Grateful in 2020? Why Not?

Let’s face it when we rang 2020 in on December 31, 2019 none of us expected what we got.

No one cheers in a year knowing a pandemic is around the corner. 

That natural disasters will destroy towns, cities and countries; or that social unrest will lead to the violence and riots we have seen.

Who would have predicted that masks would become the height of fashion and necessary wear in public. I am pretty sure none of us would have stayed up late and partied in a new year we thought would be what we have experienced.

One Thing I Am Sure of is We Each have Something or Someone to be Grateful For.

Sometimes you have to really look at a situation and dig for the good. 

I had no idea in April, when we went downstairs to do the laundry, that stepping into a foot and a half of raw sewage would actually become a blessing. 

Nor the week before having my hours cut would be an amazing gift, allowing me time to clean the mess we had just discovered.

All I knew is I felt dirty, defeated and paralyzed. 

Two days later the out of state landlord who had not seen his property in over 20 years would announce he was not fixing, what was becoming an annual, and increasingly worse problem, but that he was selling and we needed to relocate. 

Try taking that all in on a tight budget, in a pandemic and in a house that smelled worse than an outhouse.

But now 7 months later, we have less stuff, to clutter our hearts and lives. We live on a tighter budget, in a very small space. But we have all we need, a clean safe home, a place to do laundry, a tub we can safely take a bath in and each other and all three of our cats.

Yes, that disaster in the basement was a blessing in disguise.

2020 is it  Blessing in Disguise?

A friend just told me, 

“2020 is not the year to get everything we want, but it is the year to be grateful for everything we have.”

So while you may have to dig deep.....what are you grateful for this year?

What does make you smile?

Where is the goodness you saw in 2020?

Take time to think on these things.

Links I Think Have Value 

https://fromfingerprintstomasterpieces.blogspot.com/2017/11/are-you-displaying-attitude-of-gratitude.html

https://escapeadulthood.com/blog/

https://hazon.org/gratitude-video/

https://www.facebook.com/escapeadulthood/videos/778120933024095/

https://www.ted.com/talks/jason_kotecki_escape_adulthood?

utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

https://youtu.be/Lm9BG712jdY

Teaching Preschool in a Pandemic is Not for The Faint of Heart

 I was not taught how to handle a pandemic while attending classes for Early Childhood Development. In fact, I bet no one even considered such a thing would be necessary. 

I have attended classes and meetings on Zoom, taken classes on trauma and how it affects children. I have studied how isolation is not healthy for a child’s development. I have had countless hours of training on infectious diseases and blood borne pathogens. Never did I think I would have to glean from them all I could to be an affective teacher in 2020.

So many countries, states, counties and school districts have rules regulating how best to protect others and still provide the essential care needed, that Early Childhood Educators provide. Yet once again, so little funding and support is being given to the Early Child Work Force. These COVID regulations do not promote best practices, nor are they developmentally appropriate.

We are essential, we help you have a safe, healthy place to feel secure in leaving your child while you head off to work, either in the comfort and safety of your home or out into the world full of an unseen virus and a myriad of response to how people behave based on what they believe to be true about this novel disease. I understand the concern Healthcare Workers, Grocery Store Employees and Fire and Police feel, over concern for their families. I have the same for my family, but a very tight budget to ensure I will make it financially if something were to affect my health, my husband’s health or cost me my place of employment. 

No one has increased my pay, offered me healthy insurance, paid for my life insurance or even given my center more money to cover the necessary expenses to keep our infection rates low and sterilize our environment. Rarely is the mental health of me or my colleagues discussed on the news, or in education circles. We worry about the school teachers and their students, but our little ones are being impacted very deeply.

Children need to socialize and play with other children. This can not be achieved in this solution of isolated play spaces, with individual sets of toys and limited physical contact. This method, some centers are using to stay open, seem harsher than the conditions in the penal system and our children have committed no crime. 

If this is our answer, is community child care safe? Should I be allowing myself and my children to be in an environment that leads to this type of reality? 

My students are tired, stressed and anxious. They feel the stress their families are feeling. They know their lives have changed. Their emotional, social and physical needs are greater than they should be at this young age. But if those of us who educate these young minds, and mold these future adults are not cared for what will happen to our youth?

I am the cream of the crop. Many educators I know are the cream of the crop. Yet it will be those of us who go above and beyond out of respect for the young child and their worth that will die in the trenches. If COVID doesn’t get us, than exhaustion, depression or poverty will eliminate us. What will be left behind will not be devoted to the education of young children. 

It’s time we realize we are not just essential so others can do their job. We are INDISPENSABLE, VITAL, and CRUCIAL to the overall well-being of our children. 

https://fromfingerprintstomasterpieces.blogspot.com/2018/03/i-am-more-than-just-preschool-teacher.html

Let’s Revisit Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

 Below is a post I wrote in 2018 because I was concerned then, about the holidays and my students’ stress levels. 

Today stress and children are still a concern of mine. This year we are not only expecting the normal holiday stress, but we are in the middle of a World Wide Pandemic. 

Our children, and us have had 7 or more months of stress and there is no end insight. Reflect on my words from a few years ago. Put self-care for you and your family at the front of all plans the next few months.

We are fast approaching the busiest time in our lives as adults. 

The holidays come with unrealistic expectations put on us by others and by ourselves.  We plan our ideal holiday season and experience in our mind and judge our season by how we met those ideals. 
Children live in the now. They anticipate what is coming but rejoice in what is all around them.  Their excitement and anticipation weighs on our expectations and preconceived notions of what they need to experience the season. 
Then we loose control and spiral into frustration, stress and anger because we feel overwhelmed and as if we are accomplishing nothing with too much on our plate.
Too much we need not have dished up.

Let’s look at the wonder of childhood. 

Everything is in the now. Sights and sounds are distracting and intriguing, but they beckon “come explore me”.  Any decorations you put up are going to entice touch, handling, exploring and carrying.  All of these things are developmentally appropriate for children.  The smells of the season add to another area of excitement and overstimulation.  Anticipation of cookies warm from the oven, favorite foods and the arrival of special guests.

There is so much to be excited about and to do that little bodies can’t handle the rise of emotions and it comes tumbling out.  It erupts in squeals of joy, outbursts of tears, angry fits and tired yawns.  If you get worn out at your age and you have had how many years to practicing how to handle holiday stress, why are you surprised a child gets caught up in it as fast or faster than you.  They are not being bad, rude or naughty they are being an overwhelmed child.

So let’s take time to evaluate our lives and feelings about the holidays so we can make their holidays meaningful. 
How much do you really need to decorate?
Does it all need to go up at once?
Do you need to decorate every cranny of your classroom, your house, your wardrobe?

What is the most important to you?
Start there add slowly, like a Christmas count down add a little each day.

What part of the holidays do you love the most?
How can you add it into your day, your work environment, your lesson plan? Be sure to add it into your home.

Do you like Christmas music, play it when you can, choose what is appropriate for your work environment, totally not allowed Christmas music, pick classical music that reminds you of Christmas, The Nutcracker Suite, Mannheim Steamroller, etc...
Do you like to bake? Cook with your students, stone soup, cookies, bread, popcorn to string, be creative and remember allergies your students might have.

Keep their schedule on track.  As a teacher keep a routine, but pull back where you can.  Provide more exercise and outdoor time.  Add lots of sensory activities that are calming, like clay, play dough, slime. Teach them how to take deep relaxing breaths and do not loose your calm. They are going to take their cues from you and build off your stress.  Most of all find ways to enjoy the moments of the holidays with them.