More Than Maintenance: The Impact You Don’t Always See

School’s Out: Three Tips for Summer Sanity

Learn how to maintain balance and work toward kindergarten-readiness this summer with Mary Jo Cloutier. Everything seems to happen during the last month of school. After all of the field days, performances and graduations, this time of year can feel more like drowning than thriving. Mary Jo Cloutier joins Rhonda for another episode to share three ways to bring more sanity to summer and help your child get ready for kindergarten. 1. Create a predictable routine together Children thrive on predictability. Mary Jo recommends creating a visual schedule children can refer to throughout the day. It helps them develop a sense of time and build the executive functioning skills needed to plan ahead. [00:14:25] Rhonda: “Children need to know they are capable." Routines also give children the opportunity to be leaders. It’s amazing to see them take charge when they know what’s coming next. 2. Practice fine motor skills No extra materials needed! Mary Jo and Rhonda share at-home activities to try. The important thing is to think about how to help the child use their whole body. Mary Jo points out that an important part of growing in fine motor skills is growing in patience, both for children and parents. [00:15:25] Mary Jo: “We live in a microwave society. . . . We’re so used to everything being instant.” 3. Enjoy books together This is a big one: Go to the library. Utilize the kid-friendly space, activities and programs. Mary Jo and Rhonda also recommend putting books in every room of your house and share practical tips for helping your child begin to fall in love with reading. Summer is a chance to take a breath and remember that you are exactly who your child needs.

More Than Maintenance: The Impact You Don’t Always See

Children are shaped by every relationship. Learn how each adult has the power to help children feel valued, noticed and safe with Ryan Tedesco. When we think about the adults who shape children, we often picture family members and teachers.  But children are paying attention to everyone.  They notice who smiles at them. Who remembers their name. Who waves goodbye. And who makes them feel safe. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with Ryan Tedesco, a member of Heartfelt’s maintenance team and transportation staff, to explore the impact of the relationships children build with the adults they encounter every day. Drawing from his experiences as a bus driver and volunteer firefighter, Ryan shares that trust forms through noticing — things, people, conversations — consistently. [00:15:22] “One of the greatest privileges that I've ever had is when a parent says, ‘I trust you with my child.’ There's no greater gift to me than that.” Whether he is helping a child buckle a seatbelt for the first time, asking about a treasured toy or listening after a difficult day at school, Ryan dedicates space for children’s needs and curiosity. For others to feel seen, you have to slow down. [00:21:44] “Never pass up the opportunity when a child comes up to you and wants to know about something. Never pass that up. Your day is never too busy for a child. It never, ever is.” Children remind us that every relationship matters, every interaction, and every person.  And when a child grows up surrounded by adults who care, those moments become a part of who they are. And that's a real privilege.

On the Floor with Them: What Infant Care Should Feel Like

Miss Charlene shares what 20 years in infant care has taught her about responsiveness, trust and knowing every baby deeply. Infant care is relationship work. Every bottle, every diaper change, every moment on the floor is a chance to build trust. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with Miss Charlene, an infant teacher with 20 years of experience in the first year of life. Together they walk through what quality infant care looks like from the inside: responsive caregiving, individualized routines, calm presence in the chaos, and the kind of deep knowing that only comes from paying close attention.   [00:07:39] "Infant teaching, you are on the floor 95% of your day. You are on the floor with the children."   They cover the green flags parents should look for when touring a program and the red flags that deserve a second look. Charlene shares what it means to follow a baby’s lead, why containers limit development and how honest communication with families builds the trust every parent needs.   [00:38:00] "Babies don’t need perfect adults. They need responsive ones, predictable ones, and present ones."   Whether you're touring a program or reflecting on your own classroom, Charlene's perspective will stay with you.

Leadership, Burnout, and Creating Rhythms That Restore

Early childhood leaders carry invisible pressure every day. Learn how to avoid burnout through rhythms and sustainable leadership with Chanie Wilschanski. Behind every staffing call, difficult conversation and licensing visit, early childhood leaders carry an immense emotional weight that’s often invisible. In this episode, Rhonda Meyers sits down with leadership coach, speaker and author Chanie Wilschanski to talk about burnout, relational leadership and the rhythms that help leaders stay grounded. Chanie shares how years of caregiving and high-achievement led her to confront the exhaustion so many leaders normalize. [00:08:24] "Leaders are not addicted to control. You are allergic to collapse. You are terrified of what will collapse if you stop."  Things started to change when Chanie’s business mentor asked her: What if you don’t need to protect your energy; what if you can create it? She realized that leaders normalize the exhaustion they feel because they’ve decided that it’s the cost of success.   Rhonda and Chanie discuss practical ways leaders can create rhythms of connection, gratitude and communication that strengthen teams and outperform traditional “standards” many schools set: [00:23:55] “Your standards have to be able to be pressure-tested and not renegotiated in real time when things are tiring and overwhelming.” This conversation is a reminder to leaders that building a sustainable culture while avoiding burnout is possible with the right perspective and support. Resources mentioned in this episode “This Can’t Be Normal” [https://thiscantbenormal.com/] by Chanie Wilschanski *Email cw@chanie.me after purchasing the book for bonus training on the top five rhythms to install in your school Schools of Excellence podcast [https://schoolsofexcellence.com/podcast/] “Finding Your Way Through Conflict” [https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Way-Through-Conflict/dp/1631984942] by Chris Amirault and Christine Snyder

You Matter Too: A Message for Mothers

Rhonda reflects on the beauty of motherhood, its emotional labor and the longing to feel seen. Mothers notice things. They’re always scanning the room’s emotions, ready if someone’s in need. In this solo episode, Rhonda reflects on the tension many mothers experience between trying to care for everyone around them and desiring to feel seen.  Drawing from her own experiences as a mother and grandmother, she shares honest stories about balancing work, family, overwhelm, and the pressure to “do enough.” [00:17:38] “Your children do not need a burned-out version of you to prove [you] love [them].” Rhonda reminds listeners that children remember connection, emotional safety and presence more than extravagance or perfection.