Almost 70 years ago, a little blonde girl stood in the heart of the Congo and offered a friend a sweet fruit.
The little girl is a family friend whose parents were missionaries in the Congo and she just celebrated her 70th birthday this week. Her picture illustrates a beautiful principle of unfolding belonging and friendship: […]
Dreaming is a powerful form of play!
And how vulnerable!
As we explore play and dreaming, it is easy to see the need for safety!
Unfolding Dreams
As I play with my children, hear their hearts, listen as they describe their preferred futures or whisper their bedtime wishes, even in goal-setting sessions with The Builder, I can easily feel […]
Friends, as we approach the long darkness of the year, here in the Northern hemisphere, it is good to consider the season. There is a paradox of what is spiritual and what is physical. We live in the truth of what we experience in our senses and our spirit. Although we acknowledge this paradox in […]
As parents and teachers, sometimes we hold or comfort a child who cries. The holy moment of an expression of sadness, grief, or futility is a moment of adaptation. Wet and salty acceptance.
Big Emotions
While big emotions are often difficult and sometimes even socially inappropriate, children cannot be expected to behave like adults. The work of maturing […]
Our human hearts hold an array of emotions and feelings mixed together throughout our daily walk, a palette of swirls and blending colours in one continuous experience. What helps our hearts come to rest amidst the swirl is the safety and acceptance of our human relationships.
When we are together, our emotions like colours, mix. We respond […]
Driving home from a breakfast with the most tender friends, when hurt is present, I am reminded, the struggle is beautiful.
We sipped coffee as we leaned into dark places. The tears welled up in our eyes, as the shadows of anxiety and fear crossed our faces. We shared in giggles and subversion. And, the sun […]
As the Chief Learning Officer of a school, sometimes students end up in my office after making terrible choices in class. It’s not my favourite part of the job, yet I am grateful to support both the child, family, teacher, and classroom in those moments.
Gather a Child
Last year, I had one such experience with a […]
What does it mean to ‘push through’? What does it mean to ‘dig deep’? When should I set a boundary and ensure I have time and space for recovery?
These questions are abiding at this time of the year. It is predictable. It is cyclical.
I lost it yesterday morning and shouted at my child, in front […]
Welcome Home
Over the holidays both my mother and mother-in-law offered the warmest welcome. The food, beds, games, and activities were prepared. The tables and ovens were set. The details were considered with care and the preferences, comfort, and requirements of each one was reflected in the welcome. With each mention of need or concern, adjustments were made […]
We are coaching children into their extraordinary potential! I am passionate about helping parents and teachers co-design spaces for children to thrive and I am asking myself and others, “How can we coach children effectively over the course of their school days?”
First of all, I’m trying to learn how to be a better coach. My adolescents […]
