Creative Parenting Folk

It’s been a few years since I last posted, but so much has happened. I’ve grown as a mum, a teacher, and a person. This space will now be about early education, empathy, and belonging. If you’ve been here for a while, thank you for staying. And if you’re new, welcome 🌿

I’m Hanako, a German–Japanese mum of two and Montessori teacher with 30 years in the UK, now living in Munich.

After working with children and families from so many different cultures, one thing has become very clear to me:

✨ When children feel seen, safe, and proud of who they are, they grow with empathy and confidence.

That’s why I speak about early education, anti-racism, and belonging.
Because real inclusion starts in the smallest hands and hearts. 🤍

Thank you for your enquiries and interest in the Montessori Toddler & Parent classes. Thank you to the families & children who have joined and made these sessions such a beautiful experience.

I truly enjoy working with families, supporting them on their parenting journey, sharing my experience and jointly exploring and discovering the wonders of toddlerhood.

Unfortunately there will be no sessions for the coming term (April- July).

I have been offered an opportunity to work in a school supporting children who have been impacted by the pandemic the most. I feel this is a huge privilege to be able to offer my skills, knowledge and experience.

As we all know the school closure had a huge impact on many children; especially disadvantaged children.

It has impacted their mental health, relationships and learning.

I will miss working with the lovely families I have met so far, and hope to be able to continue to work with them in some capacity in the future.

I am now looking forward to building new relationships with children who desperately need support in school with their learning.

Aren’t we all different, isn't that the beauty of humanity and of our world?

Yet so very often we are expected to fit into a mould.
Breaking free from it, is a life challenge, when all you have been told as a child, to behave, to be good, to listen, to pay attention and not to speak up.
How often have observed children who can’t sit still, get distracted, hyperactive.

Schools being concerned and worried, sanction them by missing play, using traffic light system. Seriously, is that how we teach our future by naming and shaming them?

Children are being told to fit into ‘the mould’, to be a certain way, to be the same like everyone else.

Ironically schools often claim to respect and value each child as an individual!?!

I have heard of this beautiful story of a girl who struggled to sit still.

She continually got up, got easily distracted, had a wondering mind, and didn’t follow lessons.
The teachers were worried about her, the girl was often punished.

At home she would get told off as well.
The mother was invited to school, she was terrified of bad news. The teachers spoke of great concerns, an illness or even a disorder.
A teacher joined the meeting who knew the girl well. He asked them to follow him into a room from where the girl could be seen.
The girl was alone, music was playing in the room. The girl alone in the room was moving up and down chasing the music in the air with her feet and her heart.

The adults looked at each other with confusion and yet with some compassion. The teacher who knew the girl well, smiled at the parent and said "See? There is nothing wrong with her, this girl is a dancer!"
He recommended to take her to dance classes. After the first dance class the girl said to the mum.

"Everyone is like me, no one can sit still!"

This girl is called Gillian Lynne, in 1981, after a career as a dancer, opening her own dance academy and receiving international recognition for her art, she became the choreographer of the musical "Cats."

Hopefully children who are "different" can be embraced with love and care and find capable adults who can welcome them for who they are and not for what they lack.

Aren’t we all different, isn't that the beauty of humanity and of our world?

Yet so very often we are expected to fit into a mould.
Breaking free from it, is a life challenge, when all you have been told as a child, to behave, to be good, to listen, to pay attention and not to speak up.
How often have observed children who can’t sit still, get distracted, hyperactive.

Schools being concerned and worried, sanction them by missing play, using traffic light system. Seriously, is that how we teach our future by naming and shaming them?

Children are being told to fit into ‘the mould’, to be a certain way, to be the same like everyone else.

Ironically schools often claim to respect and value each child as an individual!?!

I have heard of this beautiful story of a old girl who struggled to sit still.

She continually got up, got easily distracted, had a wondering mind, and didn’t follow lessons.
The teachers were worried about her, the girl was often punished.

At home she would get told off as well.
The mother was invited to school, she was terrified of bad news. The teachers spoke of great concerns, an illness or even a disorder.
A teacher joined the meeting who knew the girl well. He asked them to follow him into a room from where the girl could be seen.
The girl was alone, music was playing in the room. The girl alone in the room was moving up and down chasing the music in the air with her feet and her heart.

The adults looked at each other with confusion and yet with some compassion. The teacher who knew the girl well, smiled at the parent and said "See? There is nothing wrong with her, this girl is a dancer!"
He recommended to the mum to take her to dance classes. After the first session the girl said to the mum.
"Everyone is like me, no one can sit still!"

This girl is called Gillian Lynne, in 1981, after a career as a dancer, opening her own dance academy and receiving international recognition for her art, she became the choreographer of the musical "Cats."

Hopefully children who are "different" can be embraced with love and care and find capable adults who can welcome them for who they are and not for what they lack.

There is always a trigger for a tantrum, sometimes it’s really hard to figure out what sets it off.

Triggers could be

〰frustration
〰 anger or rage when things don’t go their way
〰 they want to be in control
〰 they don’t have the language yet to express themselves
〰 they are hungry, tired or overstimulated

What you can do to help your child to calm down

〰 hold them
〰if they push you away, stay close by to make sure they are safe and wait until they are ready to receive a cuddle
〰 if they are hurting you or others, remove them so everyone is safe. Be very clear “I can’t let you hit me/your sister”

Once they have calmed down, it’s time to make amends.

You can help them make amends, if they broke something, help them fix it, if they hurt someone, show them how to be gentle.

Wise words, thank you🙏🏽 🧡 Daphne Delvaux, Esq.]

Re- Posting• Daphne Delvaux, Esq.]

You cannot take on the weight of the world. Trust me, I’ve tried.

Working in activism for many years now, I can tell you this: focus on one cause. The one that touches your tender heart the most. Start there. If you can take on more, that is great. But start small and then build from there. What happens if you do too much? Burnout, apathy and indifference. That doesn’t help anyone.

For some of you, you may not have any energy left after parenting. This is a stage of life that can leave little space for anything else, including sleep, let alone helping the world. For those of you who are service-oriented that can feel frustrating. We want to DO and HELP!

But not everyone can fight the oppressors, go to the rallies, volunteer at the refugee camps, or raise all the funds.

Your activism may look like raising kind and healthy children. It is a massive service to the world.

Making sure the next generation is compassionate and caring is some of the highest form of volunteer work of them all.

When you feel overwhelmed by the weight of the world, hug your kids 🌷

Ten years ago we were given the gift of becoming parents to our first son.

Still hard to believe it’s been ten years!
—
I was in this room giving birth, with the support from these amazing midwives. Holding me, trusting me, encouraging me, believing in me and guiding me 48 hours!!!

So much gratitude I hold for these women and my husband who was by my side the whole time, my absolute rock! 🙏🏽🧡

🥳Today we are celebrating being proud parents 10 years 🥳 woo hoo!