CG Life: Making Each Day a Loving One.
Not every day is a good day.
We want them to be. We want our children to be happy and our students to prosper. We want the worst things they experience to be skinned knees and hurt feelings that are forgotten in minutes.
But sometimes people get sick. Sometimes families don’t stay together. Sometimes terrible things happen that you just can’t fix.
When those times come, those days full of tears and uncertainty, we want you to know: You are not alone, and neither are your children.
There is an incredible story from the perspective of a childcare educator that was written a little while ago. The premise is that there is a disaster occurring while she’s with her students. You can read it HERE if you wish. In the story, the teacher was terrified, but she did everything she could to protect these children. She refused to leave them. She let them play outside, fed them a good lunch, let them spill glitter on the floor. She was not sure what was going to happen, but she was going to make sure that these kids spent the day knowing they were cared for, knowing they were loved.
Here at Common Ground, your teachers love your kids. We have known most of them since they were very small. We have hugged them when they cried and laughed ourselves silly watching them grow into little people we are so proud to know.
When the Covid-19 pandemic happened, our teachers did not have any more answers than anyone else. We were uncertain and frightened. Kids came to school asking why they couldn’t visit their families or why they had to wear masks. Even our younger students noticed the world was different, and felt the anxiety from their grown ups.
We didn’t pretend that everything was fine. We answered as honestly as we could and told them we were there for them. We kept their days structured and full of fun. In that way we honored their feelings and still offered the support they needed to feel safe.
Because when tragedy inevitably happens, they can’t be completely shielded from it. But they can be loved through it. They can depend on being cared for on all days, in any weather.
Kids deserve to know that all of their feelings matter. Teaching our children resilience, independence, and strength in the face of darkness requires an acknowledgement and honoring of their emotions. When we try to protect them from negative feelings and reactions, we make them feel as though they have to hide them, that they are somehow shameful. Kids are ALWAYS smarter than we give them credit for, they know when we feel anxious and upset, it’s our responsibility to own our feelings while supporting them. This does not mean relying on them for comfort (although everyone needs to know they have the power to make others feel better. Thanking them can go a long way.) This does not mean putting the responsibility of healing on a five year old’s shoulders or imposing frightening details on them. It’s simply saying that Truth is essential to teaching and adds a layer of trust and respect to the relationship.
We won’t let them wallow either! Positivity and encouragement, a promise that happy days will come, guidance toward healing, that’s all part of it. On days that are hard for you too? Know that your village is there so you can honor your feelings.
The end of that story is fantastic. Just when all hope seems lost, Super Heroes come to save the day! These children in the teacher’s care are their children, and it meant the world to these heroes that they could count on their babies to be safe and loved while they were out there saving the city. YOU ARE YOUR KIDS’ SUPER HEROES. You are their comfort and love, their guide through the world. We are honored that you entrust them to us on all days, good and bad.
From the bottom of our hearts, you are loved.
Your CG Family
Mabel's Labels: Valentine's Day is Coming!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and Spring not long after that!
Pick up something that can transform their every day all year!
Customizable Household Labels — These will help you with Spring Cleaning, beautifying your kitchen, or just adding your own lovely aesthetic to your home. We promise they are MUCH more thoughtful than a box of chocolates.
Heart Labels — The perfect gift for any Valentine. Your kiddo can label their gear, your love can label their hobby boxes and desk drawers, they get to be reminded how much you love them all year long.
Multi-use Labels — Show your love and appreciation for your friends, coworkers, and family by helping them organize and their home office with brightly colored, water-proof labels that are uniquely theirs!
#GiveTime: Community and Causes
Hi there! LJ Donnell here with some incredible (and quick!) ideas to #GiveTime to your community! This is a part of our #GiveFundsGiveTime Campaign for #GivingTuesday, so if you need more ideas, visit THIS PAGE. We also ask that if you have any excellent ideas of your own that aren’t listed here, PLEASE share them in the comments!! A community is always better when we work together.
So far, our suggestions are:
5 minutes a night knitting/crocheting/making blankets for Project Linus
Do click throughs on charity sites
Sign petitions
Call your local representative and talk to the about an issue
Draw inspirational chalk messages around your neighborhood
Draw loving chalk messages and pictures on the sidewalk of your local hospital so patience can see them out the window
Write post cards to senior citizens and other high-risk populations who are stuck in quarantine and away from their families. Example Here
Share/Amplify social media messages for local businesses, charities, and local activist groups. — I know this doesn’t sound like much… but it really means the world to people trying to get their messages out there. It takes you very little time, and you could make a big difference to their business or cause. Even something as small as sharing a “Missing Pet” post from your local neighborhood’s facebook could make a world of difference for a family.
Volunteer as your Cal de sac’s glass recycling person — okay, this one may be a 15/20 minute task once a week. Have your neighbors put their used glass products in bags and place them on their doorsteps, then you take them to the nearest glass recycling bins. You could also set up a round-robin sort of thing, and it’s as easy as making a post on your neighborhood’s facebook or NextDoor page.
Pick up trash on your walk — You may be getting fresh air. You may be on a little run! You may be taking your kids out of the house to get rid of some of their energy. Either way, just have gloves in your pockets and a grocery bag so you can pick up trash you see on the walk. You’d be surprised how little effort it takes, and what a big difference it makes. Wildlife in the area is getting snared in disposable masks on the ground. It’s pretty awful. Every little bit you do, even if it’s just five minutes while you’re already walking outside, could save a precious life.
#GiveFundsGiveTime is all about giving what you can when you can, and not overtaxing. All good deeds make waves, no matter how small. Let’s make this holiday season as full of hope, magic, and love as we possibly can.
See you out there!
Ms. LJ
SAVE THE DATE: Stay Home with Santa!
Santa Claus has spoken!
He wants all of the good girls and boys around the globe to stay home and protect their families!
MALLS ARE OUT. SOCIAL DISTANCING IS IN.
You are in luck though, because ol' Saint Nick has been working with us here at Common Ground. With a lot of magic and a little technology, we have created our Zoom-hosted holiday event:
STAY HOME WITH SANTA! Register here: https://www.commongroundchildcare.org/santa
What: A half hour event where kids will get to meet Santa with ten other families! While the kids in the main room get to build a craft, sing holiday songs, and hear updates from the North Pole, kids will go into a break out room one at a time to get a little chat with Santa by themselves.
When: December 12th, starting at 8:30 AM (half hour increments)
Where: YOUR LIVING ROOM! Once you are signed up, we will send you a ZOOM link for your reservation!
How: Santa's Elves will do drop offs of a goodie bag with treats, a craft, and a SPECIAL COMMON GROUND LIMITED EDITION HOLIDAY ORNAMENT. Once you are in the zoom room, your kids will be able to interact with everyone and do the craft together. We will explain it all day of as well!
THIS IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENT! We encourage you to invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join us. We want as many families as we can to help flatten the curve and protect our loved ones.
Tickets will go on sale December 2nd, add this to your calendar so you don’t miss out!
If there are two or more children in one household: Sign up for one zoom ticket and do add-ons for the rest of them! That way everyone gets a goodie bag.
Tickets: $25.00 +$10.00 for each additional bag in the household
Ornaments: $10.00 a piece
We know traditions are kind of out the window this year. But that doesn't mean that this Holiday season can't be just as special, just as wonderful, just as miraculous.
See you on the big screen!
LJ
In the Community: Thanksgiving Box Drive
No one should go hungry on Thanksgiving
Time and time again I am impressed by the loving charity of our community.
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, there are so many families in our community who would be going without a Thanksgiving Dinner on our table if Cornerstones did not run their annual drive.
Our support of Cornerstones’ annual Thanksgiving Food Drive will help make a fulfilling holiday possible for nearly 1,000 families this holiday season.
FOR THE FRIENDS OF COMMON GROUND AND OUR FAR AWAY FAMILIES:
The North Virginia community can support the drive by purchasing a $50 Thanksgiving Food Box at the North Point Village Center Giant Food location in Reston, now through November 14.
FOR OUR ACTIVE FAMILIES:
THIS YEAR we have promised one box for each class, so we will work with your teachers on building a sign up so that each family can bring a part of their classroom’s box.
The kiddos will make art and letters to place in there along with the food so that we can give the family receiving the box a heartfelt hello on the holiday of gratitude.
This sounds complicated with our social distancing policy, but I promise you we will make this as easy as possible! Here is the link to the SIGNUP. You can click on as many or few as you like, including the BONUS box at the end.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FILLING YOUR OWN BOX — Let LJ Donnell know and she will give you your own box to fill with a list of what needs to go inside available. They can always use more boxes.
We will begin to collect items in the classrooms starting on Thursday. Please bring your items for the boxes either at pick up or drop off (place it into your child’s backpack.)
Because we have to limit our exposure with the drop off, we will only be doing one! Please have all of your ingredients and or boxes back by MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH COB.
Life, Unplugged: The Night Sky
Common Ground Friends…
It is COLDER. DARKER. GRAYER.
We know coming home after the sun sets can really sap everyone’s energy. At 6:30 PM you still have to do dinner, night time rituals, morning preparation, and there’s always dishes… It’s hard to avoid handing out tablets or throwing on The Magic School Bus. Crafts and games can be amazing, and we will be posting on this blog on those another time, but this particular blog is about the magic and majesty of simply…
Looking up.
You can enchant your child with their night sky any time of year. You can do it with or without a telescope.
Help them track the phases of the moon with this amazing (and free!) MOON CHART.
Introduce them to constellations with this super cool (and free!) set of Constellations worksheets (Found HERE)
Use this (free!) App to explore your night sky! (of course, then it’s not COMPLETELY screen free, make sure they’re looking up instead of at the phone or tablet)
Teach them The Moon Phase Game by Ms. LJ! (if you watch it beforehand, you can play with no screens!)
Listen to Gustav Holst’s Planets Suite while you fill out your moon chart.
Is your kid developing a passion for astronomy? Purchase a kid-friendly telescope!* For less than 100 bucks you can offer years of incredible family experiences and create new traditions.
From today until the new year, there are so many glorious events happening right above you. Here are only our favorite three, you can find the full list here. (There are three other meteor showers between now and January 1)
November 11, 12 - Northern Taurids Meteor Shower. The Northern Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. This shower is, however, famous for producing a higher than normal percentage of bright fireballs. The Northern Taurids is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The shower runs annually from October 20 to December 10. It peaks this year on the the night of the 11th and morning of the 12th. The thin crescent moon will not be much of a problem this year leaving dark skies for what could be a really good show. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
November 30 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not completely. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of North America, the Pacific Ocean, and northeastern Asia including Japan. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
December 21 - Rare Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. A conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will take place on December 21. This rare conjunction of these two planets is known as a great conjunction. The last great conjunction occurred in the year 2000. The two bright planets will appear only 7 arc minutes of each other in the night sky. They will be so close that they will appear to make a bright double planet. Look to the west just after sunset for this impressive and rare planetary pair.
After you’ve come in with a little more wonder (and dappled cheeks!) you and your kiddos can make up your own stories and constellations while making hot cocoa. You can talk about what you wished for on the falling stars. You can read a book about your favorite planet, or just talk about your favorite part of the evening. Anything you do is fine, because you did something fantastic together.
GO START YOUR NEW TRADITION!
— The CG Crew
*Common Ground is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.