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If you’ve found your way here, I’m really glad you did.

Behind the Crayons is a reflective space for parents, educators, and caregivers who know that working with children is deeply meaningful — and deeply human. It’s for those who believe that emotional intelligence matters just as much as academics, that children deserve to be understood, and that the adults who care for them deserve support too.

What you’ll find here

This blog is built around real classroom experiences and thoughtful reflection. You won’t find quick fixes or perfect formulas — but you will find honesty, curiosity, and moments that invite you to slow down and look a little closer.

Here, I write about:

  • Social and emotional development in the early years

  • Mindfulness and self-regulation, in ways that actually work with young children

  • Real classroom stories — the beautiful, the funny, and the hard

  • Mental health, burnout, and identity, especially for those in caregiving roles

  • Curriculum reflections, including practices that support children’s wellbeing (like Peace of Mind)

Some posts are light and humorous. Others are quieter and more reflective. All of them are written with care.

Why I write anonymously

I write anonymously so I can speak freely — not to hide, but to be honest.

Anonymity allows me to share real experiences without filtering them through fear or expectation. It protects the children, the families, and the educators involved, while allowing the truth of the work to be seen.

What matters here isn’t who I am by name — it’s what we can notice, question, and learn together.

How to explore the blog

There’s no right way to read Behind the Crayons.

You can browse the Blog to read posts in order, explore by Categories if something specific speaks to you, visit the Archives to wander through past reflections, or simply follow your curiosity.

If a post resonates, sit with it. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too. Take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Blog

This space isn’t here to tell you how to do things “right.”
It’s here to remind you that care work is complex, emotional, and deeply valuable — and that growth often happens in small, quiet moments.

“Children are more capable than we let them be.
And often, so are we.”

Thanks for being here.