When Petite Clothilde reminds us to find our own joy.
- Frédérique and the Wooden Fellows
As you may remember, Maurice and Mme Rigolotte went on a trip to Chicago, IL, a few weeks ago, and Maurice got quite curious about circles in the colors of, he believed, a marvelous land he previously visited, the Land of Smooths and Mellows.
It must have been some kind of a portal between Lands of the Fellows because here was Petite Clothilde, knocking at our door, a few days later : )
Petite Clothilde (see below for how to pronounce her name) is a Doudou-Tout-Doux, and like many of her peers, her mind often takes off dreaming while her heart makes her deeply care about others. Maurice, Madame Rigolotte, and I were deeply inspired by her empathy skills, and how she would naturally remind us to take care of ourselves.
Gently cuddling with a beloved pet, connecting with nature, making a new friend, seeking help are all examples of self-care that we often model with young children throughout the day. But what else could we do?
Centering on what brings us joy...
One can take it a step further by centering on ourselves and our own joy rather than only on the child’s. As flight attendants remind passengers at the beginning of a flight they would have to put on an oxygen mask before helping young children around, Petite Clothilde’s message for this week reminds us that we cannot take good care of young children without first taking care of ourselves.
And keeping in mind our own joy is definitely a step forward toward taking care of ourselves.
So, what brings you joy?
Indeed, we are all unique and different. For some, joy may be associated with being surrounded by people, while others may be craving alone time to recharge from a busy day. Some may find joy in reading a new book, while others may prefer the sound of a bandsaw or a lathe. Some may love playing hide and seek with their child at the park, while others may enjoy seeing them playing with other children instead. Some grown-ups may naturally embrace dramatic play and invent all kinds of stories with dolls or soft animals, while others may prefer to build with all types of construction blocks or train tracks. We all have different strengths and topics of interest, relying on various sources of joy.
... even as we engage in activities with young children ...
Reflecting on our own joy is, indeed, fundamental, as we are bombarded with all kinds of activities to do with young children. However, some activities may work better for us than others; some may bring more stress than others. For instance, cooking with young children in the kitchen supports math, fine motor skills, independence, etc., making such activity well recommended online. But it has never worked for me. Prepping meals has always been a box to check, a race against hangriness coming up with a little warning, rather than a joyful activity. By contrast, I could take my kids to the workshop, with all safety measures required, of course every. single. day. I would even read woodcarving magazines at night, from time to time. And we would talk about gouges, chisels, and how to carve a caricature, as an alternative to reading the latest adventure of Elephant and Piggie. In other words, engaging with young children is much easier to do through an activity we naturally enjoy than forcing ourselves into something we don’t, no matter how relevant the activity may be.
... or listen to music with young children ...
Another example of staying centered on ourselves while caring for a young child is listening to our own music. That’s right, there is nothing against taking a break from The Wheel on the Bus and Itsy Bitsy. I know, grown-up music might come with some words that should not be in the ears of young people, but most of the time, a break from children’s music, especially in the car, especially with fighting siblings in the back, can take us a long way. And the younger you start, the better it is for young children to appreciate all kinds of music. Who doesn’t like the Beatles or Louise Attaque, anyway?
And there is a bonus! When those young children become teens, and young adults, the practice of taking turns in listening different types of music allows the creation of cross-generations play lists. I personally enjoy discovering new music from younger generations that I would not be naturally exposed to.
... because we are so worth it
Finally, be like Madame Rigolotte, and take a second to admire how beautiful you are every time you see yourself in a mirror.
Especially your soul.
Being around young children is not a smooth journey and comes with ups and downs. But you are navigating the journey beautifully. Never forget the fantastic person you are.
Our own joy radiates on young children. So, what brings you joy? What else would you add to our list? As always, feel free to comment or use the contact form.
Hope those words bring you peace and comfort. See you next week !
How to pronounce Petite Clothilde