Embracing the Mud: A Tale of Resiliency in the Face of Loss and Struggle

Hey everyone,

I hope this post finds you. Even with the chaos and joy that comes with life. Especially if you are raising young ones or guiding bright minds. Today, I want to chat with you about a little something called resiliency – a word that's been echoing in my mind over the past few months, and I reckon it's something we all need a bit more of.

You see, life has recently been throwing us all curveballs. Personally, the past few years have left me grappling with loss, grief, and the muddy waters of uncertainty. I find that Viktor Frankl's words in "Man's Search for Meaning" ring true – the idea that even in the darkest times, we have the power to find purpose and meaning.

As a public school teacher, I have been able to excel teaching Kindergarten, ESL and GATE, But now as an aspiring non-profit founder, I've been wading through the challenges of starting something from scratch. It's tough, and it often feels like I'm stuck in the mud, struggling to gain traction. But amidst it all, there's a driving force – a tribute to my late mother, Dotty Williams, who devoted over 35 years of her life to teaching.

I cared for my mom until she succumbed to dementia, and it was during those challenging times that I witnessed the true essence of resiliency. In her honor, I embarked on a journey to start a non-profit, a venture that's proving to be more demanding than I ever imagined.

Resilience, I've come to realize, is like falling face-first into the mud. It's messy, uncomfortable, and downright frustrating at times. But it's also the very substance that propels us forward, molding us into stronger, more adaptable beings.

Back in the day, when I was teaching kindergarten, I made it my mission to instill resilience in my little learners. It wasn't about shielding them from failure but teaching them to get back up when life knocks them down. I believed firmly in teaching my little ones to write first and final drafts. That's because I wanted them to know how to analyze their work and take the time to improve it. And instead of solving their problems, I chose to let them sometimes fail. By scaffolding learning, they were able to go much farther and became independent learners. Fast forward, and many of those kids have grown into successful individuals, navigating life's challenges with grace.

So, how can we encourage resiliency in our own kids? Well, it starts with allowing them to get a little dirty – figuratively and literally. Growth, much like a seed breaking through the soil, often looks ugly before it blossoms into something beautiful. We live in a world where people strive to appear perfect, but the real magic happens when we embrace the imperfections and learn from them.

And what does resiliency have to do with STEM, you ask? Everything! The fields of science, technology, engineering, and math are built on trial and error. It's about asking questions, facing challenges head-on, and never being afraid to explore the unknown. Our kids need to be equipped with the resilience to persevere in the face of failure and setbacks – after all, that's where innovation is born.

In closing, I want to encourage each one of you to go out and take more chances. Life is messy, and it's okay to fall face-first into the mud now and then. It's from those moments that we emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to tackle whatever challenges come our way.

So here's to embracing the mud, honoring our roots, and building a future filled with resilient, unstoppable individuals.

If you would like to keep up on our progress, please subscribe to receive upcoming posts. Check out my STEM Bin fundraiser on GoFUNDme. I have pictures and share information about my latest product. Starting in January, I will be working with my first groups of students to perfect the software. https://gofund.me/6b200cea

Check out this Intro Lesson 1 of my STEM Planks STEM Bin. I will download more of them over the next few days. The intro lessons are designed to provide crucial information to adults, while they slowly introduce kids to the features of the program.