In This Issue
- Llamazing Holiday Meet and Greet: Highlights
- Staff Recognition
- Upcoming Events
- Coming Soon
- From the expert: How to build a DIY Self-Nurturance emergency kit
Llamazing Holiday Meet and Greet Highlights:
Thank you to all the families that came by to meet Beni the Llama. And thank you to Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas for donating your time to such a special event!
Our event was featured in The Columbian
Staff Recognition
We recognized Ms. Louise, a bus driver who stands out for her dedication and kindness. She consistently goes out of her way to make parents and kids feel special during their daily commute. This extraordinary bus driver creates a warm and welcoming environment on the bus, fostering a sense of community among the children and their parents. She greets everyone with a genuine smile, making each child feel seen and valued. Whether it’s remembering each child’s name or taking a moment to share a kind word, she understands the importance of creating a positive and supportive atmosphere.
Parents appreciate her not only for her excellent driving skills but also for the sense of security and care she provides. This special bus driver has become more than just a transportation facilitator; she has become a trusted and beloved figure in the lives of the families she serves.
In recognizing and celebrating this exceptional bus driver, we acknowledge the profound impact she has on the daily lives of parents and children alike, making the journey to and from school a cherished part of their day.
It’s heartwarming to recognize and appreciate individuals who go above and beyond in their roles in our children’s lives. If you have someone you would like to see be recognized please feel free to comment below or reach out to us. Our next staff recognition will be taking place in the spring. written by Michelle Den Boer.
Upcoming Events
Parent Support Group – January
Our next support group meeting is January 9th from 7pm to 8pm at the Camas Library, upstairs meeting Room B
Topic of discussion this month DIY Self-Nurturance Emergency Kit: Build your own toolkit for regulation and self-compassion for those tough parenting moments. Led by Tori Watrous, M. Ed., LMHC. Adults only please.
Our next general meeting is January 24th from 7pm – 8pm. Our meeting will be virtual. Link and more details to come.
Camas School District Special Services Presents:
Community Events
ADULTS MUST STAY WITH CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS OLD. You must pre-register for this event, space is limited!! Get More information HERE
From the Expert: Level up your self-nurturance in 2024!
Self-Nurturance “Reflects a general attitude toward yourself, an attitude of believing you are worthy of tenderness, and able to provide it to yourself through your thoughts and actions.” -Dr. Jessica Michaelson
When we approach self-care from a framework of self-nurturance, we customize our self-care so it meets us right where we’re at in the present moment. Self-nurturance is about loving on yourself simply because you deserve it each day. It’s celebrating you for the beautiful, wise, resilient person you’ve become in this life. And no, you don’t need to be flawless to appreciate yourself. No one is perfect but we still deserve loving kindness.
Self-nurturance is practiced to drown out that inner critic voice that likes to take over your brain and focus on fixing yourself. Instead, it’s about embracing yourself right where you are, flaws and all. Self-nurturance is giving yourself grace at the end of a bad day, rather than beating yourself up with regret. It’s treating yourself with respect and having your own back by speaking your truth and making healthy boundaries. It’s doing small thoughtful gestures for yourself as you would for your kids or spouse. Sounds lovely but…who has the time for that right?!! Don’t balk!
You might only have tiny gaps between responsibilities but you can squeeze some self love in there! ( just the way you squeeze in the extras you give to your family).
Microdosing breaks self-nurturance into smaller chunks so we can find time for self orientation in between all our tasks and responsibilities serving others. Think of it like filling in the cracks of a foundation with putty. You don’t have time to tear it down and build something new. But you can fill in small cracks when you have the time and resources.
Have 15 minutes between work and picking your kids up from school? Try a short walk outside and breathe the fresh air. Your child is pushing back at homework time? Take 10 in your bedroom to read or listen to part of a podcast. Don’t forget some deep breaths! Fighting traffic on the way home? Take these few moments to acknowledge things you’ve done right this week, rather than ruminate on what went wrong. List some things you feel proud of, no matter how small. This is about creating little cushions in your busy life to remember you are important too!
You deserve tenderness. You deserve care, just like your kids do. Show yourself the same grace and compassion you give to others. Set intentions for your own self-nurturance by creating a microdose chart. Start by drawing circles on a blank piece of paper. Inside each circle list an activity that’s easily doable and would make you feel good: tokens of self appreciation that fit into quick gaps throughout your day. They don’t all have to be actions. They could also be practices like affirmations, acknowledgments, or prayer. Small acts of self-kindness.
Next, determine times you can squeeze these microdoses into your daily routine. Aim for at least one microdose per day to start. At the end of each day, reflect: how did I practice self-nurturance today? If you forget, set an intention for the following day. By the end of the week those small chunks add up to a full plate of self-nurturing. So go be good to you and lift yourself up this new year! written by Tori Watrous M. Ed., LMHC.
Important links
Would you like to provide anonymous meeting feedback regarding your IEP/504 meeting experience? What worked and what didn’t? We will continue to get data from this survey throughout the year to share with the district. *****Please click on the button below to complete it anytime.
