How will you use this information to inform your caregiving and teaching practices?

I am on a mission to Transform ECE; therefore, the content I share reflects this journey. At times it may make you challenge your thinking which can be very uncomfortable. Still, I believe that to grow, we need to feel uncomfortable.

If your early childhood program focuses on social-emotional learning for the children but never took the time to focus on it for the educators, don't expect anyone to grow socially or emotionally.

My daughter has always had the biggest of big feelings. When she was younger negative, peer interactions landed so deep within her heart. Seeing something incredibly adorably would bring her to tears.

Please remember that our mission will provide children with the tools and strategies they will use for the rest of their lives.

What would it look like if you could measure your days in presence instead of productivity?

Advocate for themselves and others.

Find people who get what it means to VALUE and Care for young children.

Find people who get what it means to VALUE and Care for young children.

How many times do you hear this phrase used during the day in your early childhood program?

It breaks my heart every time an adult minimizes a child's feelings. At least 5 times a week, I hear an adult say something like this "it's not a big deal, there is no reason to be upset about, or you get what you get, and you don't get upset.

For our youngest children, family is everything..

Educators implement developmentally appropriate practice by recognizing the multiple assets all young children bring to the early learning program as unique individuals and as members of families and communities." NAEYC

But what if they... Are young children who have only been on this planet for 1,2,3,4 or 5 years. Are young children who are learning how to navigate life within a group of same-aged children.

I've recently seen so many comments by misinformed people on posts by educators with a similar…

I've recently seen so many comments by misinformed people on posts by educators with a similar tone- "teachers shouldn't discuss their personal lives with their students."

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.