Dapoppins

Passionate About Books!

World Read Aloud Day was last Wednesday February the 24th and I celebrated with some serious silliness.

I love the written word and especially children's books. The combination of art meets script, the sense of play and whimsy in books for children, all of it.

And I quite enjoy reading aloud.

I don't just read aloud to children either. I enjoy a good book with adults.

Last year I read "The Secret Life of Bees" aloud to a client who is in her 70's. We read the entire book together, and loved it so very much that we went on to read, "The Invention of Wings."

The two of us, me reading out loud as she lay in bed, as she sat on the patio, or in her wheelchair, these books changed our lives. The beautiful words shaped how I saw things and heard things for months afterwards.

We shared that moment because I was reading aloud.

I don't have any trouble sharing this passion with the world, so when a day comes up where lots of other people are reading aloud -

Well, I made an event of it.

Facebook kind of hides events after they happen, but no worries, I still have a link HERE.

Using Periscope as a method of live streaming, several other women and I read aloud to each other, to children, to the world.

If you click that link you will find more links to photos of read aloud day, and people reading aloud. Including yours truly. I did readings of Treasure Island and Green Eggs and Ham.

Really. Go see. You might laugh.

"And I dearly love to laugh." - quote from Jane Austen that just popped into my head.

It was Ah-MAZE-zING!

I also wrote more about why reading aloud is important in this post at Yourdori.com. Have you gone over there for a peek? You should. You can also find out what the heck a YOURDORI is.

Really. Click over and look.

I dare ya.

Well, if you didn't check out the link. Here is Green Eggs and Ham. Let me know if you laugh, cause, well, I did. And hit the like button, will you please? Or else people will think it was me who watched it ten times just so I could laugh at myself.

And, if you want to hear a really fantastic reading from a former teacher who now writes books for children to help them learn to READ- you must check out my friend LUCY.

Lucy Ann Jennigs blends action and brain power to connect the dots between letters and words. She uses art (the action) to engage children in learning (the mind) how to read. It's a great idea because adding an action to the sight and sound of letters learning helps embed the reading concept in the mind of some children who are struggling with memorization.

Grab a child and listen to Lucy read aloud HERE. She has a great voice.

Who are you reading aloud to? I'd love to know in the comments!

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.

live in caregiver, live-in nanny, nanny family, #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.

2. Embarrassing things will happen, move on. Living in close quarters with people who are not family members will bring many opportunities for embarrassing moments. No matter who or what is the initial cause, handle it with grace, maturity, and a sense of humor. Then forget about it and move on.

3. Keep your car tidy, inside and out. Your car reflects who you are. If it's filled with trash and smells like week old fast food this will reflect poorly on you when you need to transport a child (or an elderly person.) Don't assume you will always have access to another "work" car. If the outside of your vehicle hasn't been washed in months this will also reveal a lack of personal responsibility. Also, if your car is leaking fluid all over a pristine white or expensively sculpted driveway, your employers will not be pleased.

4. If you eat a meal with the family, help clean up. When I'm living and working with a family and I join them for a meal I always help clean it up afterwards. Even if I am not on the clock. It's just good manners to at least offer.

5. Ask lots of questions. Every family (every WOMAN ) has a certain process of doing things. How the laundry is folded. How the dishes are washed. How often the floor is swept. The bed time routine and morning routine. What words are exceptable in conversation, what is considered polite and impolite. As a live in care-giver your job is to help in daily activities, and the family you are working with will only explain the obvious or important routines. Families develop habits over time to work together, such as how to share a bathroom with five people. A live-in care giver often has to decipher rules that have developed over time. The quickest way to find out the families habits is to ask questions and watch carefully how things are said and done.

Living-in is rewarding in lots of ways. I would highly recommend it to anyone who asked me. But having a firm grasp of yourself as an employee is the first advice I would give. You may be treated like a member of the family, but you are earning a great pay check at the same time. Living in may is more challenging then other jobs, but hey, there is no commute time, and there is usually some fine chocolate on the pantry shelf that you are more than welcome to eat.