Daycare

Debbie asked me what to look for in a daycare.. seeing as how I work there.. I'm pretty sure I know what to look for.. lol.

I'm going to try to be in depth as much as possible.

What is the ratio of staff to children? One of the most important things to ask about is how many kids are in the class. By looking up local state licensing laws, you can find that out to know for sure. One thing about daycares is some will fill to max capacity, while others will try to shimmer it down a bit. Our state law (in KY) is 1 teacher to 10 two year olds. One thing the center I work at strives for (and keeps as long as I've been here) is 1:8 with their twos. That is a major plus for staff and parents. The lower, within reason, ratio the better. (Understanding, of course, that daycares do have to make some money in order to keep it's doors open. You shouldn't expect 1 on 1 care in a daycare.)

How are the teachers trained? Again I speak only in KY (cause I know the laws here) we are required to have 15 hours by state law. Our daycare requires us to have 20 hours... In order to maintain excellence and keep above the learning curve, we have to have more. Does your daycare ask the staff to go above and beyond the law in order to provide the children with more?

Do any teachers there have a CDA? CDAs are national, and basically state that the teachers owning them are trained in the children above and beyond. It is much like having a grade school teacher with a masters VS a bachelors.. both are good, and the bachelor teachers may even be better, but more training never hurt anyone.

What are the policies on discipline? Do they do Time-out? Do you agree with Time-out? Do they only redirect? What is concrete for any time of removal from play? How often do children get removed from the daycare totally for discipline problems? What are the policies on Biting and such like that? In all honesty, all daycare providers should have a readily available copy of their parent handbook for you to read over and ask questions about at your viewing.

Is there ample SAFE space for all children to play? A play ground.. does it look safe? Ask how the playground molds to the state requirements. What about on rainy or snowy days? Where do the children play then? Look for a gym or open space indoors that is well equipped AND offers a variety of activities for those rainy days.

Ask to see the POSTED licensing information. All daycares are required to post the inspections on them. They are required to post all write-ups from state and all state investigations for the last year. Ask to see where they are posted. READ THEM! Ask questions. All of those posted will also have the daycares response to them. READ THE RESPONSE! Does it line up with your feelings on it?

Check the "no brainer" child proofing. Are the outlets covered? Are there any cords dangling dangerously? Look around the rooms your children will be in and SEE if there is anything that you would not allow at your house. The greatest tool is to LOOK all around you... never taking for granted that things just are.

What are the toys in the rooms and how do they educate children? Different age levels have different appropriate toys. When you are touring, ask about the toys. Does the shelves seem well stocked of toys? What is the teaching methods for the different rooms? How are the toys further developing my child's brain?

Ask about curriculum and such I have had more than one person say to me over the years "I didn't know two year olds were taught lessons!" Every minute of every day is a teaching experience for each child. Starting at birth, a child is learning and seeing. One of the most important things for me in my classroom (and yes, I consider it a classroom just like a school teacher) is that my children are challenged every day to learn something new. I teach Montessori style in a traditional daycare. It is perfectly acceptable and shows just one of the different teaching methods when parents come to look around. Children should not just be "sat" for... daycares really shouldn't be just overpriced babysitters. For paying as much as you are, do you really just want someone to watch your kid try to eat a stuffy?

Again with that, it's all age appropriate. I don't try to teach my two year olds complex math. We call math counting to 25 and learning to identify their numbers. But at the 4 and 5 year old level, right before school, if they were merely counting to 25 and learning to recognize number... that would NOT be age appropriate. All lessons should be done on the kids level.

How does the center encourage parent/teacher/director relationships? Does the center offer time for the parent to come in to talk to the teachers? Parent nights at school? Open door policy? Can parents just drop by randomly to observe the child's classroom? How dose the center deal with this?

Watch the teachers, talk to the teachers It is hard to visit with parents touring the place. That is understandable from a teacher perspective, but really, it is worth it to step aside and, while watching the kids, take a moment to talk to the visiting parents. Parents don't be afraid to ask questions.

I had a parent in once quiz me on the stuff going on in my classroom. It impressed her! I smile to this day thinking of her and her questions and exactly how they were answered.. it was the defining point to put her child in our center.

Look for schedules and postings How do the staff record the happenings of their day? What does the parent receive at the end of the day to outline all the happenings of their child's day?

Don't be afraid to talk, and talk a lot Directors may seem like they don't want to talk, but really, talk their ears off. Ask any questions you can think of! Ask, ask and ask some more. This is your child, don't be afraid to fight on their behalf to find them the best place possible to be away from.

That is really all I can think of when looking! Feel free to ask more specific questions if you need to!

~Hawk

Woah

I am so excited about the month of december. I am getting ready our Advent calendar for the class room as well as a whole month of advent related things. I have researched Hannukah and Kwanza, talked to my boss, and have everything ready to celebrate the top three religious ceremonies for the USA. Now if I could just get the two other two year old teachers off my back. They want to do everything I am doing, their own way, and want me to follow their way, while not doing anything at all. I have done all the researched, emailed them the stuff, printed a copy for myself and am all set. I get a text today about how they don't care for this advent calendar and want ME to find a new one... I'll be damned if I am going to find a new one. HAH!

I am also started a second blog on this account for my montessori stuff. I am going to keep Long Journey Home adoption related, and hopefully get some new content in here.

I haven't created the Montessori blog yet... I am giving that addy to my parents at school... and you are all welcome to read it as well and give ideas. I base all my teachings in my classroom off of homeschooling... and with it being a religious daycare I teach at, I will be bringing religion into the mix.

Enjoy.

Contest

http://www.goodhappenings.com/?p=571#comment-9734

Laurie is holding a pretty nifty contest over her way! Go check it out!

Schooling

So today was a very interesting Summit training session. I enjoyed most of what I dealt with and truly came to learn a lot about the Montessori method.

As of right now, I have no method in my 2 year old classroom. We are traditional, Creative learning.. which is a way to say "we have a routine, but that's about it". I am trying to structure this now that I know my kids (even though I am getting 3 new ones and having 2 transition up to the 3's on Monday) so I decided to step back and regroup.

I have always used the A Beka approach to teaching before. That was the "method" used at my last daycare centre. Now I am the sole teacher and I must adapt my own method. So I started my research back in August of the different methods... and completely wrote off the Montessori cause I have never heard good things about it. I have been attempting child lead, but alas, it's not working all that great for me as my children lead me directly to messes. :)

That said, I am researching Montessori and hope to be able to make a post about it later when I have a bit more information. But what I do have now is amazing.

What is your favourite type of child learning for preschool/early childhood education?

101 Questions

Okay, not 101, but a few.

I am pondering over closed VS. Open adoption. I read DEBBIE'S blog daily and after waiting for a Russian adoption she opted instead for an open domestic adoption. I read a few other blogs she links out religiously and I often wonder... "Open VS Closed".

I don't want to seem closed minded... not at all. Open adoptions seem uncomfortable to me... I'll be perfectly honest. I have wanted closed adoptions from the begining, which is why foreign adoption seemed so right to me... it was where I was being called. And now I am in a different seaseon with my life and find myself looking at open adoptions, domestic adoptions and adoption through the foster care system... all of which have been shown to me by people who I look up to in the adoption world.

That said... I often wonder... Why open? Why the need to have the birth mother so close? What if the birth mother doesn't want to BE that close? Is open good for the kids bonding times? I mean, if they KNOW this other woman was their mum, that's one thing, but to be in monthly or whatever contact with her, couldn't that confuse the kid? Does confusion become greater as the kid gets older, teh feelings of resentment over "Well, why did you choose not to keep me but kept them?" (I know a woman who gave up her 8th kid, but kept the other 7.) Couldn't that cause confusion for the kid over parents VS PARENTS?

I sound horrible, I know that, but these are all honest thoughts in my head, and dammit this is my blog. If you don't like my honesty, go away :)

that all said, I'm sure I'll add a million more questions to this over time, and as our adoption gets closer (HAH! I've come to think it'll NEVER happen :( ) I'm sure I'll have a million more questions.

thanks,

Hawk

It's been time enough

It's been time enough now I can look at this blog and smile. Adoption is on hold at the moment, and foreign adoption is looking bleaker, but alas, it will happen when it is time.

But, until then, I didn't want to abondon my blog completely... but I didn't know what to do with it. this is my adoption blog... it was never meant to be anything BUT my adoption blog... but now.. it's going to be an over all children blog.

I will still post questions and concerns about adoption I have, as well as bringing up other things. I teach preschool for heaven's sake... if nothing else I can give a little insight to how I teach as well as great things to do with your kids.

So, here's to hoping this blog becomes something greater than it's been since May... here's to hoping I can get on the ball!

~Hawk

Been a while

Been a while since I posted anything... why? I dunno. I haven't posted on any of my blogs lately. I suppose I need to get with it eh?

Life is going okay. Getting ready for prek graduation.. where the 2's will sing 4 songs and then the 3's and pre-k will sin ga few songs together and then the pre-k will sing a few songs all by theirself. I am so excited because 3 of the songs we are singing we are signing as well. I have been using Signing Time! for over 3 years now and I am excited to say that it has worked amazingly!

I dunno what else to blog about at this point. I suppose I need to start blogging about such things as what I know about childcare... who knows.. perhaps someone will come round and read it someday! lol.

Later

Hawk

It's been a while

and I doubt I have any readers left... if I had any in teh first place.

A lot has changed and time is flying by.

I am still pursuing the dream of adopting a child from Russia.
A lot has changed and hopefully I will be able to catch up blogging! I still read daily the blogs I love adn have added so many to my list (mostly from Debbie's side bar! She is a wealth of blogs!).

~Hawk

Been a long while

I dunno.. I don't know wha tot say here righ tnow.

I have signed up for fost/adopt placement classes.. whcih should be interesting...

Works been a whole lot of suckage... I have an autistic kid, a sensory disorder kid and a FAS kid... which makes my days very hard to organize and schedule.. and I enjoy organization and a routine in my classroom. today alone I was bit, hit, kicked, smacked, scratched and called every curse word in the book by my FAS kid. His log book that I keep on his day is VERY long today... as all day he was a problem (and sadly he goes to school for 4 hours a day!). I just felt like sitting down and crying today... tha'ts how bad it was.

Not only do I have the children to contend with, I have the other teachers. I had a pretty large fight with another teacher about Islam and the principles and terrorism... and I wanted to smack her.

I feel like every day since last thursday (sans sat and sun of course) I've taken a phsycial beating at work and come home... deadtrodden. Not wanting to move.

Goodness I need a vacation.

Another blog I read linked his out.. and I thought it fit very well into the conversation I had today with Smokey the bear (coworker).

enjoy:

Priviledge meme

I saw this about on a foster parent site...

1. Father went to college for one semester
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college Mum went to a nursing school to become a Doctors assistant... it was a 12 month programme... but she graduated
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home. Mum was and still is HUGE on books... always.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 Karate, softball
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively. HAH! I wear gothic punk type clothing... generally we are preaching anarchy or something!
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp uhm.. church camp for free!
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels Hell no.. da had a big white van!
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child. A la Fox, Thunder and Hawk!
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house I dunno how this relates to privledge.. but okay...
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school. Hand me down of Fox's
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up. FREE for kids under 11 at one gallery here... totally our families style!
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

Politics.. politics.. Whaaa?

So I see many bloggers posting about politics and the canidates they choose.. and I'm utterly amazed at how many ultra conservatives I have considered blog friends. My goodness people.. the amount of oppression you wish upon the american people baffles me!

Regardless, I still consider them my blogger friends and really enjoy going to their blogs! Politics is the least of my worries (as my best friend in a pro-life, anti gay marriage, ultra conservative right wing nutjob!). I just find it amusing that people are all.. "We want ot bring out children to america to give them a better life.. but no mexicans allowed!".. I giggle.

I digress.

As for politics in my own realm... as you can see from my banners up top... I am pro-queer and massive HIV/AIDS research... I firmly despise Huckabee, and openly let everyone know why. Guliani is the closet republican I can agree with.. but I still dun like him all that much. I think some of the republican canidates need a reality check.... and pretty much hate all politics.

That said, I'm an Obama person. I firmly stand by 90% of Obama's views.. and he's pretty damn cool. Clinton scares the bejebus outta me... and I really don't consider any of the other Democratic canidates viable in the race.

Regardless, if my politics bother you, by all means, please don't read here anymore.. but as I said, I don't base friendships offa politics, and if you don't want a politic discussion on your forum, please say so. I don't want to offend people, but I also love a good natured debate (I use debate in the academic term of a friendly banter back and forth using true facts, not involving childish emotions or name calling.).

Anyway, feel free to strike up a debate here on my blog. I am VERY okay with that, and welcoem anyone to talk with me about it.

Later,

~Hawk

WOAH

1028 hits here... WOOHOO! I broke 1000 hits!

(yes, I relaize soem people get over 1000 a day, but not me... I'm excited to have 1000 in 6 months!)

WOOHOOOO!!!

Happy Holidays

So I've become more and more secretive about this blog. If you don't knwo me in real life, you have this blog.. if you do... you don't.. what a fun sentence.

I have been reading a couple blogs lately that put's that anon feeling in danger, yet I can't stop reading these blogs. They are some blogs that pertain to the center I work out.. about 6 of them.. and it's amusing to me.

I love getting inside my parents heads... I've been so disappointed lately with them. I work at a center and teach a class of older children. And it's so sad to me seeing as I had most of these kids in the youngers class a couple years ago, and to have them now and see how horrible these parents have become! The children too, I should add.

I hate this time fo the year, as the parents expect SO much from the staff. We've stopped all lessons in my room and are merely riding on a little break. Well apparently that means that it is time to start the Christmas projects adn the fact that I didn't have a single project go home my parents complained. It's not my fault that I am dealing with a classroom of unruly children where I get NO HELP.

And I have to deal with the other teacher in the room. She told me earlier on in the year when I was asking about a video that I couldn't do the video, she would, simply because I'd play favourites with some children... YET.. and a BIG YET here...

She bought xmas gifts for all her kids... AND then she went out and bought special things for 3 boys and then 2 littles... 2 of those 3 boys were who I was accused of playing favourites with. I find that so fucking amusing and annoying at the same time. Not only was I so poor this season that I had to go to teh dollar store, she just HAD to show me up by getting them exactly what they asked me for. It's so fucking annoying to see that.

I'm particularly cranky tonight, I may edit this post later when I'm not so pissed. I just.. the woman has good intentions I think.. but annoys the shit outta everyone till they give in. ANd get this, she thinks she's an author because she's got a book "deal" with a self publisher... I find that all the more ammusing... seeing as if she sent the book for a real publisher they'd laugh her outta the water!

Regardless, I'm feelign very insulty tonight, so I'm gunna stop the post here... I just REALLY needed to get out this frustration... which runs so deep that some day I'll sit down and really list out the shit going on at the centre I work at... someday.

Oh other things in life...

EJ is heading home for Xmas and new years... whic makes me sad. He chose to party with friends in his college home instead of spending our first new years together... and with already being emotional for many reasons, that was just a slap in teh face. But ofcourse I dont' tell him that... no need to be clingy. So now I'm sitting here being bitchy, hence the first half of the post... but I did get in a great bath tonight... Soaked then showered to get all teh mucky stuff off... and I feel so.. clean. lol. Generally I run 15 min showers so I can talk to EJ.. who knew.

I ahve the last bit of xmas shoppign to do tomorrow. I gotta go get my brother something from a particular store that is the only place in town that carries this one thing... which makes me sad. CAuse I know it's gunna be expensive. Makes me sad to be poor.

As for life in general... its' been a hard week. Nothing seems to be going right.. it was so pitiful at nap today at the centre I merely sat there adn laughed my head off simply because if I didn't I'd cry. I really do not like this time of year... people get their emotions hurt too much, or you expect something that never comes... or stupid things like that. So generally I keep my expectations low and all that shit.. and sadly it's hit even lower than my expectations were... and they were pretty low... though I did end up with 50 bucks in starbucks gift cards... when all else fails... Chai Tea... yum.

Now I'm finally going ot get some sleep.. as I gotta wrestle with all the other late time shoppers tomorrow who are just now getting out. Hopefully the xway will be clear enough that it won't be horrible to morning commute out there. Who knows.

Anyways,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HOLIDAY! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!

HAHA

in your face Dobson..

http://www.soulforce.org/pdf/false_focus.pdf

MWAHAHAH! Screw off Dobson!

YAY

friday, BF just turned on to 264.. so he'll be here within the next 10 mins.. woohoo!

YAY FRIDAY!

boredom

Lunch breaks are horrible when you do them alone. I mean, I have several blogs in my friended sections, I have several favourite places that range from boredom reads to blogs I enjoy reading just to get angry about to prove to myself I have more a soul than they do (it's a shortcomming of mine, I deal with it!)

but sitting here right now, I realize I'm horribly bored. I have taken my book, in the last few days, from 20K to 80K... and sadly I'd win nano if I felt okay about submitting my books pages I've written... but alas, I don't! Damn my morals.

I have 10 mins left on my lunch break and I'm bored enough that I'm going to set out and get a milkshake... I want one. I seriously do.

Today at home is going ot be busy. I have to pack when I get home (cause i got lazy last ngiht and decided to sleep), then run over to teh party store, then head out and hopefully make it to EJ's before 730pm. that way we can go out ot eat and then come home, crash and drink.

I am making supper tomorrow night for us. Chicken covered in soup, baked, with baked potatos and soem type of fruit.. I'm hoping ot convince him to get a fruit medely... but I suppose I'll figure it out after I get there. I'm excited ot be all "homey" with him.. it feels right.

Last night he asked me if this turned in to a long term relationship what kind of wedding I'd want... this is the second time he's mentioned weddings nad marrying me... makes me nerovus so much. But I told him I'd just want something siple and would be content to go to the clerks office and get married that way... I mean, shit neither one of my parents invited me to their marriages why should I feel obligated to invite them? I don't. (childhood trauma 101).

anyway, if I'm getting a shake, I gotta go. 7 mins left.. adn it'll take me that long ot drive to DQ and order... yay for being late I suppose!

Later!

~hawk

frustrated

Today was frustrating. Work is misserable. I'm seriously considering a new job all because of one of my fellow employees. She feels that since she's been there longer, the world revlolves around her. She enjoys making decisions for me, enjoys tattle telling on me, and stupid shit like that. It's become fun to see who can piss the other one off more.

That said, I couldn't quit my job, I love it so.

I go up to visit EJ this weekend, I'm so excited. I'm buying a bottle of everclear vodka and a pack of Guiness and once up there we are shopping for food for hte weekend as well as some sprite and Cranberry juice... I am going to make Claydoughs all weekend (1 shooter of everclear, half a tumbler of cranberry, half a tumbler of sprite... omg, first real mixed drink I had at college, best I ever tasted!) but I'm also a bit poor this weekend, flying with only 30 bucks to get booze and food.. However, I may get a less strong Vodka just so i can do mt. Dew shooters... (which you can't do with 190 proof vodka... 90% ethanol, 10% water.. talk about "feeling the burn".. woo)

Yes, I'm getting drunk this weekend because life is falling apart around me. Mum is crazy, work is crazy, relationship is crazy, and really, I don't care much. I'm going to be at a safe place in a city with several contacts (two of those being my brothers who don't drink anymore), as well as being in a known area for drinking and being with someone I trust (atleast with monitoring my alcohol). He knows I'm planning drunkenness, as he's getting merely guiness for him so he can be my "watcher". I'm going to enjoy my weekend.

That said, I still have one more day at work, and I must remember that it's a bad idea to talk too much tomorrow for pissing off the teacher only means more horrible things for me come monday...

Now I go to bed with my sullen self and pray away my time tomorrow at work... Then pray for a LONG weekend that doesn't seem like it's flying away... yes, that would be best.

Goodnight all.

ugh

as you may or may not have noticed, not much is up on my nano blog.. I've decided to step back in to writing on my book... for I have a sense of renewed passion for writing and my mum actually gave me a great idea... she said "just send it off... to every place you can... who knows, someone may actually like it!"... so I wrote over 10000 words of my book in the last week.. which means my nano has suffered horribly. I don't htink I'm going to win nano this year, but that's okay. I'll call it a win if I can write 30K on my book before the end of the month.. cause while I didn't finish my nano task, the point of nanowrimo is to get people writing.. and it has! boy has it!

So alas, I'm going back to writing on my book... and here's to hoping to start sending it out by the new year!

I am thankful

Today at lunch with my kiddos, we did an "I am thankful for" talk. I teach Pre-K, mind you, so some of the answers were cute ("I am thankful for my mummy cause she gave birth to a kitten!" kinda things!) but some were really serious. Today I also had 4 school agers (two in Kindergarten and 2 in first grade).

The kids ranged from alligators to their parents/grandparents to the animals and beyond to Jesus, God and Death. Since I had them do it, I figured I'd do it too!

My Thankful list

1) God, the one and only person who is with me all the time.
2) family, as crazy as they are, it could be worse.
3) friends, B and E are my best friends, and honestly, I'd have it no other way. I don't make friends very easily, I'm not really an outgoing person, but I've found my niche with those people.
4) My kiddos... I have so many kids every year, simply by where I work. Some test my nerves, some make me grey prematurely, some make me scream that I never want kids, EVER (Daycare/Preschool, best Birth control in the world!), but in the end, when we sit down for lunch and have a great talk about God or our lessons from that day or even about their bath last night... OR when they are getting ready to leave and I get a huge hug with an "I love you Hawk!" screaming out of their mouth as they run off with mum or da... those are the moments I wouldn't change for the world.
5) every chance I get to work with youths. I understand teenagers, I'm not too far outside of the teen world myself, and it's exciting to me to be able to work there and give back somewhere where other's helped me.


Those are my top 5. I'm excited this year.

~Hawk

Old poetry

HAH, I was researching a bit of stuff I used to write.. and I found a site with some older poetry on it... shocker ot me... I Didn't know I had any poetry out there!

So now I post for others to critique...

Poem 1:
Time and space

One little boy sits to the side
Bleeding and bruised, wishing he would die
His father is yelling, rage all around
As he sits there, slumped to the ground

He knows not what to do
A young boy, a heart so true
No matter what he does, he gains bruises more and more
If only he could do something to even the score

Thoughts run through his head
His mother lying there, bruised and dead
Only a dream, he tells himself
His father better not, or else

He thinks of school children as they go by
Then his life flashes before his eyes
All the fun times he had with his family
Getting sick from loading up on candy

It seems as nothing in this week has gone right
Everything he's done ended up with a fight
The boy at school with the mean right hook
And the principal about that apple he took

The girl he liked telling him that he's trash
Or his mother telling him their out of cash
Why can't his life be better than this
Kinda like how people explain their first kiss

Sweet and gentile, warm and nice
Apples and peaches, sugar and spice
Butterflies and flowers
Sweet throughout the hours

But no, not him
In a family full of sin
One full of anger above all others
One that always was blood covered

He was jolted back to reality by a smack to the face
If only there was someone to take his place
A dark little puppy, so worn out
From fighting and scampering and running about

He blacks out from the tremendous pain
A little life with all but gain
All he needs is a wonderful place
Everything as well as time and space

Poem 2:

The Night

You give a promise
I accept such fate
I hope you are truthful
Or I find out before it's too late

You answer my questions
I ask because I don't know
You help me understand
The side I cannot show.

I wonder if anyone can hear me
When I scream out loud
I wonder if you understand me
When I slump not so proud

So now you tell me
That it will never happen with you
But can I see into your heart
A heart so wholesome and true

I can read what you say
Without much of my own
I hope you can understand me
With what I have shown

I give to you my heart
Open without a care
I show it to you because
This embrace is not a dare

Please protect me with your love
And show me it is alright
I am scared of what may become
Without my shield so tight