Nourishing

When one thinks of a mandatory Pro D day the word nourishing doesn't usually come to mind.

The principle of "Offering Early Childhood Educators similar experiences to those we hope/expect they will offer young children" was offered to me at a Leadership Institute almost 2 years ago.

It noodled around in my brain for about a year as I contemplated what it might mean, what it might practically look like and if it was something I felt my organisation was ready for.

At the same time I was intrigued by the notion of "Communities of Practice" which is a concept gaining momentum in many sectors and fields......bringing a diverse group of people together to work on a common topic or area of interest.....building both "community" and "practice".

The first thing I had to do was secure time.  My Board of Directors readily agreed to two annual Pro D closures and all but a couple of parents were easily convinced that this investment of time and training in the people taking care of their children was imminently worthwhile.

So my thinking planning began.

Goal 1 - Give Educators stretching, nourishing, filling experiences.

We ask children to stretch themselves almost everyday, to try new things, be brave, find courage, notice things, be curious, think deeply, work with others, negotiate, laugh, rest........  I wanted Educators to have at least one of those experiences themselves so their connection with both themselves and the children would be deeper.

I offered rock climbing, bike riding, yoga, art, crafts, nature walks alone or in a group, a photo walk and a pile of magazines and some cozy blankets for those who needed that.

I was so delighted to see the Educators take up these offerings in exactly the way I had hoped.  11 signed up to rock climb.  Some were truly afraid.  Some were not young.  4 signed up to ride bikes and the squeals for the first 200 m signaled a new or rediscovered skill and delight.  Some set out (in pouring rain) to walk or take a photo walk with me, others stayed at the beautiful UBC Boat House on the Fraser River and drew pictures.  A large group did yoga later in the morning, including me!

At the end of the day Educators reflected just how much the morning had meant to them - to be able to try things they had never done, to rediscover a part of themselves long dormant.....one said though she puts out art materials for children daily she hadn't made art herself in many years and she was moved to tears in describing the feeling.  Some found a new inner confidence from having touched the top of the climbing wall, a feat greater than they thought possible of themselves, another felt some disappointment at not having pushed herself harder..... almost every person took something deep and personal from the morning.  They described how nourishing and invigorating their morning had been.

One at least took great delight at looking over during the yoga class and seeing "the boss" lying on the floor along with everyone trying not to look like a demented pretzel!

And so the morning ended.

We moved venue and on to a nourishing lunch.

I felt very deeply that a catered lunch was the wrong way to go..... honestly who can stare down one more wrap or piece of pizza?  So I decided to make soup.  Lots of warm nourishing soup and bread, that I served and that we all ate together.  I was immensely gratified that that gesture was not lost on most staff, that they saw the soup as an act of love and service.

Goal 2. Build community and advance practice.

We moved into an afternoon in 5 groups each focused on an area of Early Childhood Practice.  Groups made up from across the organisation (people who work in different buildings spread across the City and very seldom interact with one another). Each group was offered time to get to know one another and then to look through a range of provided research materials on their topic in order for the group to decide on a research question they could dig into over the next 3 months and then present to their colleagues in the Fall with a goal of advancing or illuminating our practice in that area.

Each group took its own path......evolved more quickly or slowly, got bogged down or inspired, side tracked or focused...... it was fascinating to watch as I moved through the groups offering assistance and a listening ear or word of encouragement.

At the end of the day 5 exciting projects are underway, staff are connected to one another and to their work as never before (in 13 years of trying!), the sense of community and team work, even "family" were echoed over and over as folks reflected on the day.  Some came with many concerns and misgivings but almost every one left invigorated, inspired and motivated to do their work in more exciting and connected ways.

It was a career mountaintop experience for me......my heart swelled as every person spoke out what thing they were leaving behind that will not help them on their onward journey and what one thing they were taking away from the day.

We are a changed organisation. We are strong and united and we are ever more deeply committed and equipped to live into our vision of "Changing the World by Honouring Childhood".

I couldn't have done it without my work team of Senior staff especially Jennifer and my home team of family and friends, Yogi Janice Triffon.  To Ann Pelo and Anne Marie Coughlin who gifted the Principle to me in London Ontario.

Deep gratitude to them all.

Wordless Wednesday- Tulips

Happy Food

"Please pass the happy pig"

A phrase heard in my house these days.

Soon to be added to with "Please pass the happy veggies".

We have made a commitment to buy some locally farmed, organic, happy food.

And I don't use the word commitment lightly.

Both were decisions we wrestled with and thought about.

Of course we knew we wanted to eat happy, local, organic food while supporting local farmers and the local economy and keeping ourselves healthy...... not hard to want that.

It was the value for money that gave us pause and still gives me pause even after plonking down some serious cash.

What has been required is a mind shift for me and for our family budget.

We have had to come to the fact that we will have to eat less meat generally to eat happy meat.

We have come to accept that our portions will be smaller as the taste is richer.

We have come to find ways to use unfamiliar cuts of meat and unfamiliar and less desirable (to us) vegetables.

We have come to understand that funding the farm ahead of the season makes perfect sense, its an investment in our summer eating.

I am grateful that we can make these choices for our family.  I feel those who can do should so that this way of eating and "shopping" for food becomes more widespread and hopefully more affordable so more can make this choice for their families.

Last night we used part of our happy local quarter pig we had never heard of  before but that turns out to be a staple part of Italian cuisine (smoked jowl??).... Lindsay did the research and David made the recipe....and it was delicious!!

If you are interested in sourcing your food locally and sustainably check out local farms and farmers ... there is a global movement to this way of eating.

For Lower Mainland folks I offer the following links:
Meat and Veggies
Veggies
CSA farms across the Lower Mainland

That Day

There is "that day" each Spring..... it creeps up.....you sense it's coming..... you eagerly check the weather app....you plan, hold your breath and BOOM.....it happens.

Sunny.

Warm.

Saturday.

The trifecta of awesomeness.

So long anticipated.

And take advantage of it we did.

Our valentines gift of a new piece of furniture (the first for a number of years in fact) arrived this week and after several tries, and as we were beginning to think maybe we had made a mistake, we think we found it a perfect home.  

I had so much fun starting to fill it up - taking wine glasses long stored in boxes in my laundry room and finally displaying them.  Cook books, cake stands, candle holders..... 

We rearranged the living room and we love how it looks and feels - it was a very democratic process with each of us giving opinions and muscle strength as we looked at various options.

With the inside work well underway, David mowed the lawn and Allan set to the annual power washing of the patio - all that green gunk sprayed away.....so awesome!

Lindsay and I set out to run a number of errands - I have parcels to send to family and gifts for friends to sort out.  We got a couple of new accessories for the house too......please tell me we aren't the only family that struggles to tame the volume of mail coming into the house?

We also bought a number of veggie plants for the garden but most of our favourite sources are still closed so we just got a few things.  When we got home I turned over the soil in the beds to aerate them and warm the soil for planting.  I brought some little plants to add the first bit of colour to the yard - so lovely!

Can anyone explain why we have 3 BBQ's? Please?  Someone?

So with the makeover inside pretty much done and the yard makeover well underway....... we had a lovely dinner with the french doors open and yes.....a glass (or two) of a crisp white wine!

Hello Spring!

Booby Trap

I vowed and declared in THIS  post I would never again complain about my mammogram.  

Which is an easy promise to fulfill on any day of the year. 

Other than the day I surrender to the life-saving de vice (a booby trap if ever there was one!).

But if one must have a mammogram (and one must as it may save ones life) 

then one should:

                   Stroll through the warm Spring park enroute to the Hospital and 

                 breathe in the finally warm air and 

                drink in the beauty and 

                 marvel at the colour and 

count ones many many blessings (which most assuredly includes an annual mammogram!).

 

 

Sigh

Hello blog world.

How have you been?

I missed you this week.

Despite all efforts to the contrary this week has kicked my butt and kept me from many things I wanted to do.

There are those who would say it was my own poor choice making that led to this sad state of affairs.

Maybe so.

But I know that for me some weeks are just THAT full.  And add to that a nasty little cold/cough thing and I find myself a little worn out as I am parked on the couch this cold, rainy afternoon propping my eyes open.

But even when so many things did not go as I had wished, others totally did.

I didn't get to jazzercise once but I started My Fitness Pal calorie counter app up again and completely kept to my food goals all week - 3 days I was well under.  For a tired, emotional eater such as myself it felt amazing to have stuck to this all week this week.  I can't wait to get back to jazzercise.

I was out two night this week for work but on the one night Allan and I were both home we took a lovely long post-dinner walk.  We talked and caught up and did some thinking and planning together.

I haven't had a lot of time with the kids but I have managed to help David get ready for outdoor education next week and I had a lovely sushi date and chat with my Lindsay and got to watch quite a bit of her first rugby match of the season.

Testing the new mummy bag

Getting the new mummy bag back in the stuff sack requires planking apparently

We renegotiated the mortgage, made some financial decisions, attended a planning meeting for the french exchange students who come in two weeks, watched Allan assemble his new fishing toy, had lunch with a good friend, took a few iPhone photos and had a fun evening with friends.

So instead of beating myself up about how busy I was and how full the week was I choose to celebrate the meaningful moments I managed to find.

They are, after all, the very fuel I need to get through the other "stuff".

And now I think I might attempt a nap.

Edmonton

I have been looking forward to this trip to Edmonton for months.  My dear friends moved there almost a year ago and I miss them.  So I donned my down coat and flew north.

Wowzer cold and snowy when I arrived....but such a warm welcome.  I though the kids might need a while to warm up but there were cuddles and smiles right off the bat.

I had a great time..... mostly just hanging out and chatting and playing.  Also a few trips to Edmonton attractions and sights.

It was like visiting family.  

We laughed, we talked about hopes and dreams and life, we watched TV together,  we ate good food

.... It was such a good break for me.  

I didn't even open my computer!  (I checked email on my phone but only answered the really urgent ones).

This I know:

Friends are the family you chose for yourself - its a cliche but as with many cliches it carries truth.

Stay at home Moms are amazing - I couldn't have done it.  Add to that 5 months of winter.  In a new City. It takes someone special to do it.  And someone even more special to do it well.  And stay sane.  LH - you rock!

To have a friend who shares his hopes and dreams with you is an honour.  To see those hopes and dreams grow and change and to see the determination with which they are pursued.... inspiring.  GH.... I am making my reservation now.  So I get a great discount yes?

What a privilege for me to spend time with two small humans - P1 is going to be 4 in May and P2  will be2 in August.  So fun to see them growing and developing.  I could see them growing right before my eyes!!  So loving and cuddly and competent and funny.  P1 took me for a walk in the freezing cold just hours after I landed.  She confidently navigated all the way to her chosen destination leading on with determined steps in her snowsuit.  Turning around every few minutes to make sure I was following. Correcting my every misstep. Sighing when I stopped to take photos of the pretty snow.  How amazing to be so confidently in the world. So sure. So embracing of the moment.  I adore her.

And Mr P with his shy, flirty smile....frustrated by his emerging language and emerging teeth but able to communicate in his own way....taking my hand and taking me to his target.  Completely entering in to a private joke with me that lasted days....his brain is expanding so fast.  Such a sweet, gorgeous boy.

To be so loved and cared for and welcomed.... this is the stuff of life.

Edmonton is cold.  Not as flat as I expected. Big oil is evident.  My Starbucks American is 30c more expensive there (horror!). The transition from winter to Spring is messy. I would love to see it in Summer.

So as I return to the family I missed a lot. And the work that awaits my attention. 

I am grateful for this trip.  For these friends.

Thanks Hofs Family.  For being you.  For loving me.  Love you back!