Those Quotes That Make You Go.....Mmmmmm Yes!

“We’ve got to be so proud of what our special friends do and their future. Their possibility of really bringing the world something that really resembles peace and hope and faith and love that’s what they can do. And we’re so proud of them. And we want to keep going all the time, the next 20 years. I’m going. You come with me?” –Eunice Kennedy Shriver,1964

“You may not be a member of the one in three families experiencing the tragedy of the mental retardation. But if you are a parent or expect to become one, if you love children, the subject should concern you…” –Eunice Kennedy Shriver, “The Sun Has Burst Through”

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me brave in my attempt” –Eunice Kennedy Shriver, The opening Remarks of the Special Olympics

“Working intently with children and families was like earning a doctorate…” – Renatta M. Cooper, Program Specialist

“…it’s in the early childhood I was able to see what a unique opportunity we had to make a difference…to shape a child’s life for the better” –Sandy Escobido, Deputy Field Director

“…one little sparkle will make a difference for me throughout the whole day”- Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed, Executive Director, School of Early Childhood Education

“It’s not about you, you got to take your ego out and think what is best for the child” –Renatta M. Cooper, Program Specialist

Personal Childhood Web:

 To the left: My siblings are my best friends. I am the youngest of our group.Since they are all so much older than me they each have been my biggest supporters, lead by example, and continue to show me the different ways to reach success.

 To the right: This is my oldest sister Yolanda. She is 15years older than me and has always been my "other go to". She moved out to California at 18 and since then we spent as much time as we could together. She would do my hair for school, since my mom worked nights, she would always let me sleep in her room, and to this day I am always able to talk to her. She keeps life real with me and shows me unconditional love day in and day out. As an adult my sister has shown me how to me a woman of God, examples of an amazing mother, and how to be a good wife.

 To the left: This is my sister Lt. Desiree Woodman. We are born on the same day 9years apart. As children we were opposites, I always wanted to follow her around and I was always that pesky little sister. My sister was always supportive, and was such a caring individual and always wanted everyone to get along. I watched her model these actions each and everyday. My sister joined the Air Force her 2nd year of college and from there transferred to the Navy. As adults my sister has shown me how to keep on keepin on. She is now working on her second degree and shows me how anything is possible if you put your mind to it. 

 To the right: My Parents, Charles and Leslie Moore. These two people are my rock. My mother, who is my biggest cheerleader has always fostered my need to be an individual. She is my support and friend. As an adult she continues to support me and be an amazing grandmother to my two sons. My dad is the first man I have ever loved. He taught me the street smarts I needed as a child and the lesson to speak to everyone as a reminder that we all put our pants on one leg at a time. As an adult I am still daddy's little girl.

 To the left: My brother Charles III. We have a different type of relationship. He is the second oldest and 13years older than me. He always demonstrated his love by picking on me, calling me names, and pushing me around. That type of affection from my brother always meant a lot to me. He is my other protector next to my father. My brother is a man of little words but is always in my corner when I need him the most. As adults he has shown me how a man can be a provider and still picks on me each time we are together.

 To the right: My sisters and I during Thanksgiving 09

 To the Left: My First Grade Teacher Mrs. Cosgrove

 To the Right: My first and forever best friend Brittany.

 To the Left: My friend Stacy

 To the Right: Brittany and I at her Bridal Shower 08'

To the Left: Stacy and Her at her 22nd Birthday

A Picture Can Say a Thousand Words and A Child Can Touch Your Heart for a Thousand Years:This is Why I Do What I Do

This is Me!

  Why I Do What I Do:

I was at the same center for 4.5years. During that time I mostly had the same children with few changes. I nurtured them as babies, watched them weeble and wabble as they learned to walk, and taught them their ABC's as toddlers before they left me to join their fellow preschoolers on the other side. I had numerous children and parents who many are still in my life today. However, there are also a handful that you never will forget. I remember my last day at the center. One of my newer parents had me in tears, could have also been because I was four months pregnant, her daughter came with a necklace for me, and a simple thank you card. The words the mother spoke after affirmed once again why it is I do what I do. To sum it up she simply said thank you with tears in her eyes and outreached arms. She thanked me for making her feel comfortable about leaving her child because each day I took her daughter up in my arms, asked her how she was doing today and had her baby doll ready for her. She thanked me for caring for her daughter as if she was mine day in and day out, and the wonderful growth she watched in her daughter. But, the last words she said to me continue to echo in my heart. She had thanked me for having a passion, love, and willingness to do what was right for the children and the relationship I had with her and the other parents. From that day forward I am her daughters "Dom". When at their house for dinner or a birthday party, I am her daughters Dom, no one else is allowed to sit next to me and she wasn't  sure about the baby growing in my belly either since I was and is, "her Dom". The relationships I have built and continue to build keep my coming back for more.

A Gift From My Co-Worker:Pictures of my "kids" and I

 Books!

Another wonderful aspect of working with children are the books.Oh the books we get to read to the children and the excitement they have as the story unfolds. I am constantly being introduced to new books or introducing the children to my favorite childhood books. Either way I get to share my love for books and reading with the children and in return some of it rubs off on the children and they love to just read! Below are books from my favorite childhood author. Mr. Eric Carle. I loved reading  his books as a chinld and continue to read them and purchase them now for my two sons.

Eric Carle Books: The Very Busy Spider

Mister Seahorse

The Mixed Up Chameleon

Brown Bear Brown Bear: What Do You See?

Welcome

My name is Dominique. I graduated from California State University Fullerton with a BS in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis in Youth and Social Welfare in 2010, after switching my major twice. I started in the early childhood field back in 2007 working with infants and toddlers. It took me 3months and I was hooked. I  knew I had found my purpose. Being a part of a child's social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development is an important role and one I take seriously. I recently decided to return to school to obtain my Masters in the field to satisfy my ongoing cravings for more, more knowledge in the field, more ways to help the children I serve, more ways to grow as a professional, and more ways to grow as an individual. I am looking forward to connecting with my fellow classmates/colleagues and absorbing the different ways they already make a difference in their community for their children. It is time for me to tie on my cape, hit the ground running, continue to be better, and add to my library of skills so I can be a saver of the Early Childhood World. Welcome to my Journey.