hI, i'M andreea constantin.

 I was born in Romania and immigrated with my parents to Canada at the age of 8. I grew up in Toronto, where I attended Ryerson University to complete my Undergrad in Early Childhood Education (2012) and went on to graduate from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (2013). Shortly after graduating, I had a beautiful countryside wedding and married my childhood sweetheart who was still living in Romania. That was a year of many accomplishments for me as I also began my employment in the Public School System, first as an Early Childhood Educator and then as a Teacher. Fast-forward 10 years later, I am  a Mama to two remarkable daughters, aged 4.5 and 19 months, as well as a loyal 8 year old Husky/Boxer named Muddley. We are fortunate to have a wonderful community of friends, many of which have journeyed into parenthood along with us. The picture above marks the beginning of my own journey into parenthood. Since then, through my connection with so many parents at different stages of their lives, I developed a passion for supporting others through sharing my own personal insight, condensing the research-based knowledge I've gained as a teacher and the efforts I put towards my own personal growth as a parent. 

1. Parenting is not a "one size fits all" scenario; our unique characteristics as individuals and the insight we have regarding our family makes us the expert in what will work for us and what we can discard. It's important not to compare ourselves to others while one this path.  

2. Children thrive in an environment where they feel safe, nurtured and loved; as long as these 3 fundamental needs are met, no other gimmicks are required. This will help save both the planet and our wallet in the long-term (two bonus values of mine).

3. Routines are the key to success;  through this, we can establish a more peaceful day for the parent and a sense of security for the child. It translates to easier transitions, less frequent emotional dysregulation (a.k.a. tantrums) and more shared smiles on a daily basis.  

Modern day parents are finding themselves overwhelmed by an abundance of information or suggestions that more stuff/more experiences will help our children advance above the rest. In truth, we find ourselves depleted and give up the notion that balance can be attained between the time we have and the energy we can provide to our children. We want to do so much/so soon/so often because we have our children's best interest at heart.

Studies have been done to show that 17 minutes is how much time per day the average parent has "extra". So when we don't succeed because this style of parenting is simply not sustainable,  we have nowhere to turn unless we put in more time and effort. If we go back to the drawing board, researching once more what other options there are, then we further deplete ourselves. Well, I'm here to grant you permission to hit the brakes, and support you in building the necessary skills in a managable way that is catered to your lifestyle, your family's needs and your goals for the future. I'm here to fill the educational gaps that I found on my own journey as a teacher, a full-time parent and a working mom. Are you ready to get started?