Adventuring

After a big trip or life event it sometimes feels like getting back into routine is pretty darn boring.  But before my mother admonishes me that "only the boring are bored" I'll say this - life / routine can seem much less exciting than a trip, even a small trip.. but one can approach life / work / routine with a certain expectancy that there is excitement and adventure in the everyday.  For me this is a choice I have to make - I'm not going on big trips on a regular basis and I cannot afford  to be waiting around for an adventure to come by to make me happy / excited  - so in the choice/spirit of finding adventure in the ordinary - this new school year is unfolding with lots of new adventures in this household.

Allan's job continues to surprise him with twists and turns and trips as he navigates, and creates, his new path.  It's exhilarating and unsettling at the very same time and he is learning to live life not dictated by the bell, meeting lots of new people and forging alliances and developing connections as he goes. 

He was recently away at a conference for 5 days which is the longest I have been home alone with no kids - just me the dog - a new adventure for me.  It took a little getting used to, especially getting up to make my own tea in the morning but I muddled through.

This week I was off on an adventure.  I have been thinking about and dreaming of a different model of professional learning for Early Childhood Educators that I want to lead.  I could have forged ahead alone, with just my organisation, but I was compelled to stretch my tent and include some others to widen our reach.  It took a little courage to head south for 2 nights with people who I didn't necessarily know very well and who didn't all know each other.  But as they say - birds of a feather...and so it took very little time for us to all be getting along very well.  We were joined in our discussions and planning by our mentor/author/shero/friend and we accomplished a huge about of work in a day together that will play out over the next 12-15 months.  

It is such a privilege to have an idea / dream and see it take on shape and substance - a great lesson to me to invite in other perspectives and ideas and to stay in the process as we worked it all out. 

And we had a lot of fun along the way - many laughs, quite a few tears, a painful charcoal face mask and rather too many glasses of wine.  

We have somehow signed up for another warrior challenge / adventure at our gym but we have both had injuries lately so we are not excelling this time around... but there are a few weeks still to go and I am feeling strong again.  Allan had a back MRI and needs a little rehab adventure before he is back to full strength.  So we will warrior on as far as our bodies comply and so far they haven't asked us to do 500 pushups #grateful

The children adventure on at their respective universities and in their busy out-of-school lives with maturity and good humour.  I miss them like crazy but I am super proud of them as they find their way in the world.  I'll be delighted when they are at home at the same time for a few days over Christmas.

And Spanner is perhaps the less adventuring of us all now staying home instead of going to school... he has a friend who visits him in the middle of each day but if I was a dog psychologist I might have diagnosed him with mild depression.  We try and make up for it with lots of cuddles and walks when we are home but I think he misses all the kids. 

So there you have it - an ordinary / adventure update of sorts - as this gorgeous October comes to an end, the snow geese have returned as has the rain and the leaves are falling faster than we can rake them up!  Soon the festive season will be upon us and we'll do our best to focus on Hope, Joy and Love as the world around us often seems devoid of any. 

On chickens and their hatching

I am a "don't count your chickens before they hatch" kinda person.

It's not pessimism exactly. 

It's more about self preservation - waiting until a thing is FOR SURE before allowing those emotions to flow. 

Well

Today they flowed... right out of my eyes as it turns out.

Today I received a big brown box full of books I ordered.  

A book written by two of the leading lights in the field of Early Childhood Education in North America who have inspired and mentored me over a couple of decades now.  I truly see them as two of the biggest, deepest thinkers in the type of early childhood practice we aspire to provide.  They are multi-published authors, world travellers and speakers, sheroes of the field!

When they asked me if I would tell the story of our organisation ... in their book... I was floored.  

Me?  Us?  As we muddle through imperfectly?  

Their YES was emphatic.  Their reasoning humbling.

It was clear I would collaborate with my colleagues to tell our story.

We sat in my living room one day and started to write.  

Boy was it daunting and hard.  What to include, what to leave out... we second guessed every sentence and eventually we realised we had to send it off to be read by two accomplished writers and published authors and we took a deeeeeeep breath and hit send. 

I'd love to tell you that was it - they just loved it and voila we were published.... but that was not to be.  As we expected they had lots of questions, suggestions and guidance for us.  It was a total joy to have writing meetings via skype with them both  - we learned SO much and they were beyond gracious and encouraging.

Finally we submitted the FINAL draft and ..... nothing...... for months.... as the editors took over and the book designers weighed in etc. 

So we waited.  Quietly - only telling our nearest and dearest  - still somehow wondering if we'd make the final cut.

Well... we did... and today is a very good day. 


I'm proud of this little organization - I was the 9th staff member when I started part time in 1999.  Today we are 62 staff, 6 locations, serving over 250 families.  It has been such a rich journey of learning and failing and rising and refusing to concede and not counting chickens.  My team is incredible and passionate and brave and through hard days and tough times we have held on to our vision and values and our relentless belief in JOY and offered educators and children a rich, engaging environment to learn and grow in. I'm so lucky to lead them.

Today is a gift and an ode to perseverance and community and the pursuit of excellence in all circumstances.

Here's to chickens that hatch!