I had a great morning today at Nefarious’s school — I was called in to read to the class so I spent about an hour half reading a mix of favorite books from both here and the school’s library. Tomorrow I’m back at school to help out on pizza lunch day. If I wasn’t 99% sure that my tattoos would preclude me from employment I’d really consider early childhood education as a job — not that I have any regrets… I just love dealing with kids of that age.
I started painting on the Kubla Kahn series for the mini-book project… I’m doing them big, which will let me work much, much faster and more freely. I’m going to do the Abyssinian Maid first (scene eight of ten in the series).
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight ‘twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
Anyway, I’m just beginning to rough it out.
I know it looks amateurish but it will become much more as time passes. There’s going to be a lot of post-processing (a la Fool’s Mate) so I’ll have to be sure to use a drop cloth… Although one of the good things about this apartment building is that every time someone moves out, they redo the floors, so I can literally destroy them if I feel like it. That said, it’s also a bad thing, because right now they’re redoing the apartment below us, and it reeks of solvents in here.
Now I think I’ll go pick up Nefarious at school and see if she feels like sledding…
Edit: No f’ing interest… she’s too obsessed with her “Littlest Pet Shop” figurines… I suggested to her mother, who’s headed on a trip to Italy this weekend, that she take one along and snap photos of it along the way and then give that all to her as a special present… I think she’d get a huge thrill out of it.
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I love the maids’ hair in the painting. It looks like mine! I also have a child obsessed with the littlest pet shop. Wonder what they put in those toys that makes my daughter crave them?
Great hair then! In actuality it’s modeled after Caitlin’s hair.
is that a blog of green paint on the tip of your nose Shannon? lol
Do you think your tattoos would preclude employment in a school like Montessorri as well as main stream? you should look into it, you ae amazing with kids
That was a great idea, like Amelie and the traveling Gnomes. I hope she does it, that’s a fun memory of age 5.
Yes it’s paint on my nose.
In my experience the tattoos (and beard) make KIDS love me and make it easier to interact with them… And because of that, once I’m in the door I have a good relationship with the teachers. But I think being realistic there’s still enough “better safe than sorry” prejudice out there that it would be a huge disadvantage.
I work with children and youth and have visible mods (ears stretched, tattoo on my chest etc.) Im not gonna lie, I have had some people not want to hire me, but then I figure, I don’t want to work with them if they judge me solely on appearances. I now work at a amazing health and community centre and my mods have never been an issue. Yes, some people weren’t that interested in getting to know me at first, but once I showed them I wasn’t an idiot and I actually know what Im doing, there hasnt been any issues.
Nothing wrong with a career change.
Follow your passions and remember, wherever you go, always bring your own sunshine.
Sledding? Outside? In Michigan right now, it’s something like -10 kelvin. You can’t play outside if all the oxygen’s frozen.
omg, of course ari would prefer to play with her pet shop whatevers than go sledding…she’s a smart grrl!
also…i totally hope her mom does the photo idea! ari would love it, and holy thoughtful!!! plus her mom is a pretty good photographer, so that will make the whole thing that much cooler…
My limited knowledge of art, from what I have learned in classes and personal research, totally contradicts everything in the painting. Yet, Shannon, every painting of your’s i have seen(from delving deep into your blog) is beyond real. I mean you are one artist I know of who truly sticks to a style that is beautiful. And the Pet Shop idea is tremendous. It is like a flat stanley idea, to some extent. I have a circumsized education on it, but somehow i find you to be a wonderful human, full of simple, yet adequate examples of humanity
I’m a pierced and tattooed (head and forearms) second year ECE student in London, Ontario and was hired this past summer at the child care centre where I did a field placement. I worked full time with infants to kindergartners. During an evaluation the director said she was interested in hiring me when I was out of school.
We’re being taught about the importance of inclusion and anti-bias, so it’s pretty awful for centres/schools to not hire because of body modification. My centre’s organization’s employee manual says tattoos are allowed, as long as they’re appropriate for children.
I havent had any negative comments to my face, but have felt like I had to prove to some parents that I’m a nice, approachable person.
One of the fathers was actually a tattoo artist and very tattooed, including his hands, neck, and head. He was the first parent to introduce himself to me..only a few others ever did.
I think you would be a fabulous ECE, and feel like there is a strong need for open minded, sciencey people like you in the field.
In Finland only your facial tattoos would maybe be little problem to somebody. I got my share of tattoos and streched ears and work as social worker with kids and also in daycare.
there would no reason why you’d be denied from every job. You could definately be a teacher! Montessori schools or something of the sort could definately be something to look into
I am also an ECE, and I must say that out of any other job that I have had, child care centers have been the most open minded.
If it’s what you love, go for it.
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