The way I see it

My Monday through Friday job is a routine for me, yes we all learn from our jobs but I learn something more about myself everyday through the chaos of four children. Being a nanny it requires a lot of time with the kids which makes it hard to stop and see things around me that I may not notice everyday. I like to think every family I work for I give something to them helping their children develop and become the best version of themselves. I however always get to take something in return I learn a great amount from the children which may make you wonder how could you learn from a child? l can promise you if you take a moment, you can catch so much inspiration. They are always ready to use imaginations and say exactly what they are thinking at that moment.

For instance My first picture they had no idea I was taking this photo and at that time I hadn't planned that photo. We were making dinner in the kitchen, which we do together at least twice a week. I captured this moment that allowed me to stop and see something that as we are now adults don't have the same reaction such as a carrot you just think its a vegetable, healthy and you eat it. That is usually as far as we get. They allow me to go back to being a child were you can be silly and think I am a snow man or this is my unicorn horn. You might ask why would you want to do that? You are an adult you will look ridiculous. Well I accepted being an adult but moment likes these reaching my inner child. Letting me giggle, roll on the floor, build a forte and smile. Albert Einstein said " Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution." Its to be aware of those simple things and not get caught up in this faced paced world. It may not involve a carrot nose or unicorn horn. Just allow yourself that you don't want to look back and realize you missed out.

This second picture was something that happens almost everyday we sit in the dinning room because its the most quiet area of the house and thats where we do homework. Before I started working with this family I have done homework with many children. Kids all learn at different paces or in different ways. Taking this picture made me think back to the first time learning and understanding how a child with Down Syndrome is taught. I was still becoming familiar with Down Syndrome and doing homework with him was frustrating to me and hard at first. When you have down syndrome and the child is verbal they wont always express emotions by speaking them. Its hard for them to get their emotions out as many of us do without trouble. He would act silly, unfocused, and even anger. So after many tiring attempts I had to step back and made me think this is frustrating for me, how does he feel? It made start changing the way I was thinking and be more patient and try something different and to let him take more breaks. Now he loves doing homework that what him and I made happen. I have been told by his teachers and tutors. Seeing my interactions with him and the way I teach him they always insist I should become a teacher. Which I never considered and has made me consider a career with special needs children. He allows me to see this world in a completely different way. In a better way and I am so lucky to have had that in my life. He is one of the best kids I've ever meet, he has this amazing ability to make the best of everyday. Just a hello and a smile from him can have an impact on my mood. its almost unexplainable I have been told by his teachers and tutors. Seeing my interactions with him and the way I teach him they always insist I should become a teacher. Which I never considered and has made me consider a career with special needs children.

This stack of books are not just a tiny mess they are just the the beginning of the never ending trail of things that are left behind. This was taken in the kitchen of where I work and this home always filled with books. Children are messy, me however I am all about organization and keeping things tidy. These books represent more than just a mess Its a reminder of how stressed I could get over all the things not in their right places. I would be so worried about keeping things neat and practically following them around like a broken record to clean up after yourself. It would really give me a sense of anxiety and frustration. I eventually learned to relax a lot more and came to realize the importance of allowing myself to let things go more often and its fine for things to not always be in order at all times.

Having a bad day doesn't stop the fun in the snow. We were getting ready to walk to the library and I while I was just having a bad day. I turn around on the front porch of their home and stop and see this moment of joy all around them. Dancing around catching the cold, wet and fuffy snowflakes, it was a beautiful moment. Noticing how quick kids bounce back from having a rough day. Is a reminder in moments like this, to never be sad for to long. I believe this photo connects with punctum but turns into stadium. At first Its about the effect of how the photo makes you feel and then that's when stadium comes into play. The point of the picture and the details that catch your eyes. like the tiny snowflakes falling on the little girls face as she looks up to catch them with her mouth. In connection with Camera Lucida where Barthes says punctum " will break(or punctuate) the stadium. This time it is not I who seek it out. It is this element which rises from the scene, shoots out of it is like an arrow and pierces me."(p.26) I believe punctum needs to be almost accidental effect which lets it become more personal. This moment in the photograph had an impact on me allowing me to feel a reminiscent of my childhood.

My last photo is all about running full force, the kids and I are at the park that we go to at least once a week. The kids are not walking down the hill they are running and one is rolling. When children have a destination in mind they take off with one thing in mind and that's wherever they have set on being. I mean why would they wait around, they want to be at the bottom of that hill. Nothing is stopping them from that goal. My goals since working for this family have increased. I get inspiration from them and it helps me to become more confident in my choices. I would always wait and say to myself this isn't the right time to start school or buy a house. So many times I have missed out of opportunities because I would think it was the wrong timing. I do my best not to let anything hold me back. I am right behind those kids running to my future and its not an easy way down its actually scary running down that hill but I am so ready to keeping going without stopping and i will run with excitement and wholeheartedness to reach the bottom.

Citations

Barthes, Roland. Camera Lucida: Reflections On Photography. 1st American ed. New York: Hill and Wang, 1980

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/01/01/einstein-imagination/