Topics in Early Childhood Education with Mrs. Frick

Personal Childhood Web

There are a few special people in my life that have helped shaped me to become the woman I am today. The first person is my mom. My mom has loved me, shown me how to be compassionate, warm, polite, and responsible. She has also shown me how to be independent and when to stand up for myself. My mom is the mom of all moms. She takes everybody in. She takes your side when you need it and she always came back to give just one more kiss at the end of the night.   She not only nurtured me at home, but with my outside interests too. My mom put me in dance when I was in Kindergarten - she knew I loved it. Each week just her and I would go to dance class, it was our time. Our time in the car, waiting for class, dinner, and after. I loved these moments of alone time with my mom. Money wasn't always plentiful at times in our home - we lived comfortably but sometimes things were tight... But my mom always made sure my dance classes were paid for and that I could go. Not knowing it then, it was as important to her as it was to me.  When it was time for college, my mom was again supportive. I would be the first of her children to go to a university and the first in our immediately family.  My mom is still my biggest supporter.  She calls to see how my job is going, she buys things for my class when needed, she even supplied the room with gloves and mittens when I told her most were too poor to bring them to school.  My mom influences me to be gracious every day and to give to others.  

 (my mom and I at my baby shower) 

The second person who has had a huge impact on me is my Grandma Diane (mom's mom).  My grandma and I have had a special bond ever since I can remember.   She loved to garage sale - and I was always asked to go along. She would let me pick out a toy and we would go to lunch.  As I got older and so did my grandma, she would ask me to help her clean house. All of the other grand children would complain if she asked them, but I never did. I enjoyed the time my grandma and I spent together.  We would make a whole day of it - cleaning together, eating, watching tv, going for a walk... I am so glad as an adult that my grandma and I had this time together.  Now as adults, I don't clean for her anymore (if she called me, I would be right there!) but we do go to lunch, go shopping, and she loves to see her great grandson!  My grandma has given me kindness and gratitude. She has taught me to ask for help and to give it.  She has 7 children, has 35 grand children, and 4 great grand children - but still has time for me.  She still makes me feel special each day when she calls to see how I am doing.  You could say I am her favorite, but don't tell the others!!

Grandma and my son Collin

The third person I choose is my Grandma Lautner (dad's mom).  My grandma passed away 17 years ago this April.  I only had a few years with my Grandma, but she was the most loving person you could ever meet.  She was always cooking and singing.  She was an amazing woman and taught me patience and tolerance.  My grandma had diabetes and back then, you had to give yourself insulin shots... (not the pumps and pills like today).  Even with her disease, my grandma showed me that you could still do everything that you want to.  She lived right up the street from us so we saw her everyday.  She never slowed down and never stopped smiling.  As she got older and her health started to decline, my grandma moved in with us.  We had a small 3 bedroom house now filled up with my parents, 4 kids, and grandma.   She used to sing this song "go to sleep, my little pickininy" and I would give anything to hear it again because  I can hardly remember the words now... she also always called me her beautiful begonia.  My grandma filled our house with so much love it was pouring out the chimney.  Even the neighbor kids called her Grandma Lautner. Whenever I see her photo, I get all warm and fuzzy.  Those are the feelings I try to give to my child and students.  I want each child I work with to know that there is someone that loves them unconditionally.  Unfortunately, I don't have a picture on my computer of my grandma.  I hope to get one scanned soon!

The next person isn't a person, its is 3 people - my Aunts Denise, Dawn, and Denee (mom's sisters). My aunts are awesome. They are fun, lively, and always entertaining.  They are also great mothers and have always treated me like one of their daughters.  They babysat me as I grew up, and I babysat all of their children as they grew up.  My aunts are the people I know I could always call no matter what - then and now.  I would say they helped me learn to laugh at myself and also to trust.  Here is a picture of my mom and her sisters.  I love them so much!

don't tell them I chose this picture - they had all just finished a 5k! LOL