Emily writes: As a child, I had certain places I loved to explore in nature. My most special place was at the top of a willow tree in my parents’ front yard. The branches were hollow in some places, and I would keep my treasures there. The bending leaves made a great fort. I […]
Relationship with Place by Emily Hall Read More »
Amanda writes: One way that LifeWays is unique is because it has mixed-age groups of children. Many times people have asked me if it is harder to have a variety of different ages in my care, but I always tell them it’s actually easier. Having a mixed-age group allows the children to be in the
Mixed-Age Care by Amanda Quesnell Read More »
Mara writes: As a tired, busy mama of three kids, six years and under, who often finds herself out of the present moment, it is easy for me to get caught up in what’s going wrong, what I’m not able to do, and how tough parenthood is. In these moments, I admit that sometimes life
Hidden Blessings by Mara Spiropoulos Read More »
Mary writes: I am kneading dough and lost in thought. It is our last supper. Our youngest child is leaving for college in the morning and has requested homemade pizza for her last dinner at home. As she heads upstairs to pack up the final boxes, I work the dough, wondering whether she has learned
The Process of Becoming by Mary O’Connell Read More »
“Our phones are now indelibly bound up with our aesthetic souls. And today, both are always on.” Robert Capps, WIRED A couple of years ago, my husband asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day. I told him that all I wanted was to wake up in a tidy house and go to bed
Presence in the Digital Age by Jaimmie Stugard Read More »
“Did you hear that?” my daughter-in-law and I queried one another. It sounds like she is saying “Thank you.” Such are the fantasies of a mommy and gramma of a newly-one-year-old. But hey! It might actually be true. Maybe my one-year-old granddaughter’s first words were “thank you,” translated something like “da do.” That would be
Life Work with a One-Year-Old by Cynthia Aldinger Read More »
Jeremy writes: At LifeWays we encourage the development of strong bonds and relationships between the children who attend the center and their peers, caregivers, and parents. In addition to these relationships we strive to reinforce a relationship between the children and their food. Just as important as the relationships that strengthen the community the child
Embrace the Hand that Feeds You by Jeremy Bucher Read More »
Kerry writes: The story of Mumbuto and the White Bird is a transformative tale written for young children. The life-giving baobob tree holds the central position on the set. The base of the tree is a needle-felted trunk with a jar of water within – which holds branches of fresh green leaves to denote the branches
Mumbuto and the White Bird, a puppet play written by Kerry B. Brokaw Read More »
Jennifer writes: A few weeks ago during a visit to my parents’ home, my oldest daughter was working contentedly with her Opa. I was on the phone at the end of the driveway, when suddenly she walked towards me. Making eye contact only briefly, she paraded past me with her chin up and a grin
FREE to be ME! by Jennifer Sullivan Read More »
I haven’t written an article in several weeks, and I have been blaming a writer’s block; I know exactly what I want to say and yet cannot seem to find the words. Several days ago, however, I admitted the unspoken truth: I am burned out. There, I said it (actually, I just got off a
Burned. Out. By Jennifer Sullivan Read More »
