A quick jog... down Memory Lane.

There are still 2 of Becky Bailey's 7 Powers for Conscious Adults that I would like to share... but I came across this picture and felt compelled to share it today instead!

Lindsay Boham and Kortney Landrith by my side at the presentation of DIY Classroom Adaptations by the Chicago Children's Museum; NAEYC Annual Conference 2011.

Having great friends like these in the field of early childhood has really been a huge blessing in my life. To be able to share experiences like this one with women who share the same passion for teaching is something I do not take for granted. Here's to you AWESOME ladies, and may we continue to grow and learn in this profession, supporting one another all the way.

We all want our way, right?

Power of Acceptance 

The moment is as it is.

Goal: To learn to respond to what life offers instead of attempting to make the world go our way.


As I read the tagline I hear my dad's voice and a popular saying I first learned from him... It is what it is. Acceptance is difficult for anyone, and in my opinion, especially adults. Have you been satisfied with everything that has ever happened in your life? Absolutely NOT! And that's okay, because instead we learn how to accept things as they are; and if we are lucky, we grow and change.

Let us teach children to do that same... accept.

Changing others... enough said.

Picking up right where we left off...



Power of Free Will
The only person you can make change is yourself.

Goal: Learning to connect and guide instead of force and coerce.



You can only change yourself; powerful words for adults. Many of us think we have this special ability to change others... though has anyone ever truly succeeded? Let's be honest folks! These are mindful words I wish to remember lifelong...

Focus.

Power of Attention 
What we focus on, we get more of. When we are upset, we are always focused on what we don't want.

Goal: To create images of expected behavior in a child's brain.

I wish to focus on what I do want, then reach for it, and model that behavior for my students. 

We're all in this together...

Something I stress in a classroom, so why not in my own life?

Power of Unity
We are all in this together.

Goal: To perceive compassionately, and offer compassion to others and to ourselves.



I wish to perceive compassionately in all areas of my life, with others as well as myself.

Conscious Discipline... for adults??

NOT A BAD IDEA!#@!!#&

Just catching up on my conference materials and spending some time on the Conscious Discipline site (located in Resources); ran across Becky Bailey's Seven Powers for Conscious Adults and the tagline caught my eye...

"The biggest threat to a child's sense of safety is an out-of-control adult. The key to safety is a conscious, mindful adult."

Just wanted to share how strongly I felt this could make a difference in the lives of many teachers of young children, much including my own. Each day for the next week I will share one of the seven powers, starting with...

Power of Perception
No one can make you angry without your permission.


Goal: Take responsibility for your own upset and, in turn, teach children to be responsible for their own behavior.







"Self regulation - managing our own thoughts, feelings and actions - is the cornerstone of a successful life."

Since Orlando...

I haven't even been able to keep my head on straight since the Annual NAEYC Conference; my brain is fried! So many great memories with the girls of learning and growing as professionals in early childhood education. This blog will soon be filled with the great new things I learned from the experience... but for now take a look at who I ran into while in Orlando!

We had the most amazing time at Dr. Jean's session, I was smiling within minutes!

Hanging out at Greg & Steve's booth in the exhibit hall with Greg Scelsa and Steve Millang, early childhood rock stars!

Kortney Landrith and I at Becky Bailey's presentation of her Conscious Discipline model... taken shortly after doing the cupid shuffle with her!

Find links to these awesome early childhood celebrities under Resources.