The parenting journey can be a messy one. Let's journey together to discover that through the mess, many happy hearts grow!
I have always wanted to have a blog to reach families, near and far. I have three children that are 11, 13 and 22 years old. I remember being a first time mom and feeling very isolated, unsure of what to do. I also remember having my third child and feeling very overwhelmed. At the time, I was very thankful that I had the Parent Center to turn to when I needed support. The teachers would reassure me that I didn't need to be a perfect mom and they were going to support me every step of the way.
I love being a teacher at The Parent Center. I love getting to know the families in my class. I love knowing that the families in our program are getting the support and encouragement they need while having a really fun time with their children. Unfortunately, only a small number of families can fit in a classroom. That leaves many more families that I would like to reach. Hopefully, this blog will allow me to do just that. I called it "Messy hands, happy hearts" because it's what I firmly believe and it's what we practice at the Parent Center. In my free time, you will find me digging in the dirt, cooking, hanging out with my dogs, ducks and chickens, and playing with my kids. More often than not, when I am finished doing these activities,
I am a mess. I have also found that after doing these messy activities, I have a happy heart and less stress; Hence, the name "Messy hands, Happy heart". As a preschool teacher, I have also observed that the messiest days in class have always been the best days. Kids love to make a mess and if they can be inquisitive while they're at play, you can be sure that they are learning AND having fun.
Do you know another thing that's messy, extremely messy? Being a parent! Making tough discipline choices, staying up all night with an ill child, giving your child the freedom to explore and make mistakes are all the messy parts of parenthood. Sometimes, messy can be stressful too. There have been times when I have beat myself up for not dealing with a situation a different way, or getting frustrated at my kids. When my kids were babies, I was certain that they would purposely wait until we were about to walk out the door to have a poop explosion so we would be late. Meltdowns at the grocery store always challenged my patience. Just when I thought the messiest phase was over, I discovered how messy a young adult, a teenager and a pre-teen can be! Nevertheless, my crazy kids make my heart the happiest.
I hope that with this blog, I can reach out to you. I hope to share my experiences as a teacher and parent. I want to encourage you, provide resources, make you laugh, and remind you that you are an awesome parent! I feel honored to be joining you on your parenting journey!
Let's get messy!
Teacher Vicky