"Babies" for Life

Thanksgiving break - time to look at my notes about what inspires me, so I could write a bit. I came across this video, "Baby to 12," created by Frans Hofmeester. (You may have glimpsed 30 seconds of this on a recent Sprint commercial.)

Frans Hofmeester (@FransHofmeester on Twitter) filmed his daughter Lotte every week, from when she was a baby to age 12. He then created this amazing time lapse video that shows what growing up looks like, as much as it's possible to do so.

I wanted to keep this video, but I didn't know what I'd do with it. My husband asked me, "What struck you about this video? Why did you keep it?"

These were my thoughts...

The foresight the videographer had... 

What a creative idea, and what dedication to keep it up! 

I wonder what she thought of the videos as she grew up... 

She has the same eyes... from start to finish. 

She'll always be his baby... just as my mom often reminds me.

              This, then, reminded me of a country song - 

                                          The Baby, performed by Blake Shelton.

In case you are not aware, I don't have any of my own children, even though I do have two grandchildren (Gabe is 6, and Hannah is 2 1/2). If it is possible, I did get a glimpse (albeit tiny) of what it means to have children when I lived with my sister for six months. My niece and nephew were only three at the time, and when I could spend time alone with them, I could see how you need to take the bad times along with the good. I could see the preciousness, the purity, and the innocence.

Every one of my seventh graders is somebody's baby.

   This I know.

   My days revolve around how I can teach these "babies" to the best of my ability.
   Our first day of the week, our day for Genius Hour, is my time to see these growing children shine... to allow time for their passions and geniuses to blossom, to give them choice to become adults anyone would be proud of.
   May my choices in teaching help these young adults put their best foot forward.