Kids Island Nursery

A friend sent me this video with the words, “This made me think of you. You are handling things with such energy.” She sent it because she has had a front row seat to this year and she knew just how perfectly it captured what it has felt like.

Watching it made me realise how often we only see one part of somebody else’s story. We see them fall or we see them get back up again but we rarely get to witness everything that happens in between.

This year has been one of the biggest roller coasters of my life. Closing the nursery after 36 years was only one chapter. There were other unexpected changes, family challenges and a move that we never saw coming and there were days when simply putting one foot in front of the other felt like enough.

What has carried me through has been the people who stood beside me, not because they had all the answers but because they simply showed up. They reminded me that none of us has to walk through the hard parts alone.

So if you’re watching someone who seems to be doing amazingly well, remember that there may be a whole story you cannot see. And if you’re the one quietly finding the strength to get back up again each day, I hope you know you’re not alone either.

Getting back up does not mean the fall did not hurt, it simply means you kept going ❤️

Found this little gem hiding in the archives and it was far too good not to share ❤️

Working in early years means you get very good at:
✨ transition warnings
✨ co-regulation
✨ emotional support
✨ snack intervention strategies

…for both children AND staff 😂

Turns out most adults just need patience, reassurance and a small sweet treat.

One thing I’ve been thinking about over the last couple of days is just how incredibly grateful I am for the way so many people have responded. Of course the first reaction is often, “Oh, that’s so sad,” and I completely understand that. What has really stayed with me though is how quickly those conversations have turned into celebrating everything Kids Island has been over the last 36 years. Every message has brought back another memory, another child, another family and another little moment that made this journey so incredibly special.

That’s exactly where my heart is too. Yes this is incredibly sad and yes it was never something I wanted or imagined. At the same time I don’t want this chapter to be remembered for its ending. I want it to be remembered for the thousands of children, the incredible families, the amazing team and all the love, laughter and connections that filled this place every single day.

My focus over the last term was making sure that every single day counted, that the children continued to have the very best experiences, the strongest connections and the quality of care that Kids Island has always stood for right until our very last day. My focus now has shifted to closing the nursery with that same level of care, helping my team find their next opportunities and making sure everything is wrapped up in the best possible way.

At the same time I’m also unexpectedly moving house, so life has certainly been keeping me on my toes. Right now I’m simply putting one foot in front of the other, taking each day as it comes and looking forward to seeing where this next chapter takes me. I’ll be sure to share the journey with you all ❤️