Anything but Small “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” ~M. Kathleen Casey I had the honor of working with a little girl with Spinal Bifida. At the time I was a director of an after school program and she came in with the school aged kids after school. Sometimes the kids would turn their noses up at the healthy snacks the teacher’s ...

“What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” ~Aristotle Teaching friendship to children has never been a 1,2,3, process for me. I have come to realize if I am not a good friend-how can I be a good example to anyone….anywhere. At first I thought friendship took too much sacrificing of my time and energy…then I realized what I ...

A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary. ~Thomas Carruthers “That kid’s nose is runny. I went-ed and got-ed him a tissue” “Why thank you, Lily, that way very thoughtful of you.” “You don’t have to ask…” “Ask what?” “What my mommy asks, Ms Barbra…” “At home, you know, if I washed-ed my hands.” “How did you know I was going to ...

It Hurts,Too “An apology is a good way to have the last word.” ~Author Unknown I was finishing up a conversation with a parent when I felt a gentle tug in my pant leg. “Ms Barbra?” “Yes?” I knelt down to meet Jared’s eyes…they were about to brim over with tears and he was winding his hands. “Um…um…Mikey….Mikey said….well….he said he is not my ...

“Successful decision making is not a skill learned in standard school systems. It is a result of tailoring basic life skills with knowledge to become more personally aware of who you are and how life has shaped you.” ~Michael E. Parker “To the person who does not know where he wants to go there is no favorable wind.'' ~ Seneca When I plan ...

“The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.” Books, cut outs, dittos, templates…well, I can’t say I have never used them. College professors flooded me with them. I had file folders of thousands of dittos until I tossed them all out in one great sweep. No, I didn’t get a revelation…I was going to change my major and thought I ...

“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.” ~Sandra Day O'Connor “When you teach your son, you teach your son's son.” ~The Talmud I first taught small children to sew on pieces ...

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~G.K. Chesterton “If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get.” ~Frank A. Clark Children are so precious…words just can’t tell you how I my heart goes out to them and ...

“Parents are not interested in justice; they're interested in peace and quiet.” ~Bill Cosby Lisa arrived a bit late with Jessica and the baby brother Jack-Jack in tow. It was such a peaceful morning that day. The children were water coloring, building with foam blocks and play quietly with flannel numbers. Just than a slamming door broke the ...

''One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.'' ~ E. M. Forster I had a color mixing project planned with the children. It called for lots of teacher direction...not my style...ahem. I revised it. The children did the their own color mixing in ice cube trays. They loved it... ''Let's do it again!'' I asked them how we ...