Back in the Blogging Game

Hi friends. It's been awhile. I don't know how many of you are even still following our little old blog here. 

For the sake of followers, I am going to provide you with a few life updates. 

If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen that our very own Sydney is getting married. We can't wait to celebrate in the big city in just a few short weeks. It will also be my first time flying with a 6 month old! Sydney is still marching along as a jam up Child Life Specialist in the Emergency Department and remains incredibly active in the professional community. 

But this post is from me. Caroline. 

Hi. I am Caroline. It's been nearly 6 years since I sat for my certification exam and become an official Child Life Specialist. If you followed my journey at all, you know that I have had some professional life crises through the years and never officially held the title of "Child Life Specialist." However, I have remained active in my certification, continued to attend professional development, and network with my peers. 

But if you've been following us, you know I jumped off the face of the blogging world a couple of years ago when I transitioned to be a Child Development Center Director. 

I've struggled to blog as I have moved further from the traditional field of Child Life and more into Early Childhood Education, specifically Birth to 5 years. I was really hot with passion for Child Life in the community setting, but life got in the way. For the past four years, I have been the Director of a high quality child development center in Georgia. It has taken every ounce of my energy, passion, drive and personality to do that job like I knew it needed to be done. It was draining. And yet rewarding beyond your imagination. 

And then 2020. 

In 2020: 

• My husband and I bought a new house
• COVID-19 happened
• We had a baby
• I returned from maternity leave
• I resigned after maternity leave
• I began a new job (Child Care Resource and Referral) 

Whew. I am exhausted reading that list. Whilst this year has been crazy and hectic, it has also brought multiple moments where I have felt drawn back to my writing. So here I am. Typing. Unsure of where I am to go in this virtual atmosphere where words have such a heavy weight. But I am present. My plan is to speak for the generation who can't. And as a new mommy myself, my heart is heavy by the affects COVID is having on our children. 

I can't promise some kind of beautiful and smooth transition back into the world of blogging because man... that's exhausting making it all so picture perfect. But what I can promise you in transparency and real life experiences. 

So here's what I need from you. I want us to begin the conversation of how COVID and all that it encompasses is going to futuristically impact our practices, our children, and development in general. 

Disclaimer: This is not a political or social platform. We have not and will not use this to promote or criticize any social or political agenda. So please, I ask as kindly as possible, leave all of these comments and opinions to yourself. 

Feel free to comment here, send us an email, or DM us on Instagram letting us know what some of your thoughts are on Child Life/ Child Development etc in the aftermath of this pandemic. We're even looking to features some guest writers in the weeks to come. If you have a story, thought, idea, or research, send it our way! 

Sincerely, 

Caroline