A Little Bit of Nothing by Jane Danner

 

A Little Bit of Nothing

By Miss Jane

 

I held my newborn grandson for the first time last night. He slept soundly in my arms, snuggled up against me, much as his father had done so many years ago—a whole lifetime ago. And now here was Harrison, so small and so infinitely beautiful, his little body swaddled snugly in cotton, wool knit cap over his dark hair. Holding that little tiny being in my arms I was overwhelmed with gratitude and wonder at all the moments I got to witness of this baby’s father’s life. I was lucky enough to be there for all of it. Every single day and night. Now, looking back, I wouldn’t wish for one less poopy diaper, one less crabby whiny day, one less long teething session or horrible earache, one less snotty coughing sleepless night, I wouldn’t give up one second of it all. Suddenly, I have come into the presence of still waters.

Did I know that then, when I was going through it all? Probably not. Though I would catch my mom or my dad on some rare occasion with a tear in their eye as they looked wistfully at my children. Or when they would laugh good naturedly at something snotty my kids had said that embarrassed me to no end and I would hear them mutter under their breath, “The apple doesn’t fall far…!” My own daughter now tells me emphatically, “Oh shut up, mother!” when I say it to her. 

I know it may seem an impossibly long time away right now, but time really does have a way of slipping past us and the idea of a poopy diaper being romanticized in anyway ridiculous. But there I was smiling when, as I lifted Harrison back into his mother’s arm, he filled his diaper. I know! I would not have believed it myself if you had told me, there in the smell of a diaper can lie the peace of wild things.

I would not have believed you if you had told me that one day I would be filled with longing and overwhelming love while watching my older grandsons. Their parents went on a short vacation not so long ago and little James was the first of the three to stand in the doorway of the bedroom in the wee hours of the morning and say, “I feel sick”, just before puking all over the hallway floor. But there it was. Memory after memory flooding back. Gentler now with the passage of time. How many nights Ian and his siblings had gotten me out of bed in the wee hours to change bedding, mop up floors, and rest a cool hand on a hot little forehead. Yet there in the dark hours of the night shines the light of the day- blind stars.

The easy times are easy to appreciate; reading stories to Olivia, tucked in my arms and getting ready for nap time brings back floods of memories of the books I read to my children: Peter Rabbit and Green Eggs and Ham, The Great Brain and Percy Jackson and of course Harry Potter! Our many camping trips with Abryanna bring back memories of High Cliff Park and Mauthe Lake. They are beautifully etched in my memory as well. I expected that. I didn’t expect the hard times to come back so fondly and forcefully as well.  And so I don’t really expect that you will believe me either, when I say that they are all good memories, but it will come. It will come resting in the grace of the world.

In the meantime, I get to gaze upon these incredible children in my care and wonder about them. What will their amazing futures hold? Will there be spouses? Will there be babies? You are so lucky to be a part of their futures! I can only stand back and guess. Will Penelope climb Mount Everest someday, as I predict? Will Simukai be on the cutting edge of AI technology and will Quentin become an all-star wrestling champion? Will Margaret sing opera? And Amelia become a vet or a biologist? Will Bridget study robotics? Will Calvin become a state champion in debate? Will Felix become a peace activist? Will Theo enter politics? Who knows? I just know that I am tremendously privileged to be a part of their now.

 

The Signs of Spring by Calynn Klohn

 

The Signs of Spring

By Miss Calynn

 

My favorite signs and symbols of spring are the first sight of green, and the subsequent sprouting of flowers— the resilient kind that can put up with sudden drops of cold and copious watering from the rain. I’m certain we all marveled in the Scilla that covered the forest around LifeWays! Another of my cherished spring things is the sound of birds chirping, much more cheery than the slow and somber winter calls, and alive with prospects of new life and welcomed warmth.

There is a quiet similarity in the turning of winter to spring and the growth of young children. In fact, if we split the years of our lives up into seasons, spring would surely be the first. As I’ve gotten to grow with the children at LifeWays during the colder months, I closely began to detect the sifting energy when those first purple-blue buds arrived. I heard the way Lena’s words formed into coherent names and labels. What was not long ago babble, has become an excited effort to name things like ‘necklace’, ‘shovel’, and of course the names of her cherished friends.            

I watched the way Owen dug through the dirt to find worms for each of his littler friends who needed a hand finding one, and respectfully setting them back into their dirt homes when it was time to go inside. And we celebrated the coming of new siblings into the world, born into a season of fresh soil, ready to tuck them in and guide them upward towards their sunny purpose!

There is a clear readiness I feel amongst the children for being outside and in the summer sun, but we know that there are still some necessary pieces of the spring season that are occurring. And any frustration we may feel in waiting for the temperature to turn, or the rain to pass, is identical to the feelings of our children as they trial and error their new skills. They may have a voracious readiness to excel and develop quickly, but there are certain vital moments in their process of learning that will feel frustrating, painstaking, and endless to them.

This is their spring season— a time of setting strong foundations, of making sure their garden soil is nutrient dense, and this invisible underground process is the very thing that will bud the flowers later in the spring and summer. And by the end of summer, I know that we will look back and marvel at the things that have sprouted and bloomed in our children’s lives.

May we as caregivers be like the chirping birds to our children— offering them pleasant song to work along to, sometimes incessantly singing the same chirp again and again until we hear it called back to us! But a sweet thing to listen to, regardless.

 

Reflections from a LifeWays Parent

Reflections from a LifeWays Parent  

by Pete Brands 

This morning as Lena and I approached the parking lot at LifeWays, all was quiet.  It was a bright spring-like morning when the sun promises her warmth, yet, for the moment, sparkling frost still lingered on the wintered blades of grass at our feet.  Brilliant cardinals captured the sun’s rays high in the trees while singing their morning song.  On this day, I experienced something that took my breath away.  Ms. Jaimmie and Ms. Belinda arrived and were transitioning from being responsible drivers, members of their families and communities, living their own, separate lives … to caregivers for our children.  Maybe I’m wrong, but I felt that I was in the presence of something truly surreal.  There was an aura of power surrounding them. They each held their own silence.  A peace came from within them and emanated from them that held my “Good morning!” back for the time.  Even Lena was quiet, which usually means she’s in awe, and watchfully taking things in. 

 

We were in the presence of something truly special.  Here was something every person imagines - seemingly normal human beings transforming into superheroes with shields that withstand rays of whining children, calming powers that subdue even the most upset toddler, gentle guidance through trying times, bright optimistic greetings that warm parents’ hearts for whole days at a time.  Positive influences that shape our most precious possessions into well-rounded, strong, problem solving, self-soothing future adults.  Kids whose love of our world is rooted in a respect for themselves, each other and the highest regard for Mother Earth. 

It felt like one breath and a few steps towards the door was all they needed to make the transition - one I’m sure each wonderful caregiver makes.  I found myself so humbled by the experience, like witnessing a solar eclipse. I am moved to tears just recounting it.  We are in the presence of the most amazing people.  I sometimes wish for more children just to be able to continue entering the world that lies beyond those doors and down the stairs.  May we all remember to take those breaths, be conscious of the moments we need, and step up to be the best examples not only for our children, but for our communities great and small. 

 

 

Honoring Play in Early Childhood by Belinda Kenwood

 

Honoring Play in Early Childhood

By Miss Belinda

 

To everything (Turn, turn, turn)

There is a season (Turn, turn, turn)

And a time to every purpose under heaven…

~ Book of Ecclesiastes

 

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.

~ Carl Jung

 

Play is the foundation of learning, creativity, self-expression, and constructive problem-solving.  It is how children wrestle with life to make it meaningful.”

~ Susan Linn

 

Play is not frivolous.  It is not something to fit in after completing all the “important” stuff.  Play is the important stuff.  Play is a drive, a need, a brain building must-do.”

~ Denita Dinger

 

For a small child there is no division between playing and learning; between the things he or she does “just for fun” and things that are “educational.”  The child learns while living and any part of living that is enjoyable is also play.

~ Penelope Leach

 

 

I feel so profoundly blessed to be caring for children during their early childhood years; in working with them through the foundational years; for I, too, am learning and playing right along with them.  What could be better?

 

Enjoy these photos of the children embracing play in this “season” of early childhood:

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Inside and Outside Play by Jane Danner

 Inside and Outside Play

By Miss Jane

 

My niece and her family stayed with us last weekend. They came into town for their grandfather’s funeral. It was a lovely opportunity to remember and love a wonderful man. They live in Tennessee so I don’t get to see them as often as I would like and the house was full of family. Since I have my grandchildren over quite often, I have toys tucked away in many crooks and crannies of this house and Lyra, age 7 and Olin, age 6, were finding things and exploring with delighted abandon. There was the quiet buzz of children playing contentedly…until the cousins arrived. Then the house exploded and I, like my mother before me, and her mother etc. exclaimed, “Ok, get your hats and boots and coats on! Everyone, outside!”

There is something about numbers of children together that can quickly turn a nice game of making an airplane out of the play chairs and a few strings, and taking all the babies and dolls to Mexico or Miami, into a whirlwind of disaster. Children are running in circles, strings are flapping, toys are flying and babies are in the flight path of being knocked over. Miss Jane is very insistent about the difference between outside play and inside play. And the children in the Woodland Suite are slowly getting the idea.

It happens every year when we move back to greeting the children inside. We have to learn again what inside play is all about. It is also what I love best about having a mixed age group of children. The older children’s imaginative juices are fluid and they can take the younger children on journeys from the kitchen table and making muffins, onto a picnic boat ride or serving food on the airplane for vacation. They can direct the manufacturing of rocket ships out of magnet tiles for the stuffed animals to rocket them to the stars and back. They turn the suite into a dog rescue or wild animal sanctuary. For the most part, Miss Jane can stand back and enjoy the hum of focused activity. It will crescendo and Miss Jane can give the children a little reminder, “Inside play!” It works for a better part of the morning but then there comes the moment when I know it is time for snack, and “Get your hats and boots and coats on! Everyone outside!”