Writing? What’s that?
Greetings, dear readers… your oft-absent blogging friend still lives. I’ve been lazy with it lately. So different than when I was in college, cranking out papers and assignments left and right, procrastinating by reading blogs, and feeling the itch to write for any reason other than schoolwork. Oh, and I had all those spare minutes before class was about to start (and during class *cough*) to write entries. It’s a little different now that I’m working full-time and finding the evenings barely long enough without trying to keep up with writing. Okay, I’m out of excuses; truth is, writing is a little like exercising – the longer you go without doing it, the harder it is to pick it up and get right into a routine. But there’s a flip side to that too – the more you stretch your writing muscles, so to speak, the quicker they are to jump into action when you’re ready to use them. So therefore, I don’t really know what to write about, but I’m going to write anyway, and hopefully will rediscover my enthusiasm for the lost art!
Fall is always such a busy time. This is the first fall in four years I’m not in college, and I’m enjoying it. Everything seems different, of course, but it’s not bad. Goodness, just looking at the beautiful foliage could keep me occupied for hours. I dislike the fact that spring and fall are so comparatively brief. I feel like I can’t absorb them enough or something. I’m excited about an eternity of enjoying the beauty of God’s creation without ever running out of time.
I spend my days trying to corral approximately seventeen sweet and ornery preschoolers – a job that is not for the faint of heart, let me tell you. I find myself tested in patience moment by moment. Working in a daycare is a good way to understand the culture. I know that sounds strange to say, but hear me out… I heard in a sermon or something recently that you can truly measure the lack of discipline in a society by the behavior of its children, and that is so true with kids today. Kids today… Anyway, I was just talking to my cooperating teacher about this the other day – she has 25+ years of experience, and she says behavior has become so much worse even over the last 10 years. Children are indulged, left to be wild and disobedient, and taught that they are the center of the universe, and watching that play out in a crowded classroom is not always very pleasant. However, it is also a privilege to be able to influence the lives of these little ones; I hope that I can be a teacher with a mixture of grace, kindness, and firmness; this takes wisdom that does not come from me, believe me.
Whenever I feel like posting lately, it’s usually one of two things – either I want to say something reflective about Christian life, something God has been teaching me; or I want to talk about teaching kids. I really feel like a mother of preschoolers so many days; although I realize it’s not quite the same. So I feel like my posting has been somewhat limited in focus lately. If there’s anything you’d like to see me write about that I haven’t in awhile or that you’re wondering about, feel free to let me know.
Meanwhile, I’m going to finish enjoying this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Thanks for reading! 
I am so glad to hear from you! I cannot imagine 17 preschoolers! wow!
I always feel the same way about fall and spring… they come and go so fast! I just had the first smell of fall 2 weeks ago and the leaves here are already starting to fall…I am like “no wait! please don’t go and take all of the color with you!”
I know the feeling! After a flood hit our area, I wasn’t able to post much for a while, and I’ve had a hard time trying to get back in the swing of things.
Fall is such a beautiful season! I just love it!
I would love to read anything you want to write! I’m so helpful, I know
Perhaps, you could tell us about teaching kids. It’s interesting:)
Write more of the funny things that the kids say. I love those!!
But I like anything you write, especially your ramblings
It must be difficult working with children you do not have the freedom to shape and form in much of a meaningful way. I see all around me as I get together with other moms that children have become the center of the universe to their parents as you say and from the time they are young are given WAY to much freedom to be assertive, as though they are little adults already. No real leading or guidance. Their parents make them the center of the universe because their marriage is not healthy and they do not have much interest in each other anymore so therefore the children become the main focus. The hearts of their children are left uncared for while parents get their children involved in a meriod of activities, always leaving them to be supervised by others…no real awareness that at the end of the day, they are totally missing what the point of parenting, especially in the early years when a child is most teachable, is all about! It is SO SAD as you are seeing!!
I for one would love to hear about what you are/aren’t allowed to do as you work with the children. For example, if a child hits you or is disrespectful, are you allowed to act in any way or do you just have to let it go? As a parent of two, I can tell you that it is just so much of the parents responsibility being usurped in terms of this ill-behavior you see at the day care. Yes, it is difficult…I worked with children in the past too who were never disciplined…but I think these children need a lot of grace from those of us as Christians who have the chance to work with them. They are simply not being really well taken care of at the end of the day and it is a tragedy.
Don’t worry about it, Anna – we all have our busy times! I hope everything is going well. I’m so glad you are enjoying autumn, even though you’re no longer at college. It’s always great to hear what you’re up to!