Life Lessons from 4 year-olds

I'm currently student teaching in a 4 year-old classroom. I completely love it and can already tell that I am doing exactly what I want to do the rest of my life... Be greeted each morning with hugs, be spilled on during lunch, and dance to silly songs at the end of the day. After being at my placement for a few weeks, I've realized that I am not the only one teaching in that room. The children have taught me many life lessons in the short period of time. So, I thought I would share a few things I've learned from these cute, innocent, and energetic 4 year-olds (going on 30).

 Be open to new people:

It's funny, I'm never nervous to walk into a new classroom that are filled with young children because I know that they will be so excited to see someone new and instantly be your best friend. I think that this can show us (adults) just how important it is to accept everyone. Yes, we all may be a bit different, but no one wants to feel left out or awkward when being in a new place. The warmth and comfort that these children show you when you are brand new is so calming. For example, a little girl walked up to me on my first day and said "who are you?"  I realize that as adults, if we said this it might not be as cute, but it's the fact that she was wondering....so, she asked. She didn't go and gossip about the new girl. & fifteen minutes later, I had 20 kids on my lap wanting to hear a story. I love that about children. Their acceptance.

 Say what's on your mind (to a certain extent) :

When you talk to a 4 year-old...you're going to get the truth. They don't necessarily have a filter. For example, we had a guest in our room the other day and one child walked right up to her and said, "Why is your face funny?" I over heard it from the other side of the room and couldn't help but giggle. Only from a 4 year-old. I think it's important for us (adults) to take note. Obviously, we have a filter, but I don't think we should be afraid to say when something is bothering us, or we shouldn't just say what people want to hear. It's important to speak the truth (while filtering a little of course)  :)

 Give:

One of the most rewarding things about teaching young children is the wonderful pictures you receive as gifts. It completely warms my heart. To the child, that picture means the world. They took a lot of time to create this perfect image and are even more excited to explain it to you. This shows us (adults) that even the smallest thing can make a huge difference in someone's day!

Share:

One of the hardest things for a child to learn is sharing. It's difficult to give something to someone that you really really want to play with. For children, it can be as simple as sharing a doll during free play. For us (adults) we're still learning to share as well. It can be something as simple as sharing a pencil in class, sharing a smile in the hall, or sharing your money for those less fortunate. I find that the more you practice it, the easier it gets.

It's the simple things:

Last Christmas my mom brought this to my attention. In my family we have a tradition of playing a $1 game before opening the "real" gifts. Once the $1 game was over and the "real" presents had been opened...we noticed that the kids were playing with the dollar whoopee cushion over the $50 video game. Same goes for many things in life. I spent hours planning this lesson plan and making sure each part was perfect. Then, the next day I ran out of time and quickly put a different lesson together and I found that the children got more out of the second lesson where I didn't stress, or even lose sleep. As I grow up, I'm slowly learning that simple is okay---in many aspects of my life.

 Don't care what other people think:

The other reason I love teaching young children is because they will do the silliest things and not even think twice about it. The other day we were singing a song where we had our tongues out, or eyes shut, and our knees together. I thought to myself...if someone walked in right now...they would wonder what in the world we were doing....but with children....they go right along with it. They love being goofy and laughing. So, we (adults) need to take note that life is a lot more fun when we can let go and laugh!

With all of this said, I highly recommend going into a classroom full of young children for a day. Yes, you'll be exhausted by all of the love, energy, and chaos, but more than likely you'll leave with a smile on your face. (& marker on your hands)   :)

10 things I would like to tell my 13 year-old self

 

1.      You don’t need to fit in.

When you’re 13, everything is dramatic and the end of the world. If your crush is talking with someone else, or your best friend is mad at you…it’s not the end of the world. Be yourself. Wearing the name brands isn’t going to get you far in life, being kind and embracing who you are, will.

2.      Do what makes YOU happy.

Just because the “cool” kids are now listening to certain music, or hanging out at a certain place each Friday, doesn’t mean you have to pretend you enjoy it.  If you would rather be reading a book, or painting your nails… go do what makes you happy.  Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to love.

3.      Don’t push your girlfriends aside just because you have a boyfriend.

Some girls learn this one the hard way. They give up everything they have in order to be with their boyfriend every second, of every day, and when they break up, the girl is completely lost because she pushed away her girlfriends. We’ve probably all been the friend that losses their best friend because of a guy too.   Try to balance time with each. Make sure that you leave some weekends to do makeovers, talk about girl stuff, and eat ice cream together. Show your girlfriends that you are able to have a boyfriend and still have time for them too!  Or most importantly, find a boyfriend that enjoys hanging out with you and your girlfriends too. Ps. Dating is not a necessity. You’re not as old as you feel.

4.      Listen in class.

Yes, each class can seem repetitive and it’s easy just to memorize the information for the test, but really listen to the facts, take notes, engage in your learning. Someday you will be glad you did. The information that the teachers give isn’t just “because they have to”… it is to better your future.  Yes, at the time it seems like a big deal to pass notes and see what everyone is wearing, but please listen.

 

5.      Try not to have expectations.

What screws us up most in life is the picture in our head of how it is supposed to be. Don’t try and plan out what high school will be like, who your date for the prom will be. Okay, I know that is the fun part, but don’t EXPECT those things. Learn that things don’t have to go a certain way in order for you to be happy. Everything happens the way it is supposed to in the end. You’re right where you are meant to be.

6.      Take one day at a time.

 

Don’t wish your life away. It’s a good idea to set goals & just remember, you may not be there yet, but you are closer than you were yesterday.  It’s easy to live for the weekend, and count down the days until your 16^th birthday, but don’t wish it away. Each day is precious. Every day holds a gift. Look for those small gifts hidden throughout the day. At 13, it’s easy to take life for granted, but try to remember that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, so live in the moment. Don’t stress about what college to go to, or why you don’t have a boyfriend and everyone else does. Take time to remind yourself that you can’t control the wind, but you can direct the sail.

7.      Be nice to EVERYONE.

 

If you like someone’s shirt, tell them. If you know someone is eating alone, invite them to your table. Don’t purposely leave people out when handing out birthday invitations.  Everyone has feelings, everyone has struggles, and everyone wants to be included. Be nice, be generous, and be thoughtful. We all know the golden rule.

8.      Listen to your gut instinct.

If your gut is telling you that staying out past your curfew is a bad idea, it’s a good idea to listen. Your gut will lead you in the right direction. If your gut is telling you that your friends are doing something wrong, listen to it & stand up for yourself. What you put up with, you end up with.

9.      Your parents really do know what they’re talking about (99% of the time).

I realize that every child goes through a stage where their parents are the stupidest people ever, and everything they say deserves an eye roll, but trust me, out of everyone… they are the last ones that deserve an eye roll. They are looking out for you. They want the best for you and are trying to protect you. It’s hard to listen to their life lessons and things that they learned the hard way, but stop & appreciate that they are trying to save you from heart ache. Just listen, hold that eye roll, and thank them for all that they do.

10.  You are beautiful.

Music videos, magazines, and social media all have high expectations. Therefore, we all think we are less if we don’t compare. Please don’t fall for that. You are unique & that is beautiful. No one on this earth looks like you, acts like you, or is you, embrace it!

Is the grass always greener?

I read a quote the other day. It read: "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." -Abraham Lincoln

It caught my attention that day because I had been thinking a lot about how life is what you make it. Life has a lot to do about your persepective on situations and experiences. On this particular day, I was feeling kind of down in the dumps. It was one of those days where something just felt off, where worries seemed to creep in on my every thought.

That day I really didn't feel like going to class. I just felt like cuddling up on the couch all day watching movie after movie, avoiding the real world. But, if you know me....you know I didn't skip class..... :)

When I got to class, I noticed that someone had taken my seat. You know, that seat that you sit in on the first day and then mentally claim as yours because it's a spot that makes you feel half way comfortable in a room full of strangers? Well, that spot of mine, was filled by a butt that wasn't mine. So, I casually went to the back of the room on the far right hand corner. (Probably stealing someone elses "seat").

As I sat there in class, I thought about how the view point seemed so different in this particular spot. How I saw the teacher was different, the people surrounding me were different. It may sound funny, but this particular situation made me think about life. Maybe when we are having a bad day, we can mentally try and switch spots. By switching spot, we can try and look at the room (or life) from a different perspective, from a different view.

I know, switching our thinking isn't as easy as it sounds. It's hard to try and cheer yourself up. So, maybe when you switch seats, sit next to a new person, or someone that can share what they see from their view.

A speaker recently told the audience to shut there eyes and try to remember what was red in the room surrounding them. He told them to keep their eyes shut for awhile a really think about the area. When he said to open their eyes, he said, "If you're not looking for the color red, it's sometimes hard to notice, but when you have your eyes open and are purposely picking items that are red, it's a lot easier." That kind of applies to life. If you go around looking for good, postive things with your eyes open they'll pop out more. If you keep your eyes shut, stay in one spot, and focus in on the "non red" items, you might miss out!

Are you complaining because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoicing because thorn bushes have beautiful red roses?

Pinterest Inspired Creations

I always liked to think that I was a "creative" person, but it wasn't until I was told about Pinterest that I was a confident crafty person! When I see certain things in stores now, sometimes I tell myself....oh, I could make that! (Something I would have said, but never done before). Lately, I've found that I get a lot more satisfaction out of buying all the material and making something, rather then just purchasing and hanging it up. I like to create it! Make it something that no ones else has.

So, I just wanted to share with you some of the things I've created! Some I did get from Pinterest, while, others I thought up (probably when I should have been sleeping).    (:  Let me know what you think!

I was graciously given my great grandma's old buttons. So, one day Corissa and I hot glued them to bobby pins. I did notice that some popped off easily, so I might sew them on next time.

During Christmas time, Corissa and I also made "Grinch cookies". They are regular sugar cookies with andes mint chips and green food coloring. Delicious!

These cute frogs were made at The Boys and Girls Club this past summer. The mouth is made out of two slices of apples and peanut butter in between. The eyes are stuck on the apple slices with peanut butter and are made of grapes and chocolate chips. The kids loved them!

 

This is an advent calendar that I made for a friend. It is made out of a mini muffin pan. I then covered the wholes with scrap paper and sticker numbers. Then, I stuck the scrap paper on the pan with tape. For each day I wrote a Bible quote that related to Christmas time.

This is one of my most recent discoveries. I bought a yard of fabric and wrapped it around an old pillow. The best part? You don't need to sew! You just wrap it like a present and knot it in the middle. Super easy and a fun/cheap change! Here is the link I found  on pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598189175055/

I am a college student, so grilled cheese is a typical meal. BUT...this is no ordinary grilled cheese...Corissa and I made a "Cheese burger pasta dish" shown here: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598189383417/ Then, the next day, we used the left overs to make this grilled cheese. We started by making an ordinary grilled cheese and just added the pasta dish to it.

For one of my Early Childhood classes, I had to make a puppet. I chose to make a spider puppet out of a black glove (from the dollar tree). Since I can't sew very well, my friend helped me sew on the three extra fingers (8 legs) and then I decorated it! The bow is made out of felt and ribbon. I named her Stella the spider.

This is one of my favorite projects. This is a wall hanging made out of toilet paper rolls & spray paint! Yes, you heard me right, toilet paper. I would be more than happy to sell you one for $5! Let me know!

This is one of those projects I thought up when I should have been sleeping. I had a big canvas that I didn't know what to do with...so, I bought a yard of fabric..stapled it on the canvas and sewed on a few buttons! This would also be cute used as a bulletin board.

 

I never enjoyed cooking before Pinterest. Now, I get excited about it. I made these for the Rose Bowl and everyone liked them! Here is the link: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598188900138/ 

This is one of my favorite versus from the Bible, and I wanted to incorporate it into my room somehow. I bought a yard of burlap (JoAnn fabrics gets most of my paychecks). I then used a black sharpie to write out the verse. The next part wasn't as easy... My loving Dad actually made this custom frame for me! But, you could defintely just go buy a frame and then create the quote to make sure that it fits!

This idea came to me when I was supposed to be listening in class...Seeing that Lent is coming, I was trying to think of something I wanted to do/give up. I decided that each day I'm going to write down a blessing that I noticed that day. I think it's a fun and easy way to see the good in each day & will be fun to look back and learn from. I bought a composition notebook from the Dollar Tree and used Scrap paper to make the cover!

When I got my first apartment, I was trying to find easy and cheap ways to decorate. I found this old screen at Savers for $1. I decided it could be used to hang pictures, letters, and memories. I just pull apart-paper clips to hang the items,

I have to give my Mom props for this one! This is an old T-shirt cut up and put into a frame. This frame was sitting around so I just spray painted it to match my room!

I used the extra burlap from the Bible Verse wall hanging to create this. I put the burlap in a frame (where the picture would go) and then I just wrote with erasable marker on the glass. So, I can change the message whenever I want.

I have a ton of old magazines and knew that there had to be a craft for them! I had three canvases sitting around. So, I cut up pictures and sayings that I liked. I then used modge podge to stick them on the canvas. For the third canvas (the one in the back on the right) I used newspaper. The picture frame also has words and pictures from the magazines glued in it.

Now that I have my own apartment, I didn't really know how to decorate for Christmas. This was one that my mom put together. I found the tiny ornaments in the $1 section at Target. Then went outside to get pine cones and put in a jar we already had. My mom also wrapped lights inside so it would brighten the room!

These are picture frames from the Dollar Tree and pieces of scrap paper from Michaels. (I was just at Michaels, and they had 6 pieces of scrap paper for $1)!

 

Can you tell I like wall art? :) This is actually a painting I got while at the Art Crawl in Eau Claire this past weekend. The artist creates pictures out of yarn. I couldn't resist...The only bad thing was that it didn't come with a frame. So, I went to Savers and bought one for $5, painted it orange, and now I have a new picture for my apartment!

 

I printed these templates from pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/172614598187556161/ and then bought frames from Savers. ($1 each). Easy, cute, and cheap kitchen decorations!

 

 

This is the project that I get the most compliments on! I recently bought a huge jar of buttons......and couldn't wait to start button projects! I sewed buttons on elastic to make a headband! I'll make you one for $7! Let me know!

 

 

I also enjoy making accessories! These are a few of the earrings and rings that I've made. The rings are made out of...you guessed it, buttons! (: I'm planning to make a few button earrings soon!

 

 

So.....Those are a few of the many things I've created! I hope I gave you a few ideas. I would love to make any of these things for you especially: wall art, headbands, jewelry! Let me know and I'll cut you a deal!

Beware: This is a deep one!

There are more than 300 million people living in the United States alone & that's just in fifty states...Think about all the people in the world... Now, think about you. You are one. You are a grain of sand on an endless beach. You are 1 out 7 billion people. Now, imagine yourself being in a stadium of over 50,000 people. People who are possibly all strangers, filling this room, breathing in the air, talking in various languages, laughing at jokes, and all living in this moment together. Setting the same day aside on our calendars that will never come again. Isn't it amazing that each of these people holds a story? Each one of these people standing in that stadium carry a talent. Isn't it crazy that each one of these people have struggles, challenges, and dreams? What's even more mind blowing is that each of these people look different. Each one having unique features/personalities.

Think about the people that you've met in your life...Those that you would do anything for...and those that have simply crossed your path offering a friendly smile. 

Now imagine all of those people, or gains of sand that you haven't met. Or, how about those people that haven't met YOU.

I don't know about you, but I'm a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. I believe that people come and go in your life to teach you things, to challenge you, and to make you grow in some way. Most of these reasons, we may have to wait what seems like an eternity, to realize their purpose. While, others may hit you right in the face the moment your paths cross.

I never really realized it until the other day, but isn't it cool how one day in a random spot, you run into someone you haven't seen in along time. Isn't it interesting that you both were in the same place at the same time.

Just think about how busy our lives are, how each person has so many things to do in one day, but yet, sometimes our lives meet together in the same place at the same time.

I think there is a purpose.

That person may be a reminder; they may be a lesson. Your paths may be crossing to give you something, or to take something away. Any of those options may be true, but there is a purpose. The purpose may sometimes be heartbreaking, while other times you're heart skips a beat. It's your life. You know.

I realize this concept is quite abstract. Each one of you reading this, sees it with different eyes, and different thoughts. Every view depending on your unique experiences or circumstances. When I think about 7 billion people it scares me, but comforts me. Think about the possibilities. The coolest part is, we're all in this thing called "life" together. Even though we may see life and even death differently, and even though we may have different values, beliefs, struggles, & joy.....

We're all in it together.
We're each one teeny tiny grain of sand making up a beautiful beach.
We all have a purpose helping eachother find our purpose.

Just think about it.