Thank You for Being a Professional Friend

This entry was posted on October 3, 2023, in Circles of Support, Friendship, Leadership, Mentorship, Professional Friendship, Professional Learning, Relationships and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment

By: Diane Kashin, EdD, RECE.

Professional friendships provide a platform for educators to offer emotional support to one another, helping them navigate the hills and valleys of their shared profession. We learn from one another through professional friendships that foster personal and collective growth. We can engage in reflective practice about relationships and friendships between children, at the same time as considering our own professional relationships. This is a parallel process of reflection leading to improvements in practice, relationships, friendships, and work environments. Professional friendships emerge from shared values and a commitment to high-quality early childhood education. These shared beliefs create a sense of community and purpose among friends. Professional friendships in early childhood education are important. I would contend they deserve as much consideration as mentorship, leadership, and coaching. In celebration of the launch of my new book, Cultivating Professional Friendships in Early Childhood Education. I decided to do a giveaway on Instagram!

On Instagram I asked these questions: Do you have a #professionalfriend? Maybe you have more than one? To celebrate the release of my new book, Cultivating Professional Friendships in Early Childhood Education, I am giving away two books for you and your friend. I asked that those interested tag a #professionalfriend in the comments and tell them why you are thankful for their friendship. The contest closes on October 9th at 11:59 EST. The draw will take place on October 10th. The contest is open only to Canadian residents.

To say that I was overwhelmed by the comments would be an understatement. Since it is the season to be thankful, I wanted to share some of the comments with you. The responses fill me with gratitude as they are testimony to the importance of these relationships. There is still time to enter the contest, so check it out on Instagram. Or, if you what to purchase the book directly, here is the link to the Canadian distributor. I dedicated my book to all my professional friends, past, present, and future. Some of these relationships have stood the test of time, spanning decades! With others, all that is left are memories. Once established, professional friendships can be difficult to maintain. Still, it is with a grateful heart that I consider all the professional friendships I have had in my lifetime. I have learned from each and every one of my professional friends in deep and profound ways.

Let me know how reading these comments makes you feel and what thoughts they spark. Together we are better.

  • Thank you for your pep talks and wisdom! 😍
  • Where would I be without you? 🌟 Not only my bestie for the past 20 years, but also truly the most compassionate and thoughtful educator I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. Your passion and unwavering dedication to children and teaching are simply inspiring. Your influence and impact on my personal and professional life have made me the person I am today. #professionalfriend
  • I am so thankful for you. You support me in so many ways and I really appreciate you!
  • You always push me to step outside the box. Thank you for seeing my potential, even when I can’t.
  • Thanks for being my professional friend. You inspire me daily with your thoughtful provocations and observations of the children.
  • Thank you for always inspiring me!
  • Thank you because you are my biggest champion and cheerleader!
  • I love chatting with you about new ideas! You have such great insights on emotional regulation.
  • You are the most dedicated kindergarten teacher I have had the pleasure of working alongside. You bring mindfulness and meaning to all of your teachings. You have cultivated loving relationships with all of the students! I am blessed #professionalfriendship
  • Because we have similar passions and hustle hard to achieve goals!
  • Our friendship is so important to me! You help me sort out complicated feelings and situations! ❤️
  • I will always be so grateful having the opportunity to work alongside you. Your joy, dedication and creativity is so inspiring.
  • Thank you for your encouragement to seek new leadership roles.
  • Thank you for encouraging me.
  • Thank you for always being the one to question the pedagogy! Always being curious and ensuring that I am too, never taking at face value but doing those deep dives into the whys! Your passion for the field of early learning is endless and your advocacy for the profession as a whole is inspiring. We lost a good one when you decided to take your journey in a different direction, but I continue to value your insight and your commitment to making all early learning professionals accountable for their own personal and professional growth!
  • …. I know we don’t see each other much these days, but you’ll always hold a special place in my heart and my thoughts.
  • Thank you for your friendship and constant support and encouragement. You challenge us to keep thinking, reflecting, responding and of course repeat that process. #professionalfriendships
  • You are such a dear friend because you give great advice and are a wonderful listener.
  • I am so happy we get this year together; we are off to a great start partner 💚💙🦊
  • Thank you for always giving me something to smile about or laugh at…keeping it light at work and your constant ability to talk issues , question and share ideas…I’m so lucky to work with you ❤️
  • Thank you for challenging me. Some of my greatest pedagogical work came from our time as coworkers. Very grateful to have gained a best friend from all of this. You are always the calm in a storm.
  • You’re the pepper to my salt 😝
  • Chance made of teaching partners; our heart make us friends. You are one of the best♥️
  • Because you make me smile and laugh 😆
  • We have been through so much professionally and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
  • Your attention to detail really helped the children in your care and educators you worked with.
  • My experience in Reggio Emilia wouldn’t have been the same without you.
  • Because you challenge me to think deeper.
  • Thank you for being a friend, demonstrating the language of infants. You ensure we are accountable for what we preach, challenging each other professionally and ethically. Our different perspective help us see various points of view. #professfriendships
  • Thank you for your friendship and really taking a dream and making it reality. Your work and dedication never goes unnoticed and thank you for sharing your gifts with our province. #professionalfriendships
  • Thank you for your friendship, you have taught me to connect with my African roots and bring myself to the table each time. You are thoughtful and respectful with children and always questioning, I like that about you. #professionalfriendships
  • You inspire me more than you know. Your passion is contagious.
  • We are professional chaos coordinators. 🥰
  • I am so proud of you.
  • All those many years of working together and now we hang out as best friends living vicariously through each other’s daily adventures. I don’t know what I would do without your support, advice, and encouragement. Thanks for always picking up the phone.

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