Bridging the Gap: We are Stronger Together

Hello beautiful YOU!

Today is extra-special because I am joining 199 other women bloggers for the inaugural post celebrating the “Bridging the Gap” campaign.  Maybe you have heard some of the buzz around this kick off? Seen the video promotions and graphics on Facebook or Instagram?

 

Bridging the Gap

In this article, fashion/lifestyle blogger and creator of the Forever Fierce Revolution, Catherine Grace O’Connell discusses the revolution in general and this campaign, in particular.

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Each mid-life “Bridging the Gap” participant was paired with a millennial participant.  Or in my case, I chose a very special millennial blogger to partner and participate with me.  Danielle Park, my blogger buddy from Family.Love.Inspiration.  In preparation for the launch of this campaign, Danielle and I decided to get to know one another a little better by posing a set of questions for each of us to answer.

My Questions for Danielle and Her Answers

I knew that Danielle was a teacher, kinda like me…except I am a librarian, and I am retired.  So not exactly the same thing.  But you get my drift.  Also knew she was starting a new teaching assignment this year after a year off on maternity leave for the birth of her son Logan.  Although I haven’t met Danielle IRL, I can tell she has this huge, warm, compassionate heart.  And I know she is the best teacher.  But I wanted to know more.

Danielle the Teacher

What are your goals for this school year?

Seeing as I am in a new role this year, my main goal is building relationships (with my students and their families) and hopefully that relationship will help impact their engagement in school and their learning.  My role this year in unique in the sense that I don’t have any academic classes that I teach, I help my students stay organized, help them transition through their day, and work with my colleagues and support both them and my students in any way that I can.  I have a lot of learning to do.

How do you engage your students?

I try and share my life with them (so they know me as something other than a teacher), but also try and learn about them (what do they like to do).  My favourite thing is when a student you connected with comes back or sees you elsewhere and stops you to say hello.  Especially if you weren’t sure if you really got through to them.

Danielle is also a loving mom.  She has a 14-month old son Logan and a daughter Zaeya, who is almost 4 years old.  I have enjoyed watching her babies grow via Facebook, Instagram and Danielle’s blog.  But I wanted to delve beyond the photos of her adorable little ones.  I give you…

Danielle the Mom

What is your parenting style?  How do you discipline your littles/students? What kind of a child were you? (all rolled into one answer!)

Hmmm…this is a tough one.  I try to be present with my kids (not always the easiest thing to do). I try and see the why behind any behaviour (I am have a 3 year old, need I say more?!)  Lots of hugs, lots of discussions about the big feelings and trying to understand the world.  I also try not to avoid those scary conversations that sometimes make people uncomfortable.  Why yes, you do have a Vagina.  Seriously…so many people are caught off guard when my 3 year old states the facts and proper names of body parts.  And I like to be silly and try and act like a kid, with my kids (daily dance parties, jumping in leaves and puddles).

I was a quiet, shy child.  I remember going to social events in town (back when we used to have community dances and that type of thing), and would see kids running around playing and being kids.  I would have simply just sat and watched.  Deep down I wanted to join them, but I knew it was frowned upon by many adults, and so I didn’t.  Silly really, when I think back on it.  In school, I put my head down and did my work, asked for more, and then helped the kid beside me because he was struggling.  I see my kids in me sometimes.  The shyness was so hard.  Even now, I am super shy around people I do not know.  Now if you talk to my friends, the people who actually know me, they would probably tell you a whole different story, but in a new group or people and new situations I am incredibly shy.

Brett is Danielle’s husband.  She celebrated their 11th anniversary with her readers in this delightful post.  Aren’t they a cutie-pie couple?  Danielle was such a beautiful bride.  So I wanted to know a little more.

Danielle the Wife

What do you love best about your husband?  Yourself?

I love that my husband truly wants to better himself all the time.  He is not afraid of conflict.  And he isn’t afraid of failure.  I also love that he is such a logical thinker, and is always thinking way down the road, and is always trying to see all the possibilities.  But that he can also be goofy, loving, and compassionate while still making me laugh with his bad jokes.

Myself…I love that I give everyone the benefit of the doubt.  I love that I am strong, compassionate, and willing to try new things.

Sooo, now we know a little more about Danielle…the teacher, the mommy and the wife.  But before she was a teacher, a wife and a mommy, Danielle was herself…Danielle.  From what I know, Danielle has a loving family foundation and enjoys time with that family on her parents’ farm.  Where they have cows.  I love cows, don’t you?  So smart, they are.  This “Sentence a Day” post provides a glimpse of Danielle back home among those she loves most.  Danielle’s candid answers to these questions were my favorites.

Danielle as Danielle

What is your proudest accomplishment?

This question was way harder than I thought it would be.  I think my proudest accomplishment has been completing a half marathon and not caring how I did compared to everyone else.  I ran that race just for me.  And I didn’t compete with other friends or family members who were running it, and I didn’t beat myself up when they kicked my ass.  I was just happy to get across that finish line.

Those last 7 km were brutal.  And I definitely had to go deep within myself, to convince myself to finish it.  And now I know that long distance running is NOT for me, and that is okay.  I tried it, didn’t love it, but am happy to support those who do have a love for long distance running.

What is something adults have told you all your life – grandparents, parents, teachers, mentors – that has really stuck with you?  Were they right?

I am a really shy person.  I find social interactions and the art of conversation HARD, especially if I don’t know you.  Often I am mistaken as cold, or not interested, when in reality, I am just TERRIFIED.  My whole life people have told me to just keep trying and practicing.  Easier said than done.  But they aren’t wrong.  Recently I have been hearing a lot of “Practice Brave” or “Fake it until you Make it”.  And I do feel like they are right.  But it takes a tribe to help me do those things for sure.  This whole Blog thing is a Practice Brave thing for me.

What is your love language?

I didn’t know my answer to this, so I decided to take a quiz.  And my result is hilarious.

Hugs and kisses are so much better than any present, right? You are hopelessly romantic and could never date or marry someone who doesn’t like to snuggle on the couch or in bed each night. You enjoy holding hands anywhere and everywhere and think there is nothing sweeter than seeing an elderly couple doing the same. You understand that life is short and the best things in life are free!

I feel like this is my husband’s love language.  He is the cuddler.  He would cuddle all night long.  I feel like these results aren’t accurate.  Not that I totally disagree with the above statement, but it’s a bit off for me.

When are you happiest?

When I am spending time with the ones I love.  When I can relax and truly be myself and the goofy side of me comes out.

How do you deal with a difficult day?

A soak in the hot tub.  Hugs from my hubby.  And usually a cuddle with the kids and the cat.  Especially my cat.  He just knows when you need some extra cuddles.  I basically try to surround myself with my tribe and lean on them as much as I can.

Share a favorite quote or lyric from a song.  Why is it meaningful to you?

This was also more difficult than I was expecting.  I guess maybe because I don’t have a collection written down anywhere.  I would probably have to go with lyrics from a Judd song.  I love the Judds.  Not even a little bit, like a LOT.  I was obsessed with them as a child/teen.  I remember my first cassette tape was a Judds tape, and I was little.

My favourite song is probably Love Can Build a Bridge and I think my favourite lyrics are When we stand together, it’s our finest hour/We can do anything, anything/We’re believing in the power.  I’ve always just really loved that part of the song.

This is a photo of Danielle and Brett at a Meet and Greet with Wynonna Judd at one of their concerts.

For those of you who might not be the Judd’s fans that Danielle and I are, here is the official YouTube video for that song.

So, that is my friend Danielle, in a nutshell.  I think people are kind of like onions, in a good way.  We all have layers that make up who we are inside.  Danielle is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, teacher, blogger and my friend.  I am blessed by her friendship everyday.  Her sweet messages on Facebook and Instagram, her comments on my blog.  And through this “Bridging the Gap” campaign, we have become email penpals!  Of all there is to love about my millennial little buddy, it is her accepting, open heart and her willingness to join me on this adventure that I love best.

My Questions for Danielle and MY Answers

Now that you’ve gotten to know a little bit about Danielle, I thought it would be fun to answer my own questions.  Will try to be brief.  But that seems hard for me.

Leslie the Librarian

What are your goals for this school year?

To make a difference in each of the libraries and schools where I sub.  Encourage collaboration, work to update the collection, open the doors to parents, inspire a love of reading, books and research among my students.

How do you engage your students?

I am generally pretty dingy and goofy which seems to get and usually keep my students’ attention.  We do a lot of hands-on activities and I try to change the pace of the instruction several times during the lesson.

Leslie the Mom and Grandma

What is your parenting style?  How do you discipline your littles/students? What kind of a child were you? (all rolled into one answer!)

As a mom, I was often frazzled and not always as patient as I should have been with my girls and inanimate objects.  I used time-out when they were little, spanked (horrors!) on occasion, and as they got older, talked and reasoned with them.  As a grandma, I haven’t had to discipline much.  Thank goodness.

Like Danielle, I was a very shy child.  And am still very shy.  I can remember trying very hard not to sneeze in class.  And being mortified when the lead in my pencil broke which meant I had to go up to the teacher’s desk to sharpen it.  I was daydream-y and played a whole lot of make-believe.

Leslie the Wife

What do you love best about your husband?  Yourself?

I love that my Prince Charming is so even-keeled.  He is rarely rattled or emotional or upset.  He balances me.  And he is very clever.

My best quality is my work ethic, I think.  And that I try to treat everyone kindly with compassion.  Try to.

Leslie as Leslie

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My daughters.  In spite of me, they turned out to be my life’s best work.  I wasn’t always the easiest mommy to live with.  We had some rocky roads (and I am not talking ice cream, here) but Brennyn and Lauren are loving, intelligent, creative, hard-working, strong, good girls.  Ok, women.

What is something adults have told you all your life – grandparents, parents, teachers, mentors – that has really stuck with you?  Were they right?

Everything happens for a reason.  Those ex-husbands…yup.  So I would know my PC for the Prince he is.  My reluctant early retirement:  so I would have the opportunity to work in a number of libraries with lots of El Paso children.  Hard times:  so I would appreciate easier times in the future.

What is your love language?

A tie between physical touch and words of affirmation.  If you say something kind to me and punctuate it with a hug, we will be friends for life.

When are you happiest?

At home.  At home with PC and my kitties.  Spending time with my daughters and granddaughters when they visit.

How do you deal with a difficult day?

Not always well.  Grumping around, complaining.  Maybe a glass of wine and a quiet evening doing something mindless.  Hugs are really good, too.

Share a favorite quote or lyric from a song.  Why is it meaningful to you?

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Once had a friend say to me, “You can’t save the world, Leslie”.  That may be true.  But I can try to make it a little bit better wherever I go.  Not in monumental, earth-shaking ways but with kind words, a smile or a hug.

Your Turn

Would like to invite you to answer one or all of the questions above about yourself in a comment below.  Share your favorite song or quote.  What’s your proudest accomplishment?  Please take a moment to peel away at the layers that encompass you.  When are you happiest?  The “Bridging the Gap” campaign is about women supporting, inspiring, uplifting others.  We are stronger together, girls.  Be a part of that movement.  Share a picture on Instagram using the hashtags #WeAreStrongerTogether #BridgingtheGap.  Invite your sisters, friends, children, MOTHERS and GRANDMOTHERS to join us, too!  The more, the merrier.  Because… #WeAreStrongerTogether!

Thank you, Danielle, for being my millennial and my friend.  Love you, sugar foot!

Hugs and kisses,