Here's my entry for the Hodge Podge Art challenge about a teaching moment/lesson learned. Check it out here.

I've been so lucky to have won a couple of Hodge Podge challenges so I thought I'd make use of my new prize stash - and I guess I kind of didn't know where to stop with this one!

Journaling Reads:

I spent so much time and energy worrying about whether Id picked the right schools for Ginny when she was barely a year old. If I got it wrong it could mess up her whole future education, so it had to be right, first time. Or so I thought. After hours of research and numerous visits to various places I selected a pre-school that was totally delightful and she had a very happy year. I went through the same process with nursery & infant school, until we were dealt the sideways blow of moving to Singapore. And so the process began again albeit from 8,000 miles away and online only. The school I selected sounded perfect, but couldnt take her for 9 mths, so a pre-school was needed, and soon Id found the prefect place. Singapore worked out just fine, and then we returned home and went back to where shed been at nursery. This, however, was not fine, and when places came up at another primary, I moved the children.

And so, if you do the maths, Ginny has attended 6 schools in as many years. On paper this is a shocking statistic. Who would put their child through this? Who would risk their future in such a cavalier way? For us, circumstance, and a great job opportunity, required this, and so my daughter was apparently put through schooling hell. But wait, stop and ask her how she feels about this. She knows no different than that which she has experienced and thus can not measure this against any other existence. She is a well adjusted, relaxed and happy child, who enjoys many things in life and is totally able to deal with all that is thrown at her. She is thriving. She is a survivor, maybe BECAUSE of her experience.

Its not just Ginny. This has happened to Paddy also; hes been to 5 schools in 5 yrs, but hes pretty well adjusted too. So its made me realise that all my worrying about making the perfect choice when they were so tiny was a waste of energy and emotion. The choice presented itself when the circumstances changed. Accepting that choice was the important thing. Kids are more resilient than you think. They will survive.



So, are you ready for the credits.....there's quite a few!

Paper: Jacque Larsen, the-lilypad.com, Doodle Days Papers
Notebook: Karah Fredricks, the-lilypad.com, Keely
Paint Splat: Oscraps Collaborations (Vicki Stegall), oscraps.com, O, Brother Kit
Blackboard, Learn Button & Pencil Marks: Oscraps Collaborations, oscraps.com, School is O so Cool Kit
Bubble Wrap Stamp: Aja Abney & ED by Gabi Collaboration, oscraps.com, Cheerful
Glitter WordArt: Kathryn Wilson, oscraps.com, Haute Couture 2
Cup, Ring Stain, Protractor & Pen: Holliewood Studios, Desk Mess
Hand Drawn Road Elements: PixelWorks (Michelle Godin), the-lilypad.com, Paint the Town Pink Elements
Pen Doodles on Page: I Made This Today, i-made-this-today dot blogspot dot com, Just a Few Doodles Freebies
Felt Flower & Buttons: Miss Mint, peppermintcreative.com, Kindergarten Crafts
Font: Chalkboard & Love Ya Like a Sister