Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to teach the I Create What I Believe!(ICWIB) program to 22 wonderful Head Start teachers who teach at nine different schools in Shasta County, California. They did a remarkable job of adapting and implementing the program into their classrooms in a very short period of time. They said…
When I was a teenager my father, a man of very few words, once said to me, “There is only one person in the world that you need to care about what they think of you—make sure you can look at them in the mirror every morning.” At the time, I thought he was telling…
Our family moved to the seashore when our daughter was three and for several years my life revolved around the constant ebb and flow of the tide. Early each morning my daughter and I would walk on the beach to see what “gifts” the ocean had brought to us. Sometimes we would find shells or…
There has been an explosion of research over the past decade that shows how important the first few years of a child’s life are in terms of social, emotional, and cognitive development. For many years, preschool and infant toddler care providers have focused on helping children compensate and overcome traumatic experiences and home life deficits.…
When I was growing up I can remember spending a lot of time trying to be someone I wasn’t. Every year; through junior high and high school I can remember creating a new image or persona before the beginning of school. This was not just an image in my mind. I created new clothes, a…
As we step into a New Year, traditionally people make New Year’s resolutions. These might be about losing weight, exercising more, or pursuing an interest that never seemed to make the priority list. Whatever the resolution, it really is about consciously choosing to approach life in a new way. This year I suggest a different…
Imagine how different your day or life might be if everyone you met saw your full potential and inspired and encouraged you to fulfill that potential instead of measuring you against some standard they held in their mind. Michelangelo has been quoted to say that inside every block of stone or marble dwells a beautiful…
As far back as I can remember, I have been searching for my sense of self, a sense of value and purpose. For whatever reason, I experienced a lot of confusion around this topic when I was growing up. I can remember being told I was this or that, but often it lead to more…
Many years ago I heard a wonderful story about a woman who wanted to lose some weight because it was making it difficult for her to create the life she really wanted. Now even though Louise wanted to lose the weight, she wasn’t able to stop eating some of the foods she knew were contributing…
Childrearing has many seasons, but the common threads of mutual love, respect and trust hold them all together. When these are present, growth takes place more gracefully. Most parents can remember the sleepless nights, diaper rash and teething. But it is the fond memories of when we first held our babies and their wonderful smiles…