Patience.

When people say, "You must have a lot of patience to work with children." I think, I don't. I think of children as people who do not have a lot of experience with life. I chose to be that person who is there to help them gain knowledge about the world around them. It is not patience but understanding and compassion that I have. Now when people say, "You must have a lot of energy to work with children." I think, "Oh man yes I do!" That energy is fuelled by the enthusiasm of the children I work with every day.

Why I love my job.

Because I get to have conversations like this one...

As one old daycare family comes to pick up a new daycare family a question is put to me.

Mom: Ask Quincey your question.

Big Kid: You know that song YMCA?

Me: Ya.

Big kid: Well this is a YMCA, are they the same?

Me: Actually they are. In the song they are talking about meeting up with friends and using the gym, like Robert Lee YMCA has, and having fun. That is just like us.

Big kid: look of acknowledgment on her face.

Me: Did you know what YMCA letters stand for?

Big kid: No.

Me: Young Men’s Christian Association. That is who it was for when it started but not now. It is for everyone. You don’t have to be young, you could be old. You don’t have to be a man, you could be a girl, a boy, a man, or a woman. You don’t have to be a Christian you can go to any church or not. But it is still an association because there are YMCAs all over the world helping people stay healthy.

Big kid: What are the letters for again?

Me: Young. Men’s. Christian. Association.

Little kid: I have a half elf ear. I am half elf you know.

Me: I remember, Elves can come to the YMCA too.

Little kid: Huge smile on her face.

Blocks!!!

Blocks are a staple of my learning tools. There is so much play that happens with blocks. There is so much learning that happens when children play with blocks. I love blocks. I have a few sets.

my block creation at home with two of my sets

child's block creation at work with re-purposed sample tiles 

Stand tall