A few updates, ideas, reminders and such

I was all ready to talk about the need to bring rubber boots and it up and snows! Go figure.
I do need to remind folks to bring good outdoor gear appropriate for whatever weather we are experiencing, we like to muck about outside each day! It's also important to send your children in clothes that can be improved with a little mud, paint or playdough (ie: play-clothes!)

I wanted to also give a big Hooray for Hallie Hudson, who's joining the Pond as our afternoon helper. She's an original Smallpondling from 15 years ago and is expecting her first baby in June. Marvelously and musically talented, your kids will fall in love with her just like mine have! She'll be coming regularly at 2:00 and staying until clean-up with the goal over the coming weeks of giving me a few hours at the end of each day to keep up with paperwork and planning and, oh, I don't know...go home and make dinner? While Hallie and I will have lot's of overlap, I'm still working on how to best keep communication with parents working with two caregivers. Let me know if you have any ideas. I've found that it's often difficult at the end of a long day with kids and parents going in and out to really give a thorough debriefing of how the day went. There's definitely room for improvement.

I'd also like to put out there that I'm looking for fencing ideas. Have you installed a fence recently or know of someone who does the work at reasonable cost? Let me know.

Every day is a little easier and more predictable than the last at the Pond. As we settle into the rhythm of our days, kids become a little more familiar with new friends and a new space. I'd like to remind parents that it's important to call ahead if you plan to be late or need to cancel...our days are often a fragile ecosystem of activity. I work hard to anticipate the needs of a bunch of little people who don't always need the same things at the same time (napping, outdoor rambunctious time, quiet stories, meals, bathroom breaks etc.) In order to help maintain consistency for all the kids I need to be able to predict interruptions (such as arrivals and pick-ups) and plan for it. Thanks in advance!

See you at the Pond!