As I approached the end of 2024, I found myself reflecting on the countless precious moments that make up our days together. I wanted to gather these snapshots into an end of year message of joy and hope—but we can start our year with joy and hope too, right?
Here is a collection of moments from these last couple weeks of 2024 that capture why this work fills my heart with such joy and purpose.
Those of you who received my December 24 email will already know about the beautiful diaper change I witnessed in my toddler class—a reminder of how even ‘routine’ care moments can become sacred spaces of connection and trust.
Later that day, another toddler showed us all the wonderful ways his mind is growing. As we were tidying up after class, a child’s nanny thanked Antonio for tossing a stuffed cat into the basket. Eager to extend his helpfulness, she gestured to the bookshelf where three stuffed kittens waited: “Could you also bring the kittens to the Momma cat?” He walked to the shelf and, seemingly arbitrarily, reached past the first two kittens to pluck one in particular. His nanny and I exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why he’d chosen just one—then I glanced in the basket and realized: he’d selected the BLACK kitten to go with the BLACK Momma cat! A few moments later, he matched a red cup from the shelf with the red garbage cans. He wasn’t doing this for us; we weren’t encouraging him to match, nor was he looking for approval. He simply did what made sense to him. Because we were paying attention, we got a window into his mindset! These moments of discovery, when children make connections and find patterns in their world, never cease to amaze me.
My young baby class brought a special kind of magic. As parents gathered over coffee (a necessity as one Mom came to class despite working the night shift!), the room hummed with conversation and laughter. This is the community we’re building together—not just for our children, but for all of us. During this relaxed, connected time, one of the infants chose to sit up by herself for the first time. It was so effortless that we all did a double-take: wait, does she already sit independently? No—she was just ready, and in the safe cocoon of our class, she went for it.
Our recent RIE family days were different from our typical classes, but they held their own special beauty. While we may not have had our usual time for quiet observation, we witnessed something equally valuable: parents connecting, sharing stories, and building relationships. There were families that were brand new to RIE and others who have been practicing for decades. There were infants, toddlers, children, and even a pre-teen!
One gathering brought us a powerful lesson in conflict resolution. Two four-year-olds found themselves in an intense standoff over a pillow, with tears and raised voices. While Kensie and Madeline remained locked in their dispute, the adults maintained a calm, patient presence. A simple moment—needing to move the girls so there was space for another Mom to do a diaper change—broke their standoff. Madeline began to realize she might not have her turn and really started to cry. Kensie’s Mom reminded her one more time that she’d have all of the pillows after Madeline left. And Kensie slowly opened her hands, sharing the pillow. Kensie delivered the pillow to Madeline as she prepared to leave a few moments later. Their goodbye hug showed how even our most challenging moments can transform into connection.
These family gatherings continued to surprise us. At the other family gathering with nearly a dozen families filling our space, I watched in delight as our visiting 11-year-old helper, eagerly and happily stopped playing to come help me serve snack. He listened to me, and anticipated my requests, sparked conversation among children of all ages, and just overall created magic. The younger ones watched him with awe, while he rose to the responsibility with natural grace. It was a beautiful reminder of how mixed-age interactions enrich our community—the older children finding pride in leadership, the younger ones discovering new role models.
Each day brings new discoveries and ever-deepening connections.
As we look toward this new year, I want to express my gratitude for trusting me with your children’s early experiences. If you feel moved to share your own reflections about our community, I would love to hear your stories.