Bridget Wu - Aspen Leaf Preschool (Episode #002)
"We were just learning as we went along."
— Bridget Wu
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Bridget Wu is the founder, owner, and director of Aspen Leaf Preschool. As the second oldest of twelve siblings, Bridget has been caring for little ones most of her life, and realized early on that caring for children was her life’s passion. Bridget is an early childhood education professional with over twelve years of experience teaching preschool in San Diego and Philadelphia. She received her B.A. in Elementary and Special Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, and has studied a variety of early childhood education philosophies including Reggio-Emilia and Montessori. Bridget currently resides in San Diego, California with her husband and their two sons.
Episode Notes
This episode features Bridget Wu (@bridgetwuzer), founder of Aspen Leaf Preschool. Discover what it’s like to pursue an idea that just doesn’t seem to go away. Join host Margie Chuang as she learns about how Bridget felt she could change preschools for the better and the pursuit of making that dream come true.
3 Things I Learned From Bridget
Give extra thought to the ideas that don’t seem to go away.
It can be hard to know what things are worth changing and what things aren’t. And when it comes to big decisions like starting a business, it can be even harder to know whether an idea is worth your time. But very often the best ideas to pursue are the ones that won’t seem to go away and that seem to fall right into your wheelhouse. It’s like the perfect storm of opportunity meets expertise. Trust your feeling that things can be improved, that you can put more good into the world by changing or building something.
Schedule a specific time of the day where you can be productive.
Working while you’re with your kids can be challenging, if not impossible. You end up not getting any work done, and you’re not able to focus on your kids. Try to set aside a specific time each day where you can get actual work done. You’ll be surprised how productive you can be when you know you only have “x” minutes. Start small (e.g. 15 minutes every other day) and build up from there. Naptime and post bedtime are good options. But another possibility is to talk to your kids about your routine. Let your kids know that this is the time where you need to focus and that once you’re finished, you can play, read, and run around with them all they want. This way, you know that you have time set aside to be productive and your kids understand that they’ll get your full attention before and thereafter.
Find solidarity in others who are going through the same journey.
Whether you’re building something, going through a life event, or otherwise, try to find people who are going through the same thing that you are. It can be helpful and therapeutic to talk about your successes and challenges, to learn from each other, to think of solutions together, and to just chat about your day. Finding solidarity in others who are going through the same thing lets you know that you’re not in it alone; you have a community to call on who is experiencing the same thing you are, who is also supporting and cheering you on. And that’s a great feeling to have.
More About Bridget Wu and Aspen Leaf Preschool
You can read more about Bridget’s educational philosophy, and see examples of her lessons and activities on her classroom blog, missbridgetsclassroom.com. To learn more about Aspen Leaf Preschool, visit aspenleafpreschool.com.
Follow Aspen Leaf Preschool:
Instagram: instagram.com/aspenleafpreschool
Facebook: facebook.com/AspenLeafPreschool
