.

There are many transitions made throughout our lifetime. One of the most significant transitions for a teacher of young children occurs when a child moves from preschool to kindergarten. This journey can be so exciting, but it can also evoke anxiety for children and parents alike.

There are many transitions made throughout our lifetime. One of the most significant transitions for a teacher of young children occurs when a child moves from preschool to kindergarten. This journey can be so exciting, but it can also evoke anxiety for children and parents alike.

I once read a study on friendship that stated that children need at least one close friend throughout their primary and secondary education to have successful school experiences. As the parent of a high schooler, I can tell you that this is true.

Do you ever get to the door of the classroom and realize that you’ve carried a backpack, lunchbox, and jacket while your child has skipped into the classroom empty-handed? It sometimes seems easier to be the one in charge of carrying everything. Still, in the long run, it actually becomes a burden. To facilitate independence in young children, it is our job to ensure they are responsible for their belongings.

When I facilitate in person workshops I always start by telling a little bit about myself. I talk about how long I’ve worked with children/families, what ages I’ve taught and why I decided to leave the classroom to work with teachers. I also share that I am an introvert with a generalized anxiety disorder.  

In Part 1 of my blog post on professional growth, I share why growing personally and professionally is necessary. It is important to remember that developing and reflecting on our teaching practices is not something that we rush to complete. I am twenty years into my educational career, and I am still learning and growing. There are often I wish I could turn back the clock to apply my newly developed skills in an early education classroom. Instead of focusing on the past, I take to heart the saying, "when you know better, you do better." I share the gifts of this new knowledge with educators so they can transform their teaching practices.

You might have guessed that the topic of professional growth is near and dear to my heart. My entire business was created to provide continuous opportunities for teachers and parents to reflect upon their practices.

One sentiment that I’ve heard echoed from infant and toddler teachers across the country is that they don’t feel valued by their peers, administrators or classroom parents.