Rapunzel

My gorgeous little niece has beautiful blonde, wavy hair down to her butt. She also eerily resembles Disney's new Rapunzel character.

Today as we were leaving church she looked up at me & said, "Auntie, I think I have the longest hair in the whole world."

Me: "You do? Are you going to be Rapunzel when you grow up?"

Her: "Yeah. I'm going to carry my long golden hair around in a basket. With a kitty. It will purr."

LOVE!

Fingerpainting? That's for wussies!

Forget fingerpainting, man. We did TOE-painting! It was a RIDICULOUS mess & I will plan much better next time to protect the floor. However, it was AWESOME & the kids loved it!

What do you make?

Recently I watched a clip of a teacher who spoke at a convention. At a fancy dinner party a high-paid lawyer at the table started a rant about teachers & how no one can expect much from students that are taught by teachers when the only reason to become a teacher is because you can't do anything worth any money. He then turned to the teacher & condescendingly asked, "You're a teacher. Be honest, what do you make?"

The following rant is my response to those who would ask me a similar question.

What do you make?:

I make a 6 yr old child speak for the first time when his parents & speech therapists have given up years ago

I make actually stopping when I say “stop” feel like winning an Olympic gold medal

I make parents who are at the end of their rope see their child in a new light & fall in love with them all over again

I make children who have known nothing but abuse & neglect feel safe, unconditionally loved & free of fear

I make “normal” kids not just accept their special needs peers but become fast friends & recognize & appreciate what each person brings to the classroom

I make children who have been given up on by therapists, psychiatrists & the foster care system happy, healthy, responsible kidsI make families stronger

I make children happier.

I make a difference every day.

That's what I make.

Boxes are Fun!

Boxes are fun!

I am continuously amazed anew when we bring empty boxes into the classroom & let the kids go nuts with them.

So much fun!

*I could not get over how adorable this pic was!*

What I Want...

At church:

- every child should be welcomed as enthusiastically & warmly as every other child

-no family should be turned away or be made to feel unwanted

-every family should be supported, helped & loved to the ultimate ability of the church

-the church should seek out training, advice & help when encountering a challenge

-every child should be met at their physical, emotional, developmental & cognitive level

I know this is probably just a dream, but it's what I want & I'm going to keep trying to get there.