Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/becoming-the-art-lady/5023256/
My journey of joy with young children, exploring the arts and the wonders of the natural world, led me to a discovery about myself… that the journey was not just about what children were learning, but also about the lessons’ nature, the children and the teachers who support them, had in store for me.
The children at my granddaughter’s preschool had come to regard me as the ‘art lady.’ I realized how that honorary title boosted my confidence by acknowledging an inner voice that reminded me of my owncreativity. After all, that was part of the reason I had been volunteering for the past two years, schlepping my stash of clay, paints, interesting tools, music, and books to explore with the children.
Undoubtedly, I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my four-year-old grandchild Avery, as well as the teachers I admired, but I also recognized that the time with children was a gift for me; an opportunity to fulfill something in me that needed fulfilling. I believe that if we deny ourselves the opportunity to embrace and immerse ourselves in those things we truly care about, something in us dies. Volunteering was a great opportunity to stay current with early childhood education, my grandchild, and my ...