Wonder Word of the Year


Tenderness is our Wonder word of the year. 
I love this word. Almost as much as our word last year (Belonging).

Father Gregory Boyle, someone I have recently learned about, is the founder of Homeboy Industries. An organization that you really should know more about. You can see more here (https://homeboyindustries.org/ )... Father Greg lives a life of deep service and commitment. He says, “When you go to the margins in our communities, it’s not how You can reach others, it’s how can you BE reached by others.”

This, in a certain way, is what I have been trying to say at Wonder Studio for many years. To pause when trying to “teach” our children and begin to be open to being “taught” by our children. How can we let ourselves be changed by our children?

How can we truly feel connected to these young lives that have been entrusted to our care and affections?

I believe Tenderness is one of the answers. So, we will explore this idea of tenderness.

My hope for this study is to see how approaching teaching through tenderness crystallizes my intentions for Wonder Studio each day and each moment.

Also, I hope to look at Tenderness through the eyes of the children. How do children show tenderness to themselves, others, and the materials?

And, with my teachers at Wonder Studio...How can we lead and offer tenderness to ourselves, each other, our students (grown ups included), and our wider community?

And, it wouldn’t be Wonder Studio if it wasn’t inspired by the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

I have recently read the book on Tenderness published by the Reggio Children International Center.

In the book, Tenderness, Laura and Daniel explain their views on each other and their special friendship.

Laura and Daniel are five years old.

I will post below Laura’s tender thoughts on friendships. But as you prepare to read, please approach with tenderness. How do Laura’s thoughts help you to understand yourself? How do her thoughts help you to understand your children? How does it make you feel about your friendships?

A short snippet from Laura...

“But I have lots and lots of friends. They’re not all the same, these friends, they’re not the same and they’re not twins either...for example, I have lots of friends at school, but some of them are my best friends and some are just plain friends; some are my very bestest friends and some are just friends.

Best friends are not as much as bestest friends, because...because I love my bestest friends so much it’s like my heart almost explodes, but with best friends your heart doesn’t get so big….then there are some kids who start to open the door to your heart, they’re new friends.

And then there’s Daniel, who’s my bestest friend.”

I will be entering this new session of Wonder Studio with tenderness towards myself as this time of year is so full of changes. I am always excited to meet my new students/caregivers, however, there is always a bit of sadness when I miss my students/caregivers from the year before who now are in school full time or have just moved on to other activities.

I will also be thinking of Laura’s words and possibilities for new friends. Allowing the door to be open to my heart.


I hope this email reaches you with tenderness that you can offer to yourself and others.

Thank you for being a part of our Wonder’er community, it will be a great fall semester.

"Radical kinship is the place where there is not an us and them - only us. In our own way, and in our own place and time, we are called to create the front porch of the world we all long for - obliterating, once and for all, the illusion that we are separate. -Father Gregory Boyle"

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