TEN whole years have flown by and I have so much to say...

Hello, hello. 
I cannot believe that a decade has flown by, and I am just now finally coming up for air. SO many wonderful and not-so-wonderful things have happened in the field of early childhood education that it is going to take many, many months of blogs to catch up!

​My travels have taken me around this big and beautiful world several times, and I have met some of the MOST incredible, intelligent, and charismatic early childhood educators along the way! The three places that I have fallen in love with above all are Italy (Reggio-Emilia, of course), New Zealand, and Sweden.
Having the privilege to travel internationally in my 40s has been such a transformational experience for me, not only as a woman entrepreneur but also as a forever student who can never seem to grasp enough knowledge or find the time to share it all with my colleagues, staff, and students.
Just this past week, I had my very good friend visit me from Australia, whom I met at an Italian, Reggio-Emilia conference, in Stockholm, Sweden. (wrap your brain around that!)
The BEST thing about travelling around the world to learn about the Reggio philosophy is the educators who share the same passion as I do! 

"Find your tribe. Love them hard. I've found mine in the fellow educators who see the world through the same lens of wonder as I do, who are just as passionate and nurturing about little minds and big hearts."

It is easy to forget how beautiful our centres are when you are always engulfed in them. Little Bears has been running since 2008, and as we draw near to our 20th year at this location and my 30th year in practice, I feel overwhelmed reminiscing about the hard work, passion, and commitment that I have poured into my centres.
Whenever a new group of students is toured through or if a colleague flies across the globe to stay with me, I am reminded of this undeniably unique and overwhelmingly stunning forest that we live in. The land itself is breathtaking, let alone the programs that my staff and I have so lovingly designed. 

"Our nature program is the culmination of my team's passion and expertise. I am completely confident that we are providing an unparalleled educational experience that will have a lasting, positive impact on every child who enrolls here."

As I walked through each program with my friend, I tried to look around at each room through her eyes. At first glance, I saw beautiful artwork, thoughtful provocations using the materials I have purchased from here and there over the years, and the natural foliage the educators had gathered from around the property. I noticed the photos on the walls, the smell of peppermint from the air diffuser, and that the morning light lit up the room so beautifully without any of the overhead lights turned on. I feel proud of my amazing staff who work so hard to keep this program running so smoothly and who take such time and care into the environment in which the children spend their days.

**BUT, as the owner of this program, I could only FOCUS on;

1. The books that looked a bit worn and torn needed to be replaced.
2. The bulletin border that had a corner piece missing and the artwork that was dangling off one tack instead of two.
3. Did I replace the hook that had fallen off in the cubby room?
4. The window sills need a fresh coat of paint.
5. I need to replace the mop head for that broom they keep reminding me about.
I am reminded:
"Inside the forest, children are like seedlings, given the perfect conditions of sunlight, space, rich earth to grow into strong, resilient trees."

Yes, here we "grow" little humans into bigger humans who will one day run this world.
It is a privilege to witness the world through a child's eyes every day, and I am often teary-eyed by the experience. The wonder and innocence of children never cease to inspire me. To be a witness to a child's growth is a powerful, heartwarming experience that always reminds me of the importance of my work.

(Big sigh)...
As the owner/businesswoman that I am, the joy of just walking into a program and seeing it through the lens of a NEW parent, or a student, or a colleague from Australia (who has never been to Canada, let alone to a nature program on Vancouver Island) has been sadly skewed and jaded. The business of childcare is hard.
The level of care, attention to detail, safety recognition, costs, wear and tear, repairs, replacements, materials.... it can be overwhelming at best.
For women like me who are (self-diagnosed) overachieving people pleasers with perfectionist intentions and overly high expectations, nothing is ever perfect or finished.
Where I am going with all of this brabble, is that my friend helped me to stop and recognize what was right in front of me. My beautiful centre that is precious, thoughtfully crafted, one-of-a-kind, magical, intrinsic, and purposely built for the love of children.
FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR CHILDREN!
She reminded me that NOTHING like this exists in Australia, because Little Bears is in a forest in Canada! Just like there are no other centres like the ones we visit in Reggio-Emilia, Italy, because they only exist in Italy! We can only be inspired by them; it is not meant that we can re-create or copy them. We have to stay authentic to our own land and our own country. I have woven together threads from different philosophies and beliefs to create a tapestry of my own belief system that works within this natural environment. My worldview is a mosaic of various philosophies, pieced together to form its own unique picture of what Little Bears represents to me and my country.
​
As a Canadian citizen, this program has been thoughtfully created while keeping our unique culture and values in mind. By honouring the land and the Indigenous history that we recognize today, we will slowly work towards reconciliation and truth.
We have begun the journey, and we invite the educators, the community, and the future Little Bears students to join us. Our commitment is to learn and grow alongside the children in our care while honouring the history and resilience of first nations people. This means creating a space where every child feels respected, and where we all learn from Indigenous perspectives. We are truly dedicated to creating a brighter future, guided by mutual respect and understanding.

"The woods provide a curriculum written by nature itself, teaching children creativity, resilience, and problem solving in ways a screen never could."

Places like Little Bears do not exist in great numbers.
I can think of ONE other childcare owner/girlboss who shares my love and passion for nature, the environment, and beautiful spaces, and that is Vanessa of Storyoga in Deep Cove, BC. Google her, SHE is the real deal. 
 I do not know of one other group childcare centre on the island (let alone in BC) that provides a 4-acre forest campus, with a Reggio-Emilia-inspired program for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. period.
I know what we have is rare and special.
I know that Little Bears is something that I can be very proud of, and I am very protective of everything that has taken me nearly two decades to build.
Thank you, my dear friend, for reopening my eyes and reminding me why I am so passionate about what I do and what I say when it comes to children and their right to excellent education. The forest is a special place and one that we will forever protect fiercely on the island. 
"The forest is an all-season classroom, where every fallen log is a lesson in decomposition and every bird call is a lesson in communication."

Vancouver Island is a magical and beautiful place to raise your children and to fall in love with nature. The overwhelming demand and success of our nature program is a direct reflection of my dedicated staff's vision and hard work over the past two decades. To each of them, I am forever grateful. You know who you are...
Thank you.

To every person who reads this, thank you. 
Your time and attention are the fuel that keeps me writing! I am already excited about what's next, and I can't wait to share the past three decades of wisdom with you in this capacity. Please leave a comment on your thoughts or on a topic you might wish for me to draw on.
Shine on!
With gratitude,
Lexie 
​

​

---