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December 22, 2016 by Sandy Calcagno Leave a Comment

Remembering Back

Holiday time is the time of year where we look back at our life and choices. I was looking at my children the other day and I realized they are awesome adults and maybe my husband and I did something right. So I thought about the way we raised our children and the choices we made. These are some of the things we did that I feel helped to make our children the fantastic people they are.

1) We always talked to our children about what was going on. We never said “Because I said so!” We felt they deserved a reason for our decisions. The answers were never long or drawn out, but short and easy to understand. Even if they didn’t think it was fair they understood why.

2) Spanking was reserved for dangerous situations, for example running into the street without looking. We choose to talk about the problems and work out the solutions in a peaceful manner. There were times they would get sent to their rooms to calm down from tantrums and then we would talk.

3) From about the age of five our children had chores to do. Easy ones to start like cleaning their rooms or toys. Then they got harder. As soon as they were in third grade they had to start helping to clean the house. Each had a floor to clean. Bathroom, living areas, play room, and kitchen. They switched off floors weekly because the lower level was easier. They had a week to get all of the rooms done because homework came first. They were also paid for their hard work.

4) When they came home from school they were allowed a snack but then their homework had to be done. Of course if they had a problem they knew they could save that part for when we came home and we would help them finish. Good grades were expected, but that didn’t mean B’s and C’s in a difficult class wasn’t good enough. We only ever asked them to do their best.

5) Family time was important! Dinner was always together and sitting at the table. We tried to do fun things together on the weekends. Sometimes going out to do activities and sometimes movie or game night at home.

6) Celebrating their accomplishments was also important. Going out for dinner to celebrate good grades or success in sports was important to our children and made them feel proud.

7) One of the most important things is telling them how proud we are of them. And how much we love them. We still do this as much as we can.

My children are 21 and 18 and I am so proud of them! My daughter is a junior at Augustana College and my son is a senior at Hoffman Estates High School. They are both kind, considerate, loving, and excepting of others differences. They care about others as they do themselves. I can’t ask for anything more. They are not perfect but neither am I so I don’t expect that. Only that they do their best.

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Our son started day care last year when he was two years old, after being home with his aunt full-time. We enjoyed the social interactions he was getting and the friends he was making, however, we fel… Read more
The Uhlig Family
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We love The Big Barn Preschool! My son has been attending for 2 years. The teachers are dedicated, and providing a loving, nourishing, safe environment. I feel completely at ease, that my son is in th… Read more
We love The Big Barn Preschool!
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Wonderful and nurturing preschool setting! The Big Barn Preschool welcomed my son with loving arms. The well-qualified staff knew how to make the transition from home care to daycare an extremely posi… Read more
Wonderful and nurturing preschool!
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I cannot recommend The Big Barn Preschool enough.  Not only is the staff highly qualified and extremely professional, they have been very kind, warm and patient towards my daughter.  The school is v… Read more
Elizabeth
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My son just started kindergarten. It’s been one week. His teacher saw us playing outside after school and came up to me to tell me she was AMAZED at Royce’s reading skills. She asked if he had any… Read more
Kelly Gunnett
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I am writing a review for Big Barn Preschool. My daughter, Lily, has attended Big Barn Preschool since she was three years old. Lily will be attending Kindergarten in the Fall and will be moving on fr… Read more
Marie Owen
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I went to visit the preschool and as soon as I pulled on the property I knew this was anything but generic. I took a tour of the preschool and before the end of the tour I knew this was where our chil… Read more
This preschool would enrich their lives
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My family moved to Schaumburg in the Spring of 2015. Buying a new home in a new town was something that scared us to pieces. We heard that Schaumburg had great school systems and that it was a remarka… Read more
Jenna & Jason Middleton
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Our 4 ½ year old daughter, Brianna has been attending the Big Barn Preschool for almost a year now. Brianna absolutely loves the teachers and students at the school and often does not want to leave w… Read more
Michael and Tamara Hanson
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Our three-year-old son just finished his first year at Big Barn and we have been so pleased with his progress there. He was a late talker and spoke very little when he started but has progressed leaps… Read more
The Howen Family
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