I've been in the slow process of trying to change the direction and focus of my blog, and in some ways my life.  I've never really kept this space as a personal diary, but instead posted things I wanted to share, with an audience in mind.  However,  it's always been random things connected to my life and my passions.

I'm passionate about a lot of stuff.

I had a meeting with a person who looked at my blog and offered some really helpful tips.  It's always nice to have a 3rd party with unbiased eyes look at your work.  It was a positive experience.  But, true to form, as soon as someone told me what to do, I suddenly didn't want to do it any more.

I know there are other people out there who do this.  We look for advice on a project, reassurance we are headed in the right direction, and as soon as we get it, all the motivation drains away. Since blogging isn't a job, and I'm accountable to no one to get it done, I just kinda, frittered away my time schedule.   Gahh!

Procrastinate much?



My intention, because I feel a need to explain myself, is to turn Dapoppins into a brand of sorts.  What does Dapoppins offer?

My blog is about telling stories.  Telling the stories of my life, my career, my passions, and encouraging others to tell stories.  With a more than 20 years of "Umbrella Magic"  and Nanny wisdom thrown in.

My husband made the new header for me.  Poor guy.  We looked forever for free fonts.  Then I told him I wanted water color splashes.  First the umbrella was too big.  Then too black.  Then I didn't like one of the color splash colors.  I'm a "I'll know it when I see it," kind of person.  He is a, "Can we just finish this," kind of person.  But we finally got it to the point where I felt satisfied.



So, that's my FOCUS for 2014. And the FOCUS for Dapoppins.  Thank's for reading.

One of the things I have been thinking of doing for months now is adding a tab on the top of this site called, "Nanny Reviews,"  which would mostly include reviews of children's picture books.

Despite all that is awesome and modern in electronic books and electronic book readers in this century, there is nothing better in story telling then the old fashioned hard copy picture book.  It's one of my fears that as walk-in book stores close, and e-books become cheaper and more accessible, that families will loose the interactive tactile experience and page turning wonder of reading books together.



I have posted before HERE on reading out loud to children and others we love. Everyone should and can read out loud. We should begin reading to children when they are still babies, and continue even after when they can read on their own.  We should read out loud to our spouses.  We should read out loud to our grandparents, and have our kids read out loud to us and others.

1. Reading out loud increases vocabulary familiarity in both the reader and the listener.

2. Reading out loud is a bonding experience for both the reader and the listener.

3. Reading out loud builds communication skills.

4. Listening to books teaches children to use their brains in imaginative ways.

5. Listening to books teaches children to listen for details, keeps them from tuning out, helps them focus, and
    enhances later skills related to listening.




I am especially fond of picture books because they contain so many different kinds of artistic expression available to everybody, young and old.  There is no limit to the types and forms of picture making in children's books.  From classic museum style painting, to pen and ink drawings, illustrators use hundreds of different mediums to help shape and contribute to the author's story.

Unfortunately not every book is best suited for reading out loud or at bedtime.

No. Words on paper with pictures does not automatically equal an enjoyable reading experience.  The best read out loud books are not joke books. That is, they have an actual plot and progression and are above an easy-reader level.  I enjoy Mo Willem's books.  But they are not the type of tales that create new tapestries in the imagination or introduce new creative concepts and complex words.  They are funny and relatable, but don't require much of an attention span.

Anita Silvey writes a fantastic essay HERE  about children's picture books in the School Library Journal. She talks about how the publishing industry  in recent years has basically shot itself in the foot by focusing on shorter, simpler, less word heavy books for children.  Many of these new books, though entertaining, are like junk food. Great for a quick sweet taste, low on cognitive nutrition, and not entertaining enough to become classics that adults buy for their children and their grandchildren.

The best read out loud books have a pace and rhythm that the reader falls into easily.  It isn't forced.  The reader doesn't have to search for it.  The narrative is fun for both the reader and the listener.  A good book has a plot and characters and isn't afraid of complex sentences and words. In fact, a really fun read out loud book makes up completely new words, plays with sounds and delights the senses.

It's a book the reader doesn't mind reading over and over. It is a book a person never forgets, and wants to revisit and share.

Picture books are an important, vital part of childhood.  Every child should be read to.  (The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees with me.) 

Under my new tab I will review children's books that I pick up from the library or see in the bookstore with this criteria in mind. Often I will post the reviews here in the regular feed and share with you. Since no one has hired me I get to be brutally honest and use as many adverbs and adjectives to describe the book as I my little heart desires.

I will be reading with a few questions in mind.  Is this  book junk food?  Or is it a classic that should be saved and shared with every child I meet.  As a Nanny, will I recommend this book to parents?  Would I buy this book as a gift because I think it contributes to the mind of a child as well as entertains?  Is this book enjoyable to read out loud? Does the book have a natural flow that makes it easy for anyone, even the most self-conscious reader, to read out loud? Would my own children enjoy this book?

Maybe we can start a movement and encourage publishers to return to the days of creating stories with fantastic art, beloved characters and imaginative, moving plots instead of just joke books and glorified comic books.  (Not that these books aren't fun or have no value, I have a couple I want to share too, but -well I think I made my over all point.)

What are your favorite books from childhood?  What books do you think every child should hear?  Do you have someone to read out loud to?




Some books I've read on Goodreads

In my neck of the woods, after a long and dreary winter and many consecutive dreary Spring days, people emerge from their homes, with pale skin and sensitive squinty eyes.  We look at the sky with wonder at that strange yellow light, as if we have forgotten it.  We marvel that the sky could be blue and not gray and white filled with clouds and weeping rain.  We proceed into the strange light,with awed hungry faces, spilling onto sidewalks, local parks, and making our way to the Zoo.

One of the perks of being a Nanny is frequent outings to the Zoo.


At the entrance maps, in hand, we begin the exploration process of the Zoo as if there is something new around every corner.  There usually is something new, our Zoo is always evolving.

The Zoo map is one of the worlds best teaching tools.  It hold endless fascination for children of every age.  Easy to read, with pictures of the animals next to the words, even a three year old can use it and begin to get the idea of what a map is and how useful it can be.  I've been to the Zoo many times, and know my way around fairly well.  I already know where the elephants are.  I know where the food vendors are, and all the bathrooms.  But for the children with me, the Zoo is yet a big mysterious place, and they love having a map to track the route and guide the way.





I wish I knew how to set the video's to music. Even my 3 year old companion was transfixed as we watched their synchronized movements.  We must have been there for almost ten minutes watching them.

An eternity in three year old time.

Birds were not our most important destination, however.


This African Slender Snouted Crocodile is somewhat bigger in real life, but I couldn't get as close to is as I could the flamingos.

I know that there is a big push these days not to tell children what to like.  Teachers and parents should give kids an opportunity to express their own likes.  Not all boys love trucks.  Not all girls love dolls.  It's a strange kind of campaign to me.  I don't know any parents (or care-givers) that say, "Well, you can't like that because your a girl." or vice versa.

I have noticed as a nanny that many girls are as fascinated by predators and things with big sharp teeth as boys are, and I am no less willing to let them explore this fascination than I would be with boys.

And on the way to the Crocodile's, if I get to enjoy a little pink and the strange dancing of beautiful, fluffy, flamingos...I'm okay with that too.

My first live-in experience went for longer than two years.  I was nineteen.  I went from living at home (in a not always comfortable environment) to living in another families home as their nanny.

 It's not really MY home.  I lived there.  I had my own room and my own bathroom and my own space. But I was still living in another woman's home.  I was young and a little shaky with this concept.  I assumed that since I was now an adult, and getting room and board plus a nice salary, that my space was MINE.  It wasn't.  As a nanny I have not only lived in, but worked the long 50 hour weeks that is common with caregivers.  I was at work more than I was at home, and the concept of "place of work," sometimes became blurred. I have also worked many short term live-in positions.




1. Clean up after yourself.  My job was to care for, play with, and teach the children.  I was to pick up after them as well as  myself.  A house keeper would still come twice a week, but that didn't mean I could be lazy.  Keeping toys as organized as possible, keeping play areas tidy after every toddler play time explosion, cleaning up after every breakfast and lunch were all my responsibilities.

Add to this my long hair.  The "mom boss" noticed every single one that came off my head.  She was kind about it, but  much happier when I kept my hair in a scrunchy and off the floors and furniture of her living areas.

 I  had my own personal space and frankly at nineteen, I was still a bit of a slob.  There were a couple of times when my mom boss came into my room and she was appalled.  It wasn't that bad -to me.  But this was her home I was living in and she had a different set of standards.  As her employee and a member of her household I was expected to comply to those standards and there was nothing wrong with her expectation that I do so.