It is with joy and gratitude that I’m reaching out to the Engage community today for our first blog in a loooong time! Among other things, the pandemic sent me (Lauren) into a chrysalis-stage-kind-of-darkness for some deep reflection, writing, and relocating the center in my work. Most of that writing, which was done in partnership with Alysssa Blask Campbell, became my new book, Tiny Humans Big Emotions: How to Navigate Tantrums, Meltdowns, and Defiance to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Humans! My love for collaboration during the book-writing process inspired me to seek a collaboration partner for Engage. In January I invited a dear friend and colleague, Angela Carolina Garcia, to join me in this adventure and I am so blessed that she accepted! We relaunched the business in February. Please check out our fresh look and read about Angela Carolina on our website.
We immediately got to work/play! You may know that we’ve recently put out the first episode of our podcast, Sacred: Reclaiming intuitive teaching and caregiving relationships. Putting something out there for consumption is scary. For example, the male praying mantis has a 13-26% chance that his female mate will eat him for lunch right after the mating event. And yet, the call to live fully is strong enough to take the risk. We’ve shared ourselves authentically with you in the interest of living fully and to make space for connection. Throughout the season, we’ll be having conversations with folx who are working to make change in the world of children at different levels, but in this first episode we’ll start by inviting you into our friendship. We love to talk so this episode is lengthy! Have a listen to a little or a lot of Episode 1 at any of these locations: Youtube (includes captions), Apple, Spotify, our Website
Want to excavate something you heard in Episode 1? Or maybe you just want to connect with us and other educators and caregivers? Join us for our very first monthly Campfire Chat! We’ll gather by zoom on Wednesday, June 28, 7:00-8:00pm ET Register for the event here
Want to excavate solo? We created some Episode 1 Journal Prompts for you. Contemplate the ones that call you:
- How are you feeling right now? What’s coming up for you in this moment?
- What does the word “sacred” mean to you? Where do you feel it in your body? What are sacred relationships?
- Take a moment to remember the love that brought you to teaching and caregiving. When was the first time you knew you would be a teacher or caregiver? What did that feel like? Who was a part of it?
- How would you describe the issues that interrupt the sacredness of teaching and caregiving relationships? Is there a moment or situation you remember that forced you to reckon with these issues?
- What has sustained your willingness to continue your work with children? What role has spirituality played?
For ongoing conversation join our Sacred Conversations Group on FB and/or follow us on Instagram.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
With love and gratitude, Lauren & Angela Carolina
Merriam-Webster’s definition of eclosion: the act of emerging from the pupal case or hatching from the egg.