Inspirational Quotes

“It is the responsibility of every adult... to make sure that children hear what we have learned from the lessons of life and to hear over and over that we love them and that they are not alone.” 
~Marian Wright Edelman

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” 

~Eunice Kennedy Shriver,

“I had a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution to the world.”

 ~Louise Derman-Sparts

“What a unique opportunity we have in working with children…to shape a child’s life for the better.”

~Sandy Escobido

Personal Childhood Web

Me at the age of two

Although there are many people who have positively influenced my life, there are a few special people who have been there since the beginning. Here are their stories...

My Uncle

Growing up, I was very fortunate to live in the same town as my immediate family. My mom's side of the family is very small but we're all very close. My mom's brother, Bruce, (aka Uncle Bruce) has been there for my sister and I since we were born. He's attended our birthday parties, baptisms, confirmations, graduations, weddings and a few fun vacations. When I was little I always looked forward to going to Uncle Bruce's house, which was just a short distance from mine. There I would play with the fun toys he had out for my sister and I and spend time with his many pets. Uncle Bruce taught me how to be kind to animals. I loved spending time with his bunnies, cats and dogs. As an adult, I still get to see Uncle Bruce when I go "home" some weekends and holidays. I know I can always count on him for support, he's been known to help me out when I'm in a bind.

My Sister

My sister, Sarah, is a beautiful person inside and out. She shows kindness to everyone she meets. I was fortunate to have an older sister throughout my childhood. I always wanted to be like her; I was constantly trying to get her attention. Sarah made me feel special when I got to spend time with her and her friends. I remember loving when we'd play Barbies together. Sarah taught me that hard work pays off. She was a talented dancer and piano player. I would try to do those things, but it was Sarah who was disciplined enough to be successful. Sarah continues to influence my life. Now that we're both adults it's even more fun spending time with each other. I know I can always count on Sarah when I need someone to talk to.

My Parents

As stated in my previous post, I have two pretty amazing parents. I know that the successes I've had throughout my life are mainly because of the strong foundation they set for my childhood. My parents showed me love by spending time with me and teaching me to be responsible for my actions. They taught me about Jesus and took me to church regularly. They showed me the value of education, forming healthy relationships, staying active and making positive choices. My parents set a good example of what a strong marriage looks like. Today, my husband and I love spending time with my parents. Together we enjoy golfing, snowshoeing, biking and hiking. My parents are always there for me when I need advice and support.

My Grandparents

Grandmama and Grandpapa aren't your typical grandparents. They're quite possibly two of the most fun grandparents you've ever met. I spent a great deal of my childhood with Grandmama and Grandpapa. Before Kindergarten, they would watch my sister and I when my parents were at work. They showed me love by teaching me to read and write and by spending time with me. Grandmama also taught me that cleaning can be fun. She'd always me sure Sarah and I did our chores but would make them into games. A few years ago Grandmama gave me a scrapbook she made of letters, photos and drawings I made growing up. I often wrote them letters when they'd travel to Virginia or when I'd go off to camp. They've always been special people in my life. Now that I'm an adult and enjoy when I get to spend time with them. I love hearing stories from their childhood and looking at old photos with them. Last year, Grandmama and Grandpapa celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary! Another example of a healthy marriage for me to follow.

My Friends

I've made a number of good friends throughout my childhood, but Michelle is my oldest friend. Michelle and I are one year apart and have been neighbors since she was born. Michelle lived across the street from me. I can remember us being friends forever. While we never attended the same school, Michelle and I have stayed close even until now. Michelle has influenced my life by showing me the importance of sharing and being fair. We spent much of our childhood playing together. While I always wanted my ideas heard, she taught me that I need  to take turns and listen to what other people have to say. As adults, Michelle and I both live in the Twin Cities. We both married "a Nate" and we all love to run. Michelle is an inspiration to me as a disciplined runner and hard worker. Michelle shows she cares about me by asking me questions and making time to spend with me. I know we will always be friends. 

Great Beginnings

My childhood was full of happiness. This was mainly due to the fact that my sister and I had (and still have) two loving, fun and incredible parents. My parents spent a lot of time with us. We played games together, ate meals together, read stories, kissed, hugged and snuggled. Through the years I received a lot of encouragement. They both always told me that I would make a great teacher when I grew up. They told me I was named after my mom's grandma, Laura, who was a teacher. My dad also loved the name Laura because it was the name of his favorite teacher growing up. It's no surprise that I enrolled in an education program at college. 

I now live about 60 miles north of my family. I love when they come to visit my husband and I and I also enjoy going back "home" for the weekend. My mom always offers to help me work on classroom projects when she can. On one of her visits it worked out that she could spend the morning in my Preschool classroom. My students were so happy to meet her. She helped with an art project and read them stories. 

One story that she brought was "The Wee Kitten Who Sucked Her Thumb" by Lucinda McQueen. She showed them a photo (pictured above) of her reading that book to me when I was young. The story is about a mother cat who tried to get advice from her friends for how to stop her kitten from sucking her thumb. After several bad ideas, she finally found a friend who said the right thing: "Leave her alone and she will stop sucking her thumb all by herself." The mother cat did just that and soon enough her kitten was no longer sucking her thumb. I remember loving that story when I was little because I loved to suck my thumb too. 

When I was little my dad would tell me a "Skipper story" every night before bed. Those stories were made up adventures that he had with his dog, Skipper, when he was a boy. Every night I looked forward to laying with my dad and hearing those stories. As an adult I love stories. I love reading stories to children and making up silly stories for them just as my dad did when I was little.

Even though my parents aren't teachers by vocation, they were the best teachers I could have had. They have helped shape me into the teacher that I am today. Hodding Carter, Jr. once said "There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings." I am thankful to have been given both.

Welcome!

Welcome to Adventures in Early Childhood! This blog is a space for me to share my insights, assignments and reflections as I work towards my master's degree in Early Childhood Studies from Walden University. I work at Children's Country Day School (CCDS) in Mendota Heights, MN. CCDS is a nature-based school located on a beautiful 7-acre model farm just south of St. Paul. I love working with children, interacting with families and learning about the current research in the field of early childhood education. I look forward to learning with and from my colleagues as I embark on this new adventure. Thank you for joining me!