Aaaaaahh Pride Lands!
This is the place that taught me so much when it came to livin’ life, caring for children and caring for yourself. When I first started at Pride Lands, it was merely a job to survive the city! I had no intention of pursuing a career working with children. Oh, how my time at Pride Lands would change the trajectory of my life for the better.
With livin’ Moses often said to me to give it your all. Why do something half-heartedly, your time is what you make it, use your time the best you possibly can. Paired with this mentality is joy and purpose being at the centre of what you are doing. If it doesn’t bring a smile to your dial – why are you doing it? If it doesn’t bring about a purpose that aligns with you and what you want to put out in the world – why are you doing it? Moses and all of Pride Lands taught me that yes work is work, but work should be playful. Work should be a place you are happy and content to give your time to and that is it is something you enjoy. So, make life something worth living.
When it comes to caring for children, Pride Lands taught me that it is all about balance. One side being that of structure, boundaries, and expectations designed to support any child based on where they are at developmentally. The other side being ample opportunity to explore, play freely, create intuitively and learn inquisitively. Strike this balance and there is no reason any child can’t become the person they have been put on this earth to be. Deciding to work with children, I thought teaching them would be extremely complex to get right – and it is to a degree. But when you really break it down, success is as simple as this balance.
Caring for yourself is also easy, it’s not this big struggle and finding a “work, life balance”, it’s knowing what you like and what is good for you. At least this is what Pride Lands and Moses showed me. Take a break when you need to. Fuel yourself with food and drink that will give you sustenance. Spend the free time you have doing what you know you will enjoy. Surround yourself with people that make you laugh and fill your cup. If you need to get bubble tea and take a walk, do it! You have to be cared for, in order to care for children. When it comes to working with children, you need to be yourself at all times, so ensure you are by caring for yourself. He is full of wisdom that Moses.
The lessons I walked away from Pride Lands with are far greater than anything a “formal institution of study” could ever teach me about children and life. I’ll forever hold the lessons close to my heart and evaluate my practice based on my learnings at Pride Lands. I am now a new entrant teacher in Christchurch and find myself returning to structures I learnt at Pride Lands and reflecting on the numerous and lengthy conversations I had with Moses over my years at Pride Lands, to ensure the classroom I now have has the connection to the place that started me on my journey.
When I started at Pride Lands in 2020 I had no idea I’d end up in a classroom being responsible for 5 year olds every day and loving every minute of it. For this love, passion and purpose – I thank Moses, Gg and all of Pride Lands.
Matthew Connon
