Toys for Tots? Really? Toys for Tots? The holiday season inspires us to give, to give to those less fortunate than ourselves. Once again it is that time of year when I purchase an extra toy or two and throw it into the big box hoping to brighten some young child’s holiday and make it more special. Really? That is a pretty arrogant assumption on my part; I made some small child’s day more special, simply because I purchased a Barbie!
 

Michigan bald eagles are rebounding and young children are the key to Michigan’s rebound. I am a child of the seventies and eighties when bald eagles were scarce, rare, and in danger of extinction. The bald eagle was quickly becoming a national disaster. The policies in place at the time allowed pesticides to be used in agriculture and the processes used to spread the pesticides affected the food chain of the bald eagles. I grew up thinking bald eagles may disappear and that I may never witness the majesty of a bald eagle in flight first hand, let alone thinking

I recently attended a 25 year class reunion, and learned little has changed. The friends picked up where they left off and it was hard to tell how long it had been since they had last seen each other. A stranger in the room would not have known it was a reunion. Conversations about fellow classmates were the most popular topic discussed; conversations about classmates both 25 years ago and today. Friends looked the same, longer hair, shorter hair, less hair. It didn’t matter. Little had changed.
 

Lions lose again and fans have to settle. I have been a Lions fan for as long as I can remember. Sundays in my house have always centered around, “what time do the Lions play?” I remember the so called glory years when we had the “silver rush” and we made it to the playoffs. I even had a Sweet Sixteen Super Bowl birthday party when the Super Bowl was at the Silverdome.
 

PNC bank focuses on early learning and care with Grow Up Great. PNC bank has long supported community initiatives aimed at improving school readiness in the youngest of children. Grow Up Great is a ten year initiative focused on preparing children for success in school. 
 

The Lenawee County Fair 4H clubs focus on quality. The Lenawee County Fair just ended and I was reminded how important training is even for the youngest children at the fair. The 4H clubs require the children who show pigs at the fair to take a class on Pork Quality Assurance. Children who complete the Pork Quality Assurance class learn how to tell when the pig is sick and how to give a shot if the pig is sick. The children learn how to identify one pig from the other and how to care for their pigs. Simple things like not to keep them outside too long because they

How much do you know about the person caring for your children? I have yet to meet a parent who didn’t tell me they had the best child care provider. The provider who is accommodating when you need an early drop off or late pick up. The provider who accommodates you when you forget to pack the lunch, the winter hat and gloves, or those extra diapers. The provider who your child wishes they could spend more time with. Have I hit it right yet?
 

I was packing my lunch this morning and couldn’t decide between a banana and a nectarine. The nectarine is sweet, juicy and only great in the summer months. Sure you can get it all the time it just isn’t the same in January as it is in July. I am very particular about my bananas too, not too green not too yellow, no spots, just ripened from green to yellow, perfect. Another summer dilemma perfect bananas don’t come too often in the summer because of the heat, they ripen too quickly. Can you guess what I did? If you guessed I packed both; you a

What do I tell someone new I just met about my work at ECIC? I recently had a conversation and shared how my responsibilities revolve around creating a system to improve child care quality by coordinating and connecting existing supports and services for child care providers and families who use child care. Those supports and services include professional development and training for child care providers and Great Start CONNECT’s 24/7 licensed child care referral search.
 

I fly often and last weekend I had a new experience. I was taking the red eye home from Phoenix and had the whole row to myself (thanks to a colleague’s suggestion to change my seat). Wonderful for a late night trip however, not my first experience. About an hour into my flight the sky began to change and went from sun setting oranges, pinks and purples to a wall of blackness. The clouds were thick and black, and starting to light up. It was like watching a pinball machine in action, with all the bumpers and lights and every once in a while a wild streak of bright color.