Our Cohort Based Learning Communities (CBLCs) have been designed with the specific intent of creating a safe learning space for early educators and providers across the state of North Carolina. During one of our Planning With A Purpose coaching sessions, we explored how the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development (NC FELD) relates to our purposeful planning. A piece of this section on NC FELD focuses on family involvement and creating positive relationships with the families that we work with as an integral piece of planning for the individual children in our care. As we began our session, it became abundantly clear that the participants were experiencing burnout and stress not only from their careers but also from personal circumstances.
One valuable feature of our CBLCs is that we get to tailor each cohort to exactly what participants need, and add content and resources in order to meet each participant where they are in their personal and professional journeys. In this instance, that meant taking a step back as a CBLC facilitator and practicing what I preach about self-compassion. Through my knowledge of Circle of Security and the concept of “being the hands,” a safe haven for children, I was offered the opportunity to do just that with my participants.
We began our conversation reflecting on the practices that we currently use to form relationships, and one participant shared her experience with a challenging conversation she had the previous week. Another participant shared an update on her incorporation of new information in her classroom. Yet another participant provided the group with a different perspective: she shared how, during a major personal life change, all of the families she serves rallied around her in support and comfort. Wow! These moments are so precious to me and I am so thankful for the opportunity to share in both the learning and life journeys of all of my CBLC participants.
This session was a great reminder that we as early educators are givers and caretakers. We are always trying to do everything that we can for the people in our lives that we care deeply for; the children and families that we serve, alongside our personal families and friends. Rather than continuing to fill their cups with new tasks and information, we took a step back this week and decided that part of our time together would be best served in caring for ourselves. One participant took her designated self-care time to take a drive to clear her mind. Being able to offer this to my participants was such a moving and cherished moment, offering the opportunity for us to witness the beauty of meeting others where they are, of “being the hands” for each other and “being held” in a compassionate community.
