Hi All~

Welcome to By The Brook! As a young child I loved to play in the water. Whether it was a ditch after a summer rain in Mississippi, a pristine lake in New Hampshire or the beaches of Virginia, Stomping in mudpuddles and playing tag in a spring shower filled me with a joy that is hard to find as an adult but was so precious to me as a youngster. I have the fondest memories of jumping from rock to rock in the spring when the brooks were rushing from the snowmelt. I now keep a little piece of that joy alive when I visit the brook in my back yard and can find peace in a chaotic day by taking a breather there by the brook.

These "breathers by the brook" have become a daily ritual and provide me with a few minutes to breathe deep and reflect. The art of reflection is becoming lost in the hectic, daily grind we find ourselves in as early childhood professionals, family members and other significant adults in the lives of young children. It is so hard to provide joy-filled learning experiences for children when we are depleted and not able to reflect and connect to our own joy. Our goal with this blog is to provide some practical ideas and inspirations to help spark joy for both the care provider and the children they love and care for. 

We would love to hear from you about what would be most helpful as we get this journey started together!

Joyfully~

Charna