Joyful Noise Day Care -- 2013 Archives

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Building Community My Corner

The tree is down, we're all rested up and the refrigerator is freshly stocked with milk and fish sticks, so it must be time to get back to work!   Two weeks off seems like such a long time but we really need that big break every year to find our center again, remember how to slow down and to take care of just us for a few days in a row.   Some years our good intentions are way laid by the inevitable but this year our two weeks were relatively free of tragedies or drama and were full of fun, contemplation and tasks accomplished!

Over the break we're still working; cleaning, organizing and trying to get the endless paperwork tamed.   Maintenence is endless and we have no delusions of ever being "done," but we do enjoy gettinig some toys rotated, some bedding aired out and some shelves de-cluttered.   While my license is not up for renewal this year, there is a possibility that I'll be having a surprise inspection which comes on the off year.   If my State of Michigan worker is here while you're dropping off or picking up, thank you in advance for your patience.   I'm sure we can all agree that the people who work for licensing are important to us all!

Tomorrow we have another meeting for the advisory committee that I sit on for Great Start.   Several people have asked me what's going on with this, since it's been almost a year since they took over the grant, and I can't really report much that's encouraging.   At this point I'm feeling like if I can't say anything nice I won't say anything at all, so let's just wait and see what the new year brings, shall we?

There are a few corners of the website that I'd like to update before our Sunday night popcorn and Downton Abbey, so this is all for today.   My heart is full of hope for all of you in this new year, that peace, health, prosperity and joy will flood your homes and hearts.   Many blessings for 2013.

I love writing on my weblog because it means that my weekend shaped up to the point where I have a few extra minutes to pause, reflect and share with you a handful of things before the next week begins.   This website is one of my favorite hobbies and I hope that in some small way it's helpful to those who come here.   If there's any way I can make it more helpful, accessible or easier to maneuver, please let me know!

Today was busy with visiting an aunt in the hospital (she's looking good!) and Mary's birthday party which was pretty tiring for all us old folks, but we're so honored to be near enough to grandchildren to be a part of their lives.   A solid gold blessing.   Happy Birthday Mary!

Yesterday I spent the greater portion of the day partaking in professional development with two of my Waldorf educated colleagues.   Waldorf training is rare to non-existent up here so I feel fortunate to have some friends who like to get together to share information, perspective and knowledge.   This weekend we discussed the political climate for early childhood, (bleak at best, scary at worst,) strategies for classrooms in the winter (earplugs,) (just kidding....,) weapon play, (warriors, hunters or imitation?,) storytelling techniques for preschool and, our favorite, parents (don't worry, really.)   I came away refreshed and with courage renewed to face another week!

Speaking of parents, Bode and Kailer's Mom was kind enough to take part of her day off from the dentist's office to bring us her purple bug puppet with the big teeth and a big toothbrush to match in order to talk about tooth brushing, which is NOT an easy thing to do for a bunch of two and three-year-olds.   Especially when one of the two-year-olds is your own!   She was wonderful though and all the kids got a turn to brush and floss the big puppet teeth and we brought out quite a few of our plastic jungle animals and brushed their teeth as well.   She gave us goodie bags to take home with toothbrushes and floss and egg timers and all sorts of other good stuff and we are eternally grateful!   We got some very good reports the next day that several of our "reluctant" toothbrushers had been reformed into very enthusiastic toothbrushers, which is just what we were hoping for.   Thank you thank you thank you Miss Carrie!

Tomorrow is a day off from school but not from daycare, so we'll have a couple of the "big kids" here to grace our presence.   They're predicting COLD weather the next couple of days so we won't be taking the little ones out; single digits are just too frigid for their skin and I feel that they get enough fresh air just going to and from the car several times a day when it gets like this.   Of course the older children are always allowed to go out if they want and they often do, if even just for a few minutes.   It's a grand experience to feel your nose freeze shut and one that definitely builds the character (or characters) we see up here in the north woods.   Ready or not, winter's here!

I don't have much time to write in the weblog tonight because I've been working hard for hours already posting a new poem, a new recipe and updated the calendar page.   Quite a bit for one afternoon, especially since we also went for a nice long walk in the fluffy snow.

The last couple of weeks were a whirlwind of snow days and a stomach bug that took no prisoners, including me.   So I'm a little foggy on the details but happy to report that we're all still standing and jumping and running and skipping so our immune systems are in great working order.   One of the Mom's found that a nice hot bath with Epsom salts, baking soda and a few drops of oregano essential oil worked wonders for clearing up a persistent cough in her little one.   Ben also tried it this weekend with the same happy results, so that's another tool in our healthy living tool box!

The children have loved getting outside in the fresh snow, especially when it's good for building snowmen or making angels.   Most of you have heard reports of the "bunnies chasing the bear" game which Ben invented to encourage them to run.   Boots, snowpants and ice can be intimidating to the little ones and they're often inclined to just sit down and eat snow if left to their own devices.   BUT, if given a little seed of a story, and the power to capture a big, scaredy cat bear, well....  Most of you have seen the delight in their faces as they tell you about it, and on the Facebook page I posted a couple of pictures that I managed to catch through the window.   A small peek into our day.   Now, time to go rest up for tomorrow.

Snow, glorious snow!   We couldn't be happier to have this miraculous material to play with every day this past week and temperatures warm enough to allow us entry into the white white world.   Just as in the summer our northern children learn how to love the cold water, in the winter they learn how to love the cold snow!   One mother remarked to me that her two-year-old just had to make a snow angel before he got in the car that morning and she didn't even realize that he knew what a snow angel was!   I hope he learned it here because we invite and encourage them to grace our yard and guard over us in our play!   I admit, I have yet to make one of my own this season, but I plan to.

This season does bring a horrible hazard that we ask your assistance with.   We warn the children over and over to stay away from the edge of the house so that when the icicles fall they stay safe, but this absolutely needs to be reinforced at home.   Children love icicles and we "pick" the safe, available ones for a special popsicle which they treasure like no other.   While we do, we repeat over and over the lesson to stay back and we show them where the ice has fallen if we can.   When we're inside and the ice falls and makes a big noise it's another reminder of the danger on the roof.   But they are very little and can NOT be trusted to remember this lesson that applies only in winter.   They become engrossed in their play and are unaware of how close they venture to the house.   The roofs adjacent to the play spaces in the back yard are a shallower pitch so the ice doesn't fall off as often, but we still try to be extra vigilant.   However, the ice in the forward part of the house falls off the steeper pitched roof on a regular basis and with great force.   You can point out to your child the huge chunks of ice in the driveway and take great caution when you park there.   We have in the past had ice fall and dent a vehicle; not covered by our homeowners insurance.   Employ caution.   It is fatal if it falls on a child.

I had the rare honor of attending a baby shower on Saturday for the very first infant that attended my daycare way back in the early 80's.   What an amazing, joyful time I had sitting next to her mother and surrounding her with love as we watched together one more milestone in all our lives.   There are really no words.   Thank you, again.

In Saturday's Record-Eagle, Rabbi Albert Lewis wrote a wonderful article about the archetypal bear game that I spoke about last week.   I thought it was a beautiful perspective on playing with children and letting them lead the play.   So often when grown-ups talk about "play based learning" they really mean that they make up games for children to play that thinly disguise lessons so they can demonstrate how they're learning.   It takes a greater understanding of children to observe how they play without grown-ups and discern what is being learned without interference.   And it takes even greater skill to enter into play without disturbing it or changing it, like stepping into a pool of water without making any ripples.   And yet, it can be done!   When an adult can master this skill, it is the sweet time discussed in Rabbi Lewis' article.

We can hardly believe how many snow days we're having this year!   The school kids are feeling so lucky!   We also cannot believe how many different "bugs" seem to be circulating through town: stomach bugs, sniffling bugs, and last week an infected gland that drains through the ear bug!   We know that if our children are eating a wholesome, well rounded diet and sleeping and exercising enough then their immune systems will handle these bugs but it's hard to be patient with nature and know when to intervene with medicine or herbs.   We respect each parent's individual choices on this and as long as the children have normal energy, no fever and no vomiting then they are welcome to keep attending here.   However making the fever go away with drugs is not the same as "no fever" so we ask that you be honest with us when you drop off your child "fever free."   Also, when children are getting teeth they often have a low grade fever which is no problem for us here.   Teething infants or two-year-olds are not ill.

It is always around this time of year that I remind the parents to please make the time to see that your child has a place where they can run and climb with abandon.   This means without boots or snowsuits.   Winter is long and while it invites a magical and unique form of outdoor play, it is also confining play that insists we move carefully and in a "fettered" manner.   Our little ones especially can't stretch their legs or climb very well at all with all their necessary garments on.   Take them to the play structure at the local fast food joint, or the mall or sign up for a kiddie gymnastics hour where they can run full tilt at least once a week.   Please.   As much exercise as they get here, we can't offer that until the snow melts again and it will do you ALL a world of good.   I promise!

Another restorative weekend here on State St.   Yesterday I went to my judges training for Odyssey of the Mind, the coolest thing ever for older kids.   Today we took our Sunday walk over to the Dennos Museum feeling very lucky to have such a sweet little museum in our neighborhood.   Also, Ben and I are trying to wind up our plans for a vacation in spring and hope to be able to notify you within a week of those days so you can start to make plans for alternative care for your children.   We hope to take our break in April but no final word yet!   Stay tuned.

We were so fortunate this past week to be able to get the kids out every day and some days they even went for a walk to see the great big white world.   They're all getting quite expert at putting on their gear now and the procedure is quite like suiting up astronauts for a journey out into the rocky moonscape!   Especially the last part, when we slide on those gloves and make sure they're all tucked in: blast off!

In the wintertime we spend much more time reading books and the children all love these cuddly times.   It struck me this week as I watched the children and Ben sounding out letters and words, how much a family daycare is like a one-room schoolhouse, with all different levels of knowledge and learning going on at once.   The older children inspire the younger ones to keep striving and the younger ones allow the elders to learn by teaching and nurturing.   It's one of the huge benefits of a mixed-aged group that children miss out on when they're in segregated classrooms.   It's such a magical alchemy and I feel so privileged to be witness to it and help it along!   Many thanks to those who make this possible!

This past week was pretty normal in our daycare world; the illnesses among the children seem to be healing and the weather has allowed us to continue to get outside every day.   All this new, fresh snow is exactly the winter we wish that our children in the north will be able to experience!   Finally, after a couple of mild years, a REAL winter!

Factcheck.org is an unbiased resource about the claims of politicians and this week, because of Obama's State of the Union speech, they have uncovered facts about the efficacy of preschool.   I realize that this article seems long, BUT please try to struggle through it if you're at all inclined to think that "preschool," especially the big-box variety, is necessary or even beneficial to children.

I've been trying to get the same message to parents for years, but the preschools have a lot of marketing money.   They know how to put together bits and pieces of studies to create official sounding information and make consumers (parents) feel they need to send their children to school early.   But as consumers, you need to educate yourselves!   It seems wrong that we should be suspect of our own school systems and government, but when the amount of money they receive depends on our taxes and the number of bodies in their buildings, then we must realize that they may not have the best interest of our children in mind when they try to sell their ideas to us.   I know, I know...it's hard to believe.   But if you don't believe me, then read the Factcheck analysis and then do your own research and get back with me.

A productive weekend of errand running, housekeeping, paperwork and visiting relatives has cut back on my blogging time.   The next time I'm back here it will be March!   Will it come in like a lion, or a lamb?

Another weekend is quickly closing down and I've been busy with so many rich, rewarding activities that not much time is left to write here.   All day yesterday I judged Odyssey of the Mind which I try to do every year.   Today, Ben and I went for a nice long walk along the bay and I sorted through some neglected books resulting in more space for what I need and a healthy donation for people who might need what I no longer want!

I also sorted through some articles I've been meaning to share with you, so I can at least give you one of them before I rush off to bed.   This article is from the October 2011 newsletter of the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry.   Unfortunately, it's in pdf format and you'll have to scroll down to find it, but it's worth it.   The name of the article is The Six Keys to Learning by Marcia Lee, a reading specialist who has worked in public schools for years.   Many parents are very concerned that their children have every possible advantage when they enter school and I think you'll find this article very helpful.

One of the articles I ran across while sorting this weekend was all about how important sleep is, so I'm going to take that very seriously and go to bed on time tonight.   I hope you do too!

We had a grand daughter sleepover last Sunday so my weblog took a back seat, but here I am today with double the news.   The best news ever is that my taxes are done, in the envelopes and ready to mail tomorrow!   Yipee!!!

More news that's not so new anymore is that this year we're able to participate in the Beach Bums Reading Program.   We're already only one book away from everyone getting a home run so I'll be sending in the information this week and we'll, hopefully, get our vouchers in a timely fashion.   Since we've never done this before I'm not exactly sure how smoothly this is going to go, but we'll find out!   The children who have brothers and sisters in school were SO excited to learn that they too could "read around the bases."   We're very grateful to all the caring people in our community who realize that reading is important to these little ones as well.

At the latest meeting of the Great Start Advisory committee we learned, to no one's surprise, that there will be changes made in how our gold stars are awarded to us as a result of all the wailing and gnashing of teeth that resulted from their first model.   Sooooo, soon they will be launching STARS 2.0 which makes a few changes.   However, not enough in my humble opinion.   In fact, though the advocates for home-based child care lobbied loud and clear, the changes made barely scratch the surface of the inequalities reflected by this rating system.   The opinion of some of our advisory group was that it still seems very slanted toward large centers, especially ones that need to prove high quality in order to be awarded taxpayers money.   I feel fortunate that I have a proven track record and that I am at the end of a long, rewarding career in home based child care, for I feel very sorry for the new providers who are trying to start out with this tool weighted against them.   I think I'll wait awhile before filling out their questionnaire.   Maybe once they get to STARS 7.0 they'll have all the bugs worked out.

I caught a little bit of flack from some of my fellow child advocates for being so excited about the facts about the efficacy of preschool that are coming to light now that it's a popular subject in politics.   So I feel I need to clarify my position a little bit, lest I be seen as some sort of horrible person who wants all children to fail in life.   I feel like there are two separate discussions going on about children in this country right now and the common ground is the word "preschool" which has no definition and too much emotion attached to it.   I get quite long winded about this and have run out of time for tonight, so I'll just leave you with some questions to ponder.   What is the difference between child care and preschool?   What do families need from employers and government?   What are the issues you face when it comes to the care and education of your young child?

The farmers love this chilly weather but it's surely teaching me the true meaning of hope!   We can feel the little children bursting at the seams to take advantage of all the extra daylight that we've gained at the end of the day, but ice is still our jailer for at least the rest of the month.   This next week is spring break but we will be extra busy with our "royalty" gracing us with their elegant older selves.   We're also looking forward to some visitors from the far off land of Illinois as my brother will be bringing his family up for a day or two.   More joy, more love, more blessings!

This week a great article came across my desk about kindergarten readiness.   There is a LOT of misinformation about this topic out there, most of it coming from well-meaning relatives, but also a lot of it coming from ads for preschools.   This article is written by a kindergarten teacher, the source I ALWAYS recommend when concerned parents ask me what their child needs to succeed.   Read this please.   If you don't believe this teacher then seek out the teacher that your child will have and ask her what her prize students know when they walk in the door on the first day.   I bet it's very similar to this list.

In many traditions this time is a holy one.   At the very least, the earth has shifted to give us longer days than nights now.   But there is also a feeling of birth and flowering and warmth and resurrection that's always exciting.   We're coming out of a season of extreme sameness into a season of extreme change and we're all SO ready for it!   I feel the shells cracking!

Joyous Easter to all!   Whatever your spiritual beliefs, this is a sacred time of year with all sorts of hope and healing in the air.   We have spent a busy weekend with family and housework after a busy week of spring "break" and more visiting with family.   Now we're looking forward to one last day of our beautiful "big kids" being here before we're back to whatever normal is around this joyfully noisy place.

As usual there is much work behind the scenes that got done on the website but has left me with little time left for the weblog.   So, in lieu of my words of questionable wisdom this week, check out the new recipe this month and the calendar page so you're not surprised when we're closed in a couple of weeks!   One more tidbit that came across my desk is one of those handy dandy charts that describes all sorts of skills and tricks that might be appropriate to expect your child to be performing at various ages.   Personally I don't like to endorse these because I think they tend to give parents achievement anxiety, but for some they calm their fears as they see that their child is right on target.   So here one is, use it for good and not evil.

Free at last, free at last!   I have officially decreed that enough snow has melted from the yard over the weekend for the children to go outside without boots or snowpants!   Yes, I know there are still patches of snow out there and yes I am well aware that the children will all gravitate to them, get wet and come in all a mess.   But we have struggled in and out of our bulky, heavy winter shackles long enough to put up with a little dampness for a day or two.   Break out the tennis shoes and let the running commence!

One interesting article that came across my desk this week is a brief description of Resources for Infant Educarers which has some of the same philosophies about children's environments that we embrace here at Joyful Noise.   Where we are similar is in the belief that children develop best if they can initiate their own play, with as little interference from adults as possible.   Also that the bodies of infants will grow more correctly if left unaided by any devices, so you will see no walkers or swings here for the babies.   There are links in this article that will lead you to further explanations of why these practices are, in our opinions, best.

Where I depart from RIE is in their complete devotion to attachment to the infant and never allowing them to cry; I feel that some crying for an infant is not only benign but actually helpful since it's the only aerobic exercise they get for a while.   Grandma told us it "develops the lungs" and I tend to agree.   I also have observed that when we run to children at every peep, instead of comforting them it tends to make them feel as if they were indeed in trouble.   If we go to them and reassure them that they're fine, without always scooping them up it seems to reinforce that they can have some separation and still be whole and well.

One other point where I depart from RIE in their practice of continually talking to the child.   If you truly study the relationship between a child and their primary caregiver, you see that most of the communication is non-verbal.   In fact, children must master non-verbal cues if they are to become socially adept and also if they are to learn language.   We DO talk to the children and infants and sing and make all kinds of nonsensical verbal communications, but not the constant narrative monologue that Gerber recommends.   I feel that it is unnatural and we must, above all, be a model of our true, natural self.

Another good article that I posted on Facebook this week is called What does a high-quality preschool look like?   There are many answers to that question; what is yours?

Be sure to check the calendar page for the upcoming vacation days.   Hopefully you're all aware that a week from now we'll be taking a well deserved rest for a week.   But be sure to make note of the days off in May (only Memorial Day,) July and then an extra long Labor Day weekend.   Be prepared!

After taking a week off from childcare to trek through the Upper Peninsula into urban Wisconsin it takes another week to get "reset" and back to normal again.   Now that we've had that, more or less, here I am at my usual Sunday afternoon weblog.   Hurray! Thorton Wilder said, It's when you're safe at home that you wish you were having an adventure.   When you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.   More often than not though, I'm just always glad to be safe at home.

Though the sun is warm when it's out the air is still cold lately.   This means it's the season for hats and layers of jackets and sweaters so we can adjust to the whims of the wind; chilly in the morning, warm in the afternoon, or vice versa.   It is Michigan, after all.   We're just happy to be out of doors and from all the smiles at the end of the day I think the parents are so happy to be able to retrieve their children from the back yard instead of the cramped and crowded entry way.   Don't forget to pop in and get all the do-dads out of the cubby space though!

The Fall 2012 issue of Gateways magazine had a wonderful article about how children teach us which is now available online, so please read Our Children: Our Guides Towards Becoming Truly Human, by Louise deForest.   Many articles written in Waldorf publications presuppose an understanding of terms used only in anthroposophical circles.   This one, however, I think most people can enjoy and learn from without a glossary.   It's written for professionals who work with groups of children, but I know parents can gain a huge amount of insight from it as well.   One of my favorite sections says:

A good day in the classroom is one in which time ceases to exist and yet somehow, miraculously, we have snack at a reasonable time, circle and story flow and the children are ready to go home when the parents arrive.

and again...

We need to overcome adult attributes that we associate with modern-day adults--such as being critical, wanting to define and categorize, and wanting to fix.   None of these will serve us in working with the children.

From the Spring 2012 issue of Gateways we find another wonderful article by Stephen Spitalny, entitled Practical Activities with the Young Child.   Both parents and teachers can benefit from these wise instructions and you will not find them in most conventional books on child care or chld rearing.   I can tell you though, from years of experience, this works.   In our home we include smaller children than this article is written about, so we must modify some suggestions in order to provide the highest quality experience for all.   I encourage you to also, when you read articles about how to care for children, to contemplate deeply how your situation might call for modifications.   True parenting and child care doesn't come from a book or a class, but from your heart.

The merry month of May!   We are still pretty chilly here by the bay, but the sun and the grass are a glorious sight and we're all so happy to be running and running and running every day!   Most of the parents here are finding out that they don't have shoes to fit the feet that grew over the winter but it's important to get them as soon as possible.   Rain boots, crocs, shiny dress shoes with heels and tennies that are too tight discourage our little ones from getting the exercise they need and can be downright dangerous when they're trying to climb and jump.   Soon we'll be shedding the shoes and going barefoot, but right now it much to cold for that.   So please, see that where the rubber meets the road your children have every advantage for health.   Feet are so important!

Collin and Mary's Mom has moved out of Traverse City to Flushing, a city by Flint, so we won't be seeing her or them as much as usual this summer, which of course is very sad.   However, we're happy to report that their Dad is still in town so they will still be around on a regular basis; just not as regular as last summer!   Change is always an adventure!

Only one article to share with you this week because I've been busy posting a new poem, a new recipe and updating the calendar page.   The article is on the Harvard Graduate School of Education site and is entitled Einstein May Never Have Used Flashcards, but He Probably Built Forts.   One of my favorite quotes from the article is

It's probably not a surprise to anyone that one of the biggest factors in the loss of free play has to do with parents being programmed by the ever-expanding 'baby educating industry' into thinking that in order to survive in today's global economy, kids need to be better, brighter, and busier than ever before.

Later in the article the author cuts parents some slack by pointing out that our society supports children's play much less than it used to.   But I take the stand that it's the job and responsibility of the parent to create the kind of society that supports children; to push back against those forces that would rob us of our health.   After all, our society changes because of the humans in it and then it acts on the humans to change them, not the other way around!

Now, it's time to get away from the computer and enjoy some play in the spring sun!

So, a whole month since I last wrote here and it's still chilly out!   I will never complain about cool weather though; in this business it's so much harder to deal with extreme heat and I'm eternally grateful for every cool day that we have now, even if it means we have to slip jackets and shoes on a bit longer.   Also all the rain is a true blessing this year, helping the turf in our "kid pasture" out back to get a good start.   No amount of watering with the sprinkler can equal a good, soaking rain!

There's been a lot going on around the house here, but not much of it is very exciting except that we got our new stove delivered on Friday.   The old one was over 25 years old so we got a good run out of it, considering that it's used almost EVERY day around here.   The kids stood on the front porch and waved good-bye to it, thanked it for all the chicken nuggets and tacos it baked for us and then ran inside to admire the new one.   Little ones are so 'zen'.

Also, the vouchers for the Beach Bums games that our children earned by reading books have arrived!   We're so excited to be able to go to such a family friendly venue for the all-American sport of baseball right here in Traverse City.   I hope those who earned them are able to take advantage of this great program offered to us by the Beach Bums.

Most of the other changes have just been behind the scenes, organizing, cleaning, paperwork.   Owning your own business involves so many mundane tasks that would cause your eyes to glaze over if I started to retell them here.   Trust me that we have been busy with family, work and enough relaxation to keep everything hale and hearty!

Not much more time to talk here today because we have a new recipe for June and the calendar has been updated.   Now, in spite of the bright sunshine streaming in the window, it's getting close to my bedtime.   Happy June!

Aaaaand another whole month since I've checked in here with you.   Sorry.   Where ARE my priorities?   Hmmmmmm, could they be...with the children?   Yes.

I suggest that you lower your expectations for the weblog a little for the next month or two; we're bursting at the seams here with the school kids back.   Lil's brother Olin has joined us this month and is settling in nicely; learning everyone's names and how to be the special helper and all the other important details of Joyful Noise.   Jenna, Aaron, Andi Joy, Collin and Mary also are all making appearances around here these days so you never know who you might run into coming or going.   Besides that, we have lots of Grandmas and Grandpas in town stopping by to whisk away our little ones for a special day at the beach or week at the cottage, making our schedule so unpredictable that I have to write it out in pencil, post it on the refrigerator and make amendments every day so Ben and I can keep it straight!

Cherry Festival is rearing its jolly head in town even as I write this, so this week is going to be extra confusing!   Please drive carefully and check the calendar page for the days off during the next three weeks.   Ben and I are looking forward to our birthday staycation, though it, of course, includes some family obligations and chores to do around the house.   Still, we all need a break now and then in order to do our best at work and, though we LOVE the children, we love our down time as much as the next folks.

I'm still attending the Great Start advisory committee meetings, though I have chosen to opt out of the five star rating system since I think at this point it's a very poor tool for parents and providers.   I don't have much hope that the people in charge of it will improve it any time soon, but I appreciate all the effort that the local representatives are expending to make those of us on the committee feel listened to and understood.   They also are letting us know that these meetings are really opening their eyes to aspects of the child care business that they never understood before, so I feel that my time spent there is not wasted.   Sometimes advocating for children takes on forms that we never could have anticipated.

Finally, I would encourage those of you who live in the Traverse City area to check out the concerts on the lawn, a very family friendly venue for wonderful concerts, free, though donations are accepted.   A big, wide open space for kids to play, wonderful music, happy people.   What more could you wish for on a Thursday night in the summer.   We have to grab these moments when they come and make the memories when we can.   Happy July!

Sorry, no entries this year for July or August.

Yes, it really has been two months since I made an entry here.   I think I've broken my old record for length of time the weblog is ignored.   I guess when I asked you to lower your expectations of me for a month or two, I was spot on.   I feel no remorse; when I first started this weblog way back in 2006 (really? 2006? yes!) I only promised that it would have no predictable pattern, just like everything else with children!   I AM happy that today I've carved out a little time to at least check in with you here and let you know that we're all alive and well!   Hooray!

One of my favorite online cheerleaders, Fly Lady, says, "You are not behind!   I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are.   O.K.?"   It's good advice for those of us who have let something go for awhile, and I'm going to practice it here.   If you've been looking at the Facebook page you've seen some pictures of our summer fun; there was not one slow moment around here!   Before and after work Ben and I were especially busy this year, divided between family, friends, daycare and homeowner responsibilities.   Our life is rich and full and we are blessed!

So, jumping in where we are, the school kids are all safely delivered to their respective schools and classrooms and all reports are that they're happy and doing well!   Yea!   We miss them so much when they're gone, but they really need to have their larger experiences by the end of the summer.   It's so good for them to have a break to relax and be free again, but it's good to get back to the lessons.   Jenna's little sister, Shyla, has successfully joined us in this world and is as cute and precious as any little baby could possibly be, so congratulations to Jenna and all of Shyla's family!   (Hey! That's us too!)   We're SO happy to welcome her!   AND, we have also welcomed another baby, Emerson, into our daycare family this last week!   Emerson's Mommy was one of the first children I cared for way back in 1981 so she was already a part of our family, but now she's IN.   Her Mom and I both agree it feels very weird to have her on the other side of the door in the mornings, but we're both happy as can be about it and Emerson seems to be getting used to the idea.

I'm still not up to speed on the other parts of the website, but I'll get there.   My weekends on the calendar still have a lot of duties written on them but the pace slows down a little around here and my energy perks up a bit as the humidity and temperature drop.   Thanks for reading the website and, even though I don't spend a lot of time here I really appreciate those who have given me feedback on it!   Now go and enjoy what's left of summer!

Here we are, at the end of the first 'uneventful' weekend in quite awhile.   Boy did I get a LOT done!   Including, as you see, some attention paid to our website!   It feels so good to be able to wallow in our everyday life, we are such homebodies.

In the whirl that was summer and then the beginning of autumn our weather has become that changeable thing that requires lots of different clothes and attention to making sure they all arrive with the child in the morning!   PLEASE make sure you bring the correct outerwear for wet, chilly play.   The grass has no chance of drying out before our 10am playtime and crocs, dress shoes or sandals all mean very wet, cold feet in a matter of seconds.   We got a lot done this weekend but we still have not unearthed our spare outerwear from the attic so we're counting on parents to step up and get the sturdy shoes, jackets, sweaters and hats all front and center and in the car in the morning.   I know, I know, it's Haaaaard!   But we know you can do it!   The next step is to get names written in everything too!   Though you may think your child has unique clothes and is the only one of their size here neither of those things matter when the jackets end up in a heap on the floor and Ben and I are staring at each other quizzically, wondering who goes with what.   Help us out with that one please!   Thank you!

The new Scholastic book orders will be going home this week along with some more paperwork for you to fill out.   Please return any paperwork that I give you as soon as you can.   This is my year for license renewal and the timely paperwork is a big part of my upcoming inspection.   I'm counting on you to do your part to keep our day care home in compliance.   Again, thank you!

We got a great big pumpkin at the farmer's market yesterday so we'll be carving that up tomorrow to get us in the holiday spirit.   The little ones around here aren't really old enough to understand any of the celebrations that center around honoring our departed, so we don't belabor it too much.   But we have enjoyed walking around the neighborhood to look at all the fancy decorations and we do love to smell the smell of candle-toasted pumpkin.

One of the most important parts of getting back on track and wallowing in everyday life is going to bed on time, so that's all for now.   Good night!

And a full month later we finally have another 'uneventful' weekend.   Life is good and full and busy around here with no promise of letting up until after the holidays.   We have SO much to be thankful for!

I FINALLY posted the recipe for this month, a yummy soup that's perfect for these cold days.   I've done a lot of other things this weekend but most of them are invisible; like bookkeeping, laundry, canning, cleaning...I'm sure you're all familiar with that work that's only noticed when it doesn't get done.

So, again, I don't have much time left in my weekend for the weblog.   The weather has been changing and changing and most of you have been fabuous about sending all the different kinds of clothing we've needed.   Now we've got snow and it seems like the temperatures will keep it here for the rest of the month at least.   Please, however, don't send scarves.   We don't allow the children to wear them outside for safety reasons so they'll just be taking up precious space in our little entryway.   Also if you could PLEASE label the children's clothing it would be wonderful.   You may think your child's clothes are unique, but when they're all in a heap on the floor they all look either pink or not pink and that's about it.   To insure that you go home with everything you brought, initials or names on everything is important.   Thank you!

This week we launch into the holiday season!   Children and adults start to work themselves up into a frenzy right now in anticipation of festivities.   Breathe deep and take this week to be calm and peaceful.   We have so much to be thankful for.

Sorry, no entries for December.