Joyful Noise Day Care -- 2006 Archives

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Welcome to the launch of my website and online newsletter!  I've had a lot of fun giving birth to it and hope that as it grows and matures it will be fun to use and read as well!   My intention for this weblog is to keep my clients, and anyone else who's interested, informed of the news at Joyful Noise.   The entries will hopefully be frequent, though I promise no predictable pattern; just like everything else with children.  Check back often; I'll need your feedback and suggestions as I strive to make this new endeavor an efficient and helpful communication tool.

By now all of you have received your "good news/bad news" notes and know of the rate increases and changes in vacation policy.   Most of you commented that the rates aren't really going up that much considering the vacation rate changes, so I think sticker shock is at a minimum.   You can expect that rates will go up about every two years or so, as long as all our other costs do.

We'll be having an overnight guest on Wednesday, so the children will have a chance to meet someone new and have the experience of moving over a little bit in our environment and routine to accomodate a beloved but seldom-seen friend.   This is one of the benefits of home day care over centers; that real life happens without making special arrangements for it. We can, hopefully, all remember what it was like as a child to give up our bedroom to relatives or company, to have a new body and voice at the breakfast table and suitcase in the corner that held new smells.   One of my favorite children's books is about this and very appropriate for this time of year: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell. The cute pictures and wonderful text talk about relatives staying for a while in the summer until they have to go back home to harvest their garden. One of my favorite lines in it is, We were so busy hugging and eating and breathing together. ...

This week all our routine is in transition as school is starting.  Several of the children are switching days around to accomodate new schedules and the day care is only open four days this week and three days next week.  Baby Hendrix, Paxton's new little brother, came to visit us today so he can start to get used to our sounds and smells in preparation for his first day of day care next week.
Last week a V of geese heading straight south flew over us as we played in the back yard. We called "good-bye" and waved to them and they honked back.  Though the children are too young to intellectually understand migration, there was something strong in that brief experience that we all felt and even the littlest ones stared at the geese til they were out of sight.

Well it's a short week for me and most of you remembered that and those who didn't recovered well.   These days of shifting schedules take their toll on all of us and it's important to take breaks when we need them.   Burn out is one of the biggest liabilities in child care, so, though it's inconvenient when your day care closes for vacation, it's a necessary part of consistent care (as ironic as that may seem.)

Hendrix experienced his first two days of day care this week and we both did quite well. A new human on the planet causes all of us to move over just a little bit.   All of the children love him, crowding around whenever he gets fed or diapered or laid to rest in his crib.   They are so close to that age, I can't help but wonder how much of his view of the world they can still remember.  Even "baby Aaron" seems older now that he's not the youngest one here anymore, and he gazes at Hendrix with the same fascination as the others; all full of joy at this new friend.   As for me, I'm learning how he likes to be held and fed and talked to while I enjoy that indescribable new baby smell.

Speaking of new babies, Collin and Ashlee are both looking forward to siblings by the end of winter, so as the sidewalks start to get icy, realize that these two women are going to be a little extra wobbly out there and try to offer them an arm (if you happen to have one free yourself!)   Congratulations!

You'll notice that my own personal privacy policy on the website is that I only mention the children by their first names and I'll not use any other names of clients or their relatives.  If you don't want your child mentioned at all, please let me know.  I'll never post any pictures without express permission in writing, so don't worry about that either.

One more thing: The forms for the Federal Food Program are here and need to be filled out asap.   Their fiscal year starts in October, just to be difficult.  Thanks for your cooperation; the food program helps keep day care costs down by reimbursing me a little bit for meals and snacks.   The government has reduced what goes to day care homes over the years and it's always threatened every time they look for something to cut, but in the meantime, just by filling out reams of paper we can benefit from some of our tax dollars.

Our song this week has been Summer good-bye, summer good-bye, you may no longer stay, autumn is on its' way.... from Sing a Song of Seasons by Mary Thienes-Schunemann.   (If I had only one cd of children's songs it would be this one.)   It's the autumnal equinox and it really feels like it as the chilly nights and rainy days seem to wash away summer and welcome in a crisp, clean fall.   This is my favorite time of year as we get out our sweaters and hats and marvel over how many different kinds of apples and squash there are at the farmer's market!

The 'school kids' are still very excited about their new classrooms and burst into the daycare when they arrive; tired from working so hard but full of pent up energy that had to concentrate and be good all morning.   Since we don't see each other as often as we did in the summer, we miss them and the two-year-olds rush to the door when they arrive, so it's a very noisy time.   Everyone has something to say and the grown-ups have to focus extra hard to be the calm, peaceful ones.   We'll all get used to it soon... just in time for the holidays....

You may have seen 'baby Hendrix' riding around in my purple sling, which is a rebozo. Though some of you say that it looks uncomfortable, we are both very happy all bound up together like that.   For his part, it's the way his momma carries him around; he's warm and snuggled up in a sort of womb feeling that will let him stretch and flex, or sleep and hide as his mood changes.   For my part, I can keep a close watch on him, know that he's cuddled, yet still have the use of both of my hands for all the other tasks around the house.  It's wonderful for the other children to see this nurturing 'babe in arms' sight, and they imitate it in their play.   I feel sorry for those one or two generations of women before mine that were talked out of this convenience by doctors and marketers who made wearing babies seem backward and heathen.   I carried my own daughters around in a front pack but prefer this rebozo for its versatility and simplicity.   And when I get too old to carry babies anymore, I'll have a lovely shawl to wear, full of all the energy from every little soul that rode around in it!  (No this is not a paid ad, even though it sounds like it!)

You may have noticed a lot of activity on the west side of our house this last week!   My parents put a new fence in on their property and with a lot of sweat, elbow grease and love, we gleaned the old one for our yard.   Ben has worked overtime with a little help from his nephew and fiance and me to get it all up and kid-proof while the day care was closed and it has changed the whole look of our outdoor space.   Not only will the taller fence make us less annoying to our childless neighbors on that side, but it's also harder to throw the toys over!   We didn't have quite enough tall stuff to go all the way back to the sandbox, however, so I'll still have to make the occasional treks around to toss shovels and balls back into our yard.   The neighbors help, bless them.   We've extended the yard with the fence to wrap around the house a bit to the north, so now we have a sweet little 'lilac grove' to play in, a second plum tree to watch and the bird feeder right in the play space instead of in the mysterious land beyond the gate.   Thank you Ben!

Well, after about a week and a half I'm finally back on track after taking a week and a half vacation!   My time off was productive, though to look at the website you would hardly know it.   I did post one new article on the Health page about depression which I feel is helpful at this time of year.   A few of my other accomplishments were daycare related but had more to do with sorting toys, cleaning the basement and shopping than sitting at my desk.   There are so many chores that support caring for children that can't be done while the little ones are here; sometime I just need to take a few days off to get them done.   Also on that list are self care items like getting a massage and having lunch with a dear friend.   If we don't care for ourselves we can't expect to be able to have anything to give.

The weather has shifted into the cold rains of autumn and we're spending much more time indoors.   Even when the sun comes out, the ground is frosty or damp.   Though we all know that children need to get out in the fresh air, I also have to be careful with toddlers during these transitional seasons.   Our bodies aren't quite acclimated yet to the cold and as we're experiencing lots of sniffles and coughs, it's important to keep them warm and only let them get wet for short periods of time.   One way to get them outside, keep them moving so they stay warm but also keep them from getting wet is to go for walks.   Unfortunately that isn't always possible for us with the particular group and schedule we have at Joyful Noise now, so I would like to encourage you to try to make a walk with your child part of your daily home life.   With these little ones, it doesn't have to be a long walk and can easily be accomplished after dinner.  

A daily walk with a parent has so many benefits for a child that it's hard to list them all here.   The obvious major one is that it is some shared time in nature, away from all the distractions of the house, including telephones, televisions and computers.   (Offer your child the same courtesy you would a friend and leave your cell phone turned off.)   Children also gain much from the rhythmic action of measuring their steps next to that of a trusted adult.   It is a soothing repetitive gesture that strengthens their ability to move forward, pace themselves, follow and observe.   This exercise works its way deep within to help balance, calm and orient them in the world.   For a child to walk through their neighborhood, tracing and retracing their steps, helps them feel secure as the landscape becomes more and more familiar, and lets them notice the subtle changes which strengthens their powers of observation.   As the days get shorter, I think you'll find that developing the habit of an evening walk in the twilight will create a magical time and special memories for both you and your child.

Lastly, remember to pick up some gourds at the farmer's markets before it's too late.   You can let the children play with them and they will dry into beautiful, durable toys.   Some will inevitably get rotten spots and have to be thrown in the compost, but that also is a valuable experience.

The days are getting shorter and the space between entries in this weblog is getting longer!   There's less news to write about lately and less computer time to write it in as baby Hendrix has discovered that naptime is a good time to have me all to himself.   All in the job description, and soon enough he'll be taking regular naps like the bigger kids, though by then we have some new babies due that will be taking his place as the littlest darlings.   In the meantime, the days grow shorter and sleep patterns for some of us are askew.   The two year olds are really starting to talk clearly now and one of the things that they wonder, along with the older children, is why are my parents coming so late in the day?   There's no way to explain to any of them that the darkness is coming sooner, and Mommy and Daddy are still coming at the same time!  Just like everything else, they'll get used to it probably right around solstice when the days will start to get longer again.

December is a big month around here with three birthdays, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice and Christmas.   This is the one time of the year where I go against all of my philosphies and help the children create an ornament that's based on a model so that they'll all come out more or less the same.   I truely believe that projects like this stunt creativity, but I figure that, like eating candy, maybe once a year it doesn't hurt.   The children suffer very little and it pleases the grown-ups so.   I've received such nice feedback from my 'alumni' as they unpack their old ornaments, reminiscing about those tender years at Chrissie's house.

I come from a long line of women who love to celebrate Christmas so the house will soon start smelling of our special German Stollen and gingerbread.   We hold off on the tree until the last possible weekend so I don't have to guard it from the babies for too many days, but still the children can enjoy this wonderful, pagan tradition of bringing some cleansing green and twinkling light into the daycare at the darkest time of year.   I understand about using a live tree and not killing one just for a festival, but since the evergreen that we harvest doesn't deforest a woods but comes from a local, renewable tree farm, I suffer no guilt about offering up some archetypal symbolism of sacrifice and the cycle of life and death at this magical, sacred time.

Today as we enjoy our first real blizzard of the year, Ben reminded me to ask the parents to please start sending appropriate play clothing for the older children so they can get outside and revel in the snow!   Children who grow up in Northern Michigan are so lucky to have the opportunity to experience the piles of this sparkling, fairy-like substance, it's surely a sin to deprive them of it!   The babies are too tender to stay out in our bitter winter air and so those with no snowpants, boots, hats and mittens will have to stay indoors with them and watch the others play through the window, which often causes tears for the children AND the adults, it's so sad!

Well, the tree is up and the menorahs have been lit, so we are all ready to greet the darkest days of the year.   The wreath on the door is an old pagan tradition to keep the evil spirits of winter from entering, so as solstice approaches this week we will be safe and sound thanks to my Mother, Mary, who made us our beautiful circle of greenery with all her special love and prayers.   We are truly blessed!

Since I wrote here last, Hendrix is offcially rolling over, Aaron is offcially walking and all the two-year-olds are offcially mastering the English language with attitude!   There is no end to the entertainment here.   Hendrix has a doting Grandpa who loves to pop in just to hold him during the day, so the rest of the children have adopted him as their Grandpa as well.   The caregivers are always grateful for an extra pair of hands to hold the baby, even though we sometimes feel like we have to shoo the others away so that Hendrix can find any spot at all on his Papa's lap.  Papa assures us he can handle it.

As the year rolls to an end and the age-old traditions surround us, emotions peak while energy wanes.   We long to hibernate into our selves to inspect our souls while at the same time we instinctively know that we must seek out the tribe, stick with the pack to make it through the lean times.   Family is who cares for us, who loves us and who has to take us in when we have to go there.   They aren't always the people we are related to by blood, but are always the people we are related to in spirit.   May we all find a quiet space in the next week to look into ourselves, and may we have the skill to fashion a protective wreath of friends and 'family' around each other to weather and celebrate the lessons that we find there.

Tomorrow the tree comes down as the New Year arrives, but the wreath will stay on the door until the vernal equinox, as I am slightly superstitious about certain things.   This last year has been rich in its gifts; as usual some more welcome than others, but all of them steps on the path which is the goal.   In the midst of my reflections and preparations I am taking this minute here to thank and bless all who are reading this; I so appreciate that you feel my words are worth your moments and in the years to come I'll strive to become even more worthy of them.   Keep letting me know what you want to hear about and I'll keep writing about it.   My wish for your New Year is my favorite blessing, by Edward Searl:

May the courage of the early morning's dawning
The strength of the eternal hills,
The peace of the evening's ending
And the love of life
Be in our hearts.