The driver is greeted with squeals of delight, waving hands, and smiles of anticipation provided by a complete squad of cheerleaders ages 2 to 5 years. She waves back and off she goes.
This cheering section is a weekly occurrence at my child care program. It truly is one of the most exciting moments in our program each week. Actually every other week it happens twice because it is a recycle week. While I know that this is going to happen every week, I have honestly never taken time to watch the trash truck - until today. As I stood on the deck watching the kids I did something I had never done before, I watched the trash truck. I've seen the trash truck a zillion times but until today I had never taken the time to watch exactly what it does. I watched as the yellow arm lowered down to my trash can and scooped it up. Slowly the yellow arm raised up above the truck and slowly turned our garbage can upside down. As the can was held upside down, bag after bag fell through the air and into the back of the truck. Once it was empty the big yellow arm slowly turned the can upright and sat it back down by the fence and drove away.
The whole trash truck visit got me to thinking. What else was going on in my childcare that I wasn't taking time to watch and enjoy. I am the first one to admit that I sometimes get swept up in the tasks of the day, the problems, the frustrations and forget to stop and enjoy the day.
It seems sometimes that too many days go by and I realize I have gotten caught up in the product of child care (the stress - the problems) vs. the process (enjoying the children and the work we do). Seriously now, have you ever thought about what a blessing it is to be a childcare provider? What other career pays someone to play, explore, create, and be a part of the most important years of a child's life?
I found some words of wisdom in a book called, "100 Ways to Build Self-Esteem & Teach Values" by Diana Loomans that I'd like to share. These words help me to remember the importance of what I do and how much I truly love my career choice. They help me to live in the moment and not spend my days waiting for weekend.
If I had my child to raise over again,
I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I’d run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I’d run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
What did you take time to stop and enjoy in your program today? this week? Are you taking the time, to take the time, to enjoy the children in your program? Can you name three discoveries the children in your program made today? this week? Do you have a harder time focusing on the joy of your job because of issues with the children or issues with their parents? Are you living for the weekend?
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