I don’t usually do this, but Giving Tuesday feels like the right moment to be honest about where things stand…and to ask for your help.
I came back to RIE in Fall 2023 because this organization fundamentally changed my life. I discovered Magda Gerber’s work through a class at Pasadena Community College in 2000, and it was like someone turned on a light. Suddenly, infant care made sense in a way it never had before. The respect, the observation, the trust in babies’ competence…it all clicked. I dedicated years to working in childcare which then led me to work directly for RIE from 2008-2017, some of the most meaningful years of my professional life.
When I learned RIE needed help two years ago, coming back felt like both a responsibility and a homecoming. But I’ll be honest: I didn’t fully understand what I was walking into. I’m currently RIE’s only full-time employee, doing work that used to require multiple full-time positions. I spend about 85% of my time on HR, operations, board work, and class management—the necessary behind-the-scenes work that keeps the lights on—and only 15% on the strategic, visionary work that could help us grow. Some days that feels impossible. Some days I wonder if one person can really hold this much.
And then something shifts my perspective.
A parent writes to tell me that Magda’s wisdom helped them trust their baby during a moment of doubt. A Foundations student emails about how our training transformed their entire practice and gave them confidence they didn’t know they needed. I even get calls from people who took a class back in the 80’s, sharing how the work still touches them all these years later.
You know all know I teach in my Tarzana studio and my greatest joy is watching adults really see babies for the first time—see their competence, their communication, their personhood. And holding space for parents to find their footing…and their community? These moments remind me why this work matters so deeply.
Magda Gerber’s Educaring® Approach isn’t just a methodology or a set of techniques. It’s a philosophy about seeing infants as whole people deserving of respect from day one. It’s about slowing down enough to observe, to listen, to trust. In a world that’s increasingly hurried and anxious about early childhood – where parents are bombarded with conflicting advice and pressure to optimize every moment – this work feels more essential than ever.
RIE has been doing this work since 1978. We’ve trained thousands of professionals. We’ve reached countless families. We’ve kept Magda’s legacy alive through training programs, our Educaring® journal, conferences, and a community that spans the globe. But we’re at a crossroads. We’re rebuilding after some challenging years, and that rebuilding requires resources we don’t currently have.
If RIE has touched your life…whether through a class, a training, a book, or just the ripple effect of these ideas spreading through the world…would you consider supporting us this Giving Tuesday? Every donation, regardless of size, helps us:
- Continue offering high-quality training for infant/toddler professionals
- Provide classes for parents and caregivers who want to learn this approach
- Maintain our educational resources and someday expand
- Build the organizational capacity we need to serve our community well
I don’t know what the future holds for RIE, but I know this: the world needs Magda’s wisdom. Babies need adults who see them clearly. Caregivers need an approach they can trust. And I’m committed to making sure RIE is here to provide that, even on the hard days.
And if you can’t give today, that’s okay! But maybe you know someone who can…or maybe you just know someone who could stand to learn a little more about this work. Please share!
Thank you for being part of this community.
Thank you for caring about this work.