about is this site's story
If I, myself, am going to listen to someone else's advice or suggestions about something, I want to know where they're coming from and that they know more than I already know. I don't want to waste my time on fluff. I expect that you are the same so I will tell you how this website came about. During my younger years, I spent a lot of time with children and their parents in both professional and personal associations. A dozen of my professional years were spent working directly with children--some with severe social and emotional problems in intensive treatment centers, some in pre-school settings, some with intelligence challenges, some "normal" and some with a wide variety of physical challenges. I was a Red Cross Swimming Instructor for 25 years, taught adapted aquatics, worked with deaf and blind children and raised one stupendous son.
Some of my job descriptions included working with parents and parenting help. I've seen many nervous parents who seemed to be hanging by a thread, who with a little guidance and some parenting tips were able to gain confidence in their parenting skills and thrive as parents. As a young parent, myself, I was talking with a woman I had just met. The conversation turned to our growing toddlers and about what we did with them. I casually mentioned that I did projects with my child every day. In amazement she asked, "How do you know what to do with your toddler? How do you ever figure out activities for your child?" Since that time I have repeatedly recognized a need in many parents for something at their fingertips to spark their imaginations or to do the thinking for them in regard to determining what to do with their babies and toddlers on a day to day basis. It seems there is a need for parenting tips and advice and activities suitable for small children to be readily available. A lot of what I have done in my past had to do with actually doing enriching, learning activities with kids and also working with parents and their children. I have files and piles of resources and information that has been languishing in my head and my desk drawers.
To pass on some of the personal wisdom I have acquired through the years seems a meaningful way for me to do my little bit for the good of the world.
But not yet---this website wasn't born then. In fact, it almost didn't get off the ground at all. I had another website. It was about teaching reading early. Someone stole my words. They didn't just use the ideas and concepts but actually blatantly stole the words, word-for-word directly off my website and then took credit for them as their own. This actually took place in a school district that touted itself as being 'ethical'! Needless to say, I was astonished and discouraged. I shared my expertise in good faith. I want children to have better lives and I think our current world desperately needs help. But for me, everything stood still for awhile while I regrouped my attitude toward the idea of sharing my experience and advice only to have it stolen. Sometimes when I am out and about and watch parents so badly mismanage their growing toddler, I want to encourage them and suggest that they find the tools that they need so everybody can be less stressed. Sometimes I see a child who is on the verge of being by-passed by the world because nobody stepped up to lend a hand. Sometimes parents or children are just on the verge of either falling off the cliff or reaching the mountain peak. I get agitated when I know there are tools--sometimes simple, easy tricks, or parenting tips to use--that could result in success. (aside: to use the word "success" isn't meant to imply that I think everyone is going to interpret what I say as being right --- your mileage may vary in regard to what success means. All well and good. This is just offered to you if it strikes a cord with you. If not, there are plenty of other places where you can find what you need. But there are certain social mores that we all agree serve our communities and fellowship with human beings well. How we get there may vary, but I hope to meet you at that common ground :--) ) ...back to my story Ultimately I have to speak. My experience and advice wants out! What good is it to me? At this point in my life, I'm not actively raising children or working with kids anymore and these things are bursting at my seams, bubbling over. So I have now pulled up my socks and decided that if someone feels compelled to copy my stuff, I don't like it but so be it---I'm not going to let them turn me into a victim. So, I am forging ahead and saying what I have to say. I have parenting tips and advice and activities for kids and child care insight to express....And thus was born this site. May our children bloom and grow, step by step. May they blossom into wondrous spectacular flowers in the garden of life.
|
