February News from Especially for Children

FEBRUARY 2022

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Greetings!

PARENTS DESIGN-A-VALENTINE

We would like to continue the tradition we started a few years ago and will need your participation!! We would like parents to design a Valentine for their child(ren) to be hung in the hallway at Especially for Children during the month of February. This is your opportunity to be creative and have fun!! Due to limited space, the size restriction of the Valentine will be letter size (9” X 13”). Please have your artwork to Kathy by Wednesday, February 12. Have fun!!

CENTER HAPPENINGS

VALENTINE'S DAY PARTIES

The toddler and preschool groups will be having their valentine exchange and party on Monday, February 14. The teachers will provide more information regarding their classroom parties closer to Valentine’s Day. Please see Kathy if this is not a scheduled day for your child and you would like them to have the opportunity to participate in the Valentine activities.

PARENT RESOURCES

15 RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by kind people to either help cheer up a random stranger, for no reason other to make people happier. Here are 15 ideas to try!

Hold the door for someone.
Compliment a friend.
Bring a welcome gift to a new co-worker.
Send a thank you note to a soldier.
Let another driver looking for a spot know when you’re leaving.
Leave change in the vending machine.
Help someone carry groceries to her car.
Leave a happy note on the bathroom mirror that says “you look amazing!”.
Smile at everyone you see.
Send flowers to a friend.
Leave extra time in the meter.
Give up your seat for someone.
Write a note of encouragement to someone who inspires you.
Leave a flower on a neighbor’s doorstep.
Deliver a cup of coffee.

CHINESE NEW YEAR – FEBRUARY 1^st

The dates for Chinese New Year aren’t set in stone, and vary yearly based on the lunar cycle, but it always falls in January or February. The most important days of Chinese New Year are Chinese New Year’s Eve and the first day of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year’s Eve is very special and important day to gather with family and have a big feast. The celebration lasts for fifteen days with the Lantern Festival marking the end of the celebration.

2022 is the year of the Tiger. In Chinese culture, the Tiger is a symbol of strength and braveness, - a valued animal for being independent and having a strong sense of justice.

COVID CREDIT NOTE

We hope the new test-to-stay protocol is working well for families who are dealing with Covid exposures. Please note that accounts must be in good standing in order to receive any Covid credits for quarantine or isolation. Thank you!

ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

LETTING IT OUT

By Angie Williams

Over the past few weeks, I have noticed an increase in the number of news articles devoted to the challenges parents—and especially parents of young children—are continuing to face as the pandemic drags on. The articles profile parents who are exhausted and at their breaking points.

We at EFC are doing what we can to make this time more manageable for families, but we know that the uncertainties and disruptions of the past two years have taken their toll on the families in our EFC community.

While we can all acknowledge the stress is there, figuring out what to do with it is not easy. Earlier this month a group of moms in Boston took to a football field and spent 20 minutes screaming into the cold night air. They needed to let out the stress and frustration with their whole bodies. As the organizer of the event described: “The scream resonated for people because it normalized their anger,” she said. “It’s been very powerful and quite healing.”

Primal Scream Gathering in Boston, New York Times

I love the notion that these women allowed themselves to “lose control” in this way for just a bit given that many of us have spent the last two years trying to maintain a sense of control and normalcy for our families in the midst of such turbulent times.

It also makes sense that finding a vocal and/or physical outlet can make a big difference in how we feel. No matter how many times we turn over in our minds some of the thoughts and worries we have about this pandemic, we are not able to influence everything that comes next. Transferring those ruminations to a simple scream might just be the meltdown we parents need to keep moving forward.

At the beginning of the pandemic, we called upon the wisdom of Mr. Rogers to help us navigate a time of uncertainty. At this point we all may benefit from a more basic method of stress release. Our hope is that the coming weeks provide a great deal of relief with the improvement of public health conditions. Until then, we hope you can find a moment to let it out if you need to.