Introducing Jadine!

I am so excited to welcome Jadine to the Attached Kids community!

Jadine is a mother and an educator, specializing in working with students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Keep reading to get to know a little more about Jadine and stay tuned for her article next week where she will discuss how you can become an advocate for your child at school.

Jadine and her family

1. Hi Jadine, Can you tell us a little bit about your family and your career?

Jadine – I am a busy mother to 3 children in grades 5, 3, and 3.  No, not twins (although some days it feels like it)! We are a blended family with two full-time working parents.  My husband commutes into the city for his career and I have been a full-time teacher for 15 years in the specialized field of working with students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing.  We continually find ourselves walking the tight-rope of balance between work and family. We make an effort to eat dinner together at the dinner table (sharing our 3 highlights of the day with one another) as often as we can between running to extra-curricular activities for the kids and investing our adult time into volunteering and attending professional development workshops/training.  Our family enjoys camping on summer weekends, reading book series aloud before bed and then watching the movie to follow, and having “watching Wednesdays;” an evening without scheduled extra-curricular activities to watch tv or a movie together.

2. What is your favourite thing about being a parent?

Jadine – My favourite part of parenting is getting to be a spectator in the development of each child coming into their own personality, independence, and seeing through their eyes their understanding of the world.

3. What do you think is the most difficult thing about parenting?

Jadine – Patience! I have to make a conscious effort to be patient and give each child the focus and time they need to work through life’s ups and downs, listening to their daily stories and jokes (sometimes on repeat), and dealing with the behaviours that demonstrate themselves during each stage of development and situation they face (regardless of how trivial it may seem to me).

4. What is your favourite thing about being an educator?

Jadine – I truly love to see my students show a passion for learning by applying what they have learned from me to their work and discussions.  I want my students to enter my classroom excited to participate and feeling safe to share their thoughts, feelings, ideas, and opinions.

5. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being an educator?

Jadine – As an educator I have held a variety of positions (classroom teacher, Student Success Teacher, Guidance Counsellor, Educational Coordinator, and Educational Consultant).  One of the most emotionally taxing roles was as a Student Success Teacher. This role is designated to focus on supporting students who are deemed “at risk” of not completing their educational journey between grades 7-12.

6. What is your favourite self-care activity?

Jadine – My self-care activities are far and few between, but I do try to find time when I can to take care of me.  This may include going for a run, hitting the gym, going for a motorcycle ride with my hubby seeking ice cream shops and chip trucks, or attending a Paint Night (I currently have 5 paintings hung around my classroom and one in my living room).  Maybe I should start selling my art to subsidize the cost of the kids’ extra curricular commitments ;). 

Stay tuned next week for Jadine’s first article, “How to Advocate for Your Child at School”.