Saturday, August 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
kidoinfo.com
New column is up on kidoinfo.com!
And here's a sneak peek of my new blog. Still a few details to work out. I'll keep posting here until everything is all set and will post a note when I make the move!
And here's a sneak peek of my new blog. Still a few details to work out. I'll keep posting here until everything is all set and will post a note when I make the move!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
feeling groovy: the power of attraction
I'm a big fan of Scott Noelle and have been subscribing to his "Daily Groove" for almost two years now.
I love starting my day with an inspiring e-mail and focus point to help me relate to my children in a positive, respectful and really groovy way.
Here's today's groove:
Today Lily will be at summer camp again (four whole days this week--she could not be happier!) so Quinn and I will be having another special Mama-Quinn day.
Yesterday we cleaned out the van (getting ready for our upcoming road trip :-) and enjoyed a nice lunch date at Panera Bread.
It was such a treat to just relax and be with Quinn all day. We didn't really have any place that we needed to be and I was content to just sit and watch him run around the same tree a dozen times and even felt inspired to join in!
Today, we do have a few errands that I would like to run (paperwork for my new job that is due today, an oil change and new tires for the freshly-cleaned van). There will still be plenty of time to run around trees (and lamp-posts and fire hydrants) and to marvel at the amazing-ness of motorcycles and construction sites and garbage trucks. But there is also a loose agenda of items that I would like to accomplish.
So today, keeping this daily groove in mind, while we're running our errands, I would like to focus on how joyful and expressive and fun two-year-olds, and especially my beloved Quinn, can be!
(I know I was supposed to only pick one trait, but as I closed my eyes and thought about what I wanted to focus on about Quinn, those three things all popped in together!)
And on that note, I hear pitter-patter feet upstairs...my joyful, expressive, fun little guy is awake!!
I love starting my day with an inspiring e-mail and focus point to help me relate to my children in a positive, respectful and really groovy way.
Here's today's groove:
THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove
:: The Power of Attraction ::
Attraction means pulling instead of pushing. The
"pull" of attraction is not physical. You attract by
focusing your mind. Your thoughts have a sort of
"gravity" that pulls matching thoughts, conditions and
events into your awareness and experience.
Today, try this experiment...
Think of *one* characteristic that you really, really
adore and appreciate about your child. Something that
makes you smile when you think about it. Pick a
keyword or phrase to remind you of this trait, and
write it on the back of your hand. (If your child can
read, use a code word or symbol instead.)
The idea is to focus on this aspect of your child as
many times as you can today. But don't tell your child
specifically what you're doing -- the power is in what
you think, not what you say.
You might also put little reminder Post-it notes in
places like door handles, telephones, the fridge, your
car visor -- wherever you frequently look or reach.
After a full day of focusing on this aspect of your
child, review the day and note how it affected your
interactions.
Can you see how, through your intentional focus, you
*created* (attracted) that experience?
See the results of one reader's experiment:
http://dailygroove.net/power-of-attraction#comment-177
Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2008 by Scott Noelle
Today Lily will be at summer camp again (four whole days this week--she could not be happier!) so Quinn and I will be having another special Mama-Quinn day.
Yesterday we cleaned out the van (getting ready for our upcoming road trip :-) and enjoyed a nice lunch date at Panera Bread.
It was such a treat to just relax and be with Quinn all day. We didn't really have any place that we needed to be and I was content to just sit and watch him run around the same tree a dozen times and even felt inspired to join in!
Today, we do have a few errands that I would like to run (paperwork for my new job that is due today, an oil change and new tires for the freshly-cleaned van). There will still be plenty of time to run around trees (and lamp-posts and fire hydrants) and to marvel at the amazing-ness of motorcycles and construction sites and garbage trucks. But there is also a loose agenda of items that I would like to accomplish.
So today, keeping this daily groove in mind, while we're running our errands, I would like to focus on how joyful and expressive and fun two-year-olds, and especially my beloved Quinn, can be!
(I know I was supposed to only pick one trait, but as I closed my eyes and thought about what I wanted to focus on about Quinn, those three things all popped in together!)
And on that note, I hear pitter-patter feet upstairs...my joyful, expressive, fun little guy is awake!!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Our fast-growing friends!
Our visitors have grown exponentially in the last few days. Today I moved them over to a new branch of milkweed (though they seemed to be doing just find on the week-old one). While I was transferring our four caterpillars, I discovered another brand-new one (so small you can't even see its stripes yet) so we now have five friends to observe in the coming weeks!
Up 'til now, I have been, by far, the most interested in the current happenings in the Critter Corner (with John being a close second) but now that the caterpillars are big enough to hold (briefly and gently), Lily has taken much more interest!
Up 'til now, I have been, by far, the most interested in the current happenings in the Critter Corner (with John being a close second) but now that the caterpillars are big enough to hold (briefly and gently), Lily has taken much more interest!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Crunching Caterpillars!
While we were sleeping last night, our caterpillar friends were busy doing what they do best -- eating lots of Milkweed!
Here's a picture of the largest caterpillar with evidence of its nocturnal nibbling.
Here's a picture of the largest caterpillar with evidence of its nocturnal nibbling.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monarchs!!
Our daily milkweed inspections have paid off! We have FOUR tiny Monarch caterpillars and several leaves with eggs!
Egg on the underside of a milkweed leaf (yellow dot in the center of the photo):
Tiny caterpillar on the top side of a milkweed leaf:
A temporary home for the caterpillars (a glass jar with a screen top):
And here's the new home I made tonight after John took the kids up to bed:
The supplies I used were: a yard-and-a-half of tulle, a 12" wooden embroidery hoop, and some ribbon (which was my biggest expense and totally not necessary--string would have worked fine--but the rainbow ribbon was soooo pretty! ;-) Total cost: $6.72.
I taped one edge of the tulle to the inside hoop and then wrapped around the rest of the hoop. I put the top hoop on to hold it in place and then loosened it just enough to slip the ribbon in, which I secured with a knot. No sewing involved (not that I have anything against sewing but just wanted to share how quick and EASY it was to make!). Oh and I used a playsilk that we already had to cover the top.
Easy-peasy! And now I'm off to check out monarchwatch.org to learn more about our visitors...
Egg on the underside of a milkweed leaf (yellow dot in the center of the photo):
Tiny caterpillar on the top side of a milkweed leaf:
A temporary home for the caterpillars (a glass jar with a screen top):
And here's the new home I made tonight after John took the kids up to bed:
The supplies I used were: a yard-and-a-half of tulle, a 12" wooden embroidery hoop, and some ribbon (which was my biggest expense and totally not necessary--string would have worked fine--but the rainbow ribbon was soooo pretty! ;-) Total cost: $6.72.
I taped one edge of the tulle to the inside hoop and then wrapped around the rest of the hoop. I put the top hoop on to hold it in place and then loosened it just enough to slip the ribbon in, which I secured with a knot. No sewing involved (not that I have anything against sewing but just wanted to share how quick and EASY it was to make!). Oh and I used a playsilk that we already had to cover the top.
Easy-peasy! And now I'm off to check out monarchwatch.org to learn more about our visitors...
Saturday, August 9, 2008
transitions
There's been a little hint of fall in the air this week. On our early morning walks, Quinn and I have opted for long pants and sweatshirts and I even dug some socks out of the drawer on a particularly cool morning this week.
The kids have noticed the change in light and (mercifully) have started sleeping a little later in the morning. They are also heading up to bed a little earlier in the evening.
And as of this week, they have started asking us to leave their room at bedtime so they can play quietly together. Lily has gathered a collection of board books (favorites that we have been enjoying together since she was an infant like Brown Bear, Each Peach Pear Plum, and Jamberry) and is now proudly "reading" them to her brother.
While on a morning walk this week, I noticed a seed pod on a milkweed plant. (We're checking the undersides of leaves daily in hopes of finding Monarch eggs.)
Part of me felt a bit of sadness. The seasons often feel very much like my experience of parenting -- just when I start to feel comfortable and find a rhythm that works where we are, things begin to shift.
But the milkweed pod also reminds me of the wonder and beauty that each season brings.
In just a few weeks, Lily will be returning to her beloved Waldorf-inspired nursery school, where stalks of milkweed will be used as beautiful wands to spray feathery seeds around the gardens.
And later in the fall, the dried milkweed pods will be become boats into which the children will place candles and wishes during the annual Lantern Walk (a magical evening designed to gently introduce the young children to darkness and night).
This fall will also include a transition into "playschool" (a.k.a. daycare) two days a week and a return to work for me.
The kids and I stopped by our "new school" this week to drop off paperwork and say hello. As I sat in a tiny chair at a tiny table getting to know the center's director, Lily and Quinn explored what will be Lily's classroom. Quinn dove right in (any place with a train table, Legos, blocks, and an assortment of construction vehicles has his clear approval). Lily hung back, staying close to me and taking it all in, but later noted that "it seems pretty fun there."
When we left the center, which we will visit several more times in the coming weeks, we stopped to visit a nearby farm. As we visited with the sheep, goats and pigs we talked about how much fun it will be to visit the farm on our way to or from playschool and how some days we might go early and stop for bagels at our favorite coffee shop.
We continue to read books about the first day of school and separation anxiety, and reminisce about last summer when Lily felt sick to her tummy every time we talked about her starting nursery school.
"That was before I knew how much fun school is, Mama," Lily always adds.
And I remind her (and myself) that change can often feel scary and uncomfortable--whether you are two, or four, or 34. But discomfort is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be a great opportunity for us to slow down and tune in and stretch a little bit out of our comfort zone.
And a wonderful opportunity to surrender and trust that the Life Force that creates and sustains the milkweed plants, and the butterflies who feast on them, is always there to nourish and support us.
The kids have noticed the change in light and (mercifully) have started sleeping a little later in the morning. They are also heading up to bed a little earlier in the evening.
And as of this week, they have started asking us to leave their room at bedtime so they can play quietly together. Lily has gathered a collection of board books (favorites that we have been enjoying together since she was an infant like Brown Bear, Each Peach Pear Plum, and Jamberry) and is now proudly "reading" them to her brother.
While on a morning walk this week, I noticed a seed pod on a milkweed plant. (We're checking the undersides of leaves daily in hopes of finding Monarch eggs.) Part of me felt a bit of sadness. The seasons often feel very much like my experience of parenting -- just when I start to feel comfortable and find a rhythm that works where we are, things begin to shift.
But the milkweed pod also reminds me of the wonder and beauty that each season brings.
In just a few weeks, Lily will be returning to her beloved Waldorf-inspired nursery school, where stalks of milkweed will be used as beautiful wands to spray feathery seeds around the gardens.
And later in the fall, the dried milkweed pods will be become boats into which the children will place candles and wishes during the annual Lantern Walk (a magical evening designed to gently introduce the young children to darkness and night).
This fall will also include a transition into "playschool" (a.k.a. daycare) two days a week and a return to work for me.
The kids and I stopped by our "new school" this week to drop off paperwork and say hello. As I sat in a tiny chair at a tiny table getting to know the center's director, Lily and Quinn explored what will be Lily's classroom. Quinn dove right in (any place with a train table, Legos, blocks, and an assortment of construction vehicles has his clear approval). Lily hung back, staying close to me and taking it all in, but later noted that "it seems pretty fun there."
When we left the center, which we will visit several more times in the coming weeks, we stopped to visit a nearby farm. As we visited with the sheep, goats and pigs we talked about how much fun it will be to visit the farm on our way to or from playschool and how some days we might go early and stop for bagels at our favorite coffee shop.
We continue to read books about the first day of school and separation anxiety, and reminisce about last summer when Lily felt sick to her tummy every time we talked about her starting nursery school.
"That was before I knew how much fun school is, Mama," Lily always adds.
And I remind her (and myself) that change can often feel scary and uncomfortable--whether you are two, or four, or 34. But discomfort is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be a great opportunity for us to slow down and tune in and stretch a little bit out of our comfort zone.
And a wonderful opportunity to surrender and trust that the Life Force that creates and sustains the milkweed plants, and the butterflies who feast on them, is always there to nourish and support us.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
transitions
I am counting down to September when my kids will start attending a daycare center two full days a week (and my four year old will also go to the most wonderful Waldorf-inspired Nursery School you could ever imagine an additional two mornings).
And I will have two full days open to do my work (writing, teaching, researching, designing workshops, and wherever else "following my bliss" takes me).
I have worked through a dozen permutations of work/school/daycare options and this is what feels best for us right now.
I have been processing this decision since my daughter was about 12-14 months old and I started getting urges to find substitute care so that I could focus on my work.
Right about that time I became pregnant with my son (it took us almost a year to get pregnant with our first so we decided to start trying sooner rather than later. Surprisingly! Things happened quite a bit sooner this time around and we were on our way to becoming a family of four!!)
So I put the work plans on hold and I joyfully dove back into everything pregnancy/birth/baby.
I continued to write freelance for a local parenting magazine and teach prenatal and two other yoga classes, and played "pass the toddler" with my husband and parents.
It was extremely stressful, to put it mildly.
I felt like I was unraveling at the seams...packing my daughter in the car, racing to my mom's to drop her off, zooming down to the yoga studio, out of breath and out of energy, to stand in front of a class and tell people to "just relax and breathe."
So about half-way through my second pregnancy, I gave up all but my prenatal class. And as soon as Quinn was born, I gave that up too.
I kept writing as much as I could, which wasn't much. One article a month--750 words--was all that I could handle. And some months I couldn't even handle that. There were a few months that I just had to apologize to my editor and say, "Sorry but it just isn't going to happen this month."
And things kind of worked pretty well for a while with my older in nursery school two mornings and my younger at a wonderful home daycare three mornings. (I traded childcare with a friend so every-other-Monday, while my younger was daycare, my older went to her house for a playdate, and I got some extra writing time.)
But in the last few months it's become really clear to me that two hour blocks here and there are just not enough.
I need and want more time to work.
And I will have two full days open to do my work (writing, teaching, researching, designing workshops, and wherever else "following my bliss" takes me).
I have worked through a dozen permutations of work/school/daycare options and this is what feels best for us right now.
I have been processing this decision since my daughter was about 12-14 months old and I started getting urges to find substitute care so that I could focus on my work.
Right about that time I became pregnant with my son (it took us almost a year to get pregnant with our first so we decided to start trying sooner rather than later. Surprisingly! Things happened quite a bit sooner this time around and we were on our way to becoming a family of four!!)
So I put the work plans on hold and I joyfully dove back into everything pregnancy/birth/baby.
I continued to write freelance for a local parenting magazine and teach prenatal and two other yoga classes, and played "pass the toddler" with my husband and parents.
It was extremely stressful, to put it mildly.
I felt like I was unraveling at the seams...packing my daughter in the car, racing to my mom's to drop her off, zooming down to the yoga studio, out of breath and out of energy, to stand in front of a class and tell people to "just relax and breathe."
So about half-way through my second pregnancy, I gave up all but my prenatal class. And as soon as Quinn was born, I gave that up too.
I kept writing as much as I could, which wasn't much. One article a month--750 words--was all that I could handle. And some months I couldn't even handle that. There were a few months that I just had to apologize to my editor and say, "Sorry but it just isn't going to happen this month."
And things kind of worked pretty well for a while with my older in nursery school two mornings and my younger at a wonderful home daycare three mornings. (I traded childcare with a friend so every-other-Monday, while my younger was daycare, my older went to her house for a playdate, and I got some extra writing time.)
But in the last few months it's become really clear to me that two hour blocks here and there are just not enough.
I need and want more time to work.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Morning Glory!
My son Quinn has always been an early riser but this summer he's taken it to a new level -- up for the day by 5 a.m.
For the past several weeks I have been starting my days being angry at him and anyone else who happened to cross my path because I just don't want to be on toddler duty at 5 a.m.
It's not even that I want to sleep in. It's just that I like to start my day slowly and quietly -- two concepts that my two-year-old just doesn't seem to get!
In my perfect world I would wake up between five and six and slip downstairs alone for a walk or some yoga, followed by a cup of tea and time to write in my journal. Then I would get breakfast ready for my loving children who would wander downstairs (fully dressed and in pleasant moods!) around 7:30.
And I have a feeling we'll get there someday! (If Quinn follows in his sleepy-head sister's footsteps.)
But in the meantime Quinn has been wide awake and clambering into our bed at 5 a.m. for several weeks now and I have been growing increasingly more annoyed -- at him for being awake so early, and at John for somehow managing to sleep through the onslaught of exuberance.
Over the weekend I decided that I've had enough.
I don't like waking up angry. I don't like resenting my beautiful son. And I really, really need to figure out a way to have my smooth, peaceful morning that I desire so I'm not walking around in an angry, foggy haze all morning.
So I decided that no matter what the time or how I am awoken, I am going to choose to wake up in a pleasant mood, filled with gratitude and excitement for the coming day.
On Monday morning when not just Quinn -- but also Lily, who was SO excited for her first day of camp that she just couldn't sleep! -- arrived bedside at 4:45, I offered to take them on an "animal walk" (a walk in the double stroller to look for dawn-loving critters).
With a couple of pieces of toast to munch on, full sippy cups and a camera, we set off!
The only critters we saw were birds, but that was enough to entertain the kids and give me some time to mentally run through the coming day.
Since then Quinn and I have taken two more early morning walks and I'm not sure who is enjoying it more!
Here are some photos from our recent adventures...
We came up over the hill this morning and our neighbor's horses were at the fence waiting to greet us!
Then two swans entertained us.
"The waterfall is amazing, Mama. Waterfall makes Kin (Quinn) feel happy!"
Thank you Quinn, for inspiring your Mama to stretch out of her comfort zone. I love this special time that we've created together!
For the past several weeks I have been starting my days being angry at him and anyone else who happened to cross my path because I just don't want to be on toddler duty at 5 a.m.
It's not even that I want to sleep in. It's just that I like to start my day slowly and quietly -- two concepts that my two-year-old just doesn't seem to get!
In my perfect world I would wake up between five and six and slip downstairs alone for a walk or some yoga, followed by a cup of tea and time to write in my journal. Then I would get breakfast ready for my loving children who would wander downstairs (fully dressed and in pleasant moods!) around 7:30.
And I have a feeling we'll get there someday! (If Quinn follows in his sleepy-head sister's footsteps.)
But in the meantime Quinn has been wide awake and clambering into our bed at 5 a.m. for several weeks now and I have been growing increasingly more annoyed -- at him for being awake so early, and at John for somehow managing to sleep through the onslaught of exuberance.
Over the weekend I decided that I've had enough.
I don't like waking up angry. I don't like resenting my beautiful son. And I really, really need to figure out a way to have my smooth, peaceful morning that I desire so I'm not walking around in an angry, foggy haze all morning.
So I decided that no matter what the time or how I am awoken, I am going to choose to wake up in a pleasant mood, filled with gratitude and excitement for the coming day.
On Monday morning when not just Quinn -- but also Lily, who was SO excited for her first day of camp that she just couldn't sleep! -- arrived bedside at 4:45, I offered to take them on an "animal walk" (a walk in the double stroller to look for dawn-loving critters).
With a couple of pieces of toast to munch on, full sippy cups and a camera, we set off!
The only critters we saw were birds, but that was enough to entertain the kids and give me some time to mentally run through the coming day.
Since then Quinn and I have taken two more early morning walks and I'm not sure who is enjoying it more!
Here are some photos from our recent adventures...
We came up over the hill this morning and our neighbor's horses were at the fence waiting to greet us!
Then two swans entertained us.
"The waterfall is amazing, Mama. Waterfall makes Kin (Quinn) feel happy!"
Thank you Quinn, for inspiring your Mama to stretch out of her comfort zone. I love this special time that we've created together!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
clearing off the china cabinet
When John and I got married (eight years ago this month) we decided to use much of the money we received as gifts from family and friends towards the purchase of a few pieces of furniture.
My parents bought us a beautiful sleigh bed (which is being stored in the barn while we are in family-bed-on-the-floor stage) and we picked out a dining room table and a matching china cabinet.
We opted not to register for china, but instead chose to register at our favorite pottery studio and I remember what a wonderful time I had arranging our beautiful plates and bowls in the cabinet.
Over the years, the china cabinet has become the catch all for everything that doesn't have a home. It's also where I have started creating my home apothecary of homeopathic remedies, flower essences, essential oils, medicinal herbs etc.
The lower cabinets have become home to our "quiet closet," filled with board games and puzzles; our first aid kit (bandaids and Rescue Cream, which the kids help themselves to any time they need them); and our cold care kit (duck shaped hot water bottle, saline spray, soft cotton cloths, an otoscope and a few other odds and ends I'm forgetting).
The shelf, which I once visualized as a beautiful family alter space, is usually loaded up with Lily's artwork that I don't want to lose but don't know where/how to store, notecards and my address book for (attempting to keep up with) writing thank you notes, my kids baby books and birthday books, and other various creative projects that I hope "someday" to get to.
Oh and it's also the place where I tuck photographs that I love of our family so I can see them (when they are not lying on the floor getting stepped on after sliding out of the wooden rungs).
I should also mention that our china cabinet, and our kitchen table, are both prominent features of our living room, which truly is the room we "live" in. The room you walk into when you open our front door. The room where we spend the majority of our time.
I have slowly been working my way through the house, cleaning and decluttering as I go, and last night I decided it was time to clear away the clutter that has been masking our beautiful china cabinet!
before...
the table during (aka why i don't do decluttering projects when my kids are awake)...
after...
homes still needed for these items...
aaahhh....
My parents bought us a beautiful sleigh bed (which is being stored in the barn while we are in family-bed-on-the-floor stage) and we picked out a dining room table and a matching china cabinet.
We opted not to register for china, but instead chose to register at our favorite pottery studio and I remember what a wonderful time I had arranging our beautiful plates and bowls in the cabinet.
Over the years, the china cabinet has become the catch all for everything that doesn't have a home. It's also where I have started creating my home apothecary of homeopathic remedies, flower essences, essential oils, medicinal herbs etc.
The lower cabinets have become home to our "quiet closet," filled with board games and puzzles; our first aid kit (bandaids and Rescue Cream, which the kids help themselves to any time they need them); and our cold care kit (duck shaped hot water bottle, saline spray, soft cotton cloths, an otoscope and a few other odds and ends I'm forgetting).The shelf, which I once visualized as a beautiful family alter space, is usually loaded up with Lily's artwork that I don't want to lose but don't know where/how to store, notecards and my address book for (attempting to keep up with) writing thank you notes, my kids baby books and birthday books, and other various creative projects that I hope "someday" to get to.
Oh and it's also the place where I tuck photographs that I love of our family so I can see them (when they are not lying on the floor getting stepped on after sliding out of the wooden rungs).
I should also mention that our china cabinet, and our kitchen table, are both prominent features of our living room, which truly is the room we "live" in. The room you walk into when you open our front door. The room where we spend the majority of our time.
I have slowly been working my way through the house, cleaning and decluttering as I go, and last night I decided it was time to clear away the clutter that has been masking our beautiful china cabinet!
before...
the table during (aka why i don't do decluttering projects when my kids are awake)...
after...
homes still needed for these items...
aaahhh....
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Just in case...
...anyone is wondering what I've been up to (other than not keeping up with my blogs).
I've been decluttering and organizing and making space to create my home office and freecycling...and visiting childcare centers and looking up books for kids about starting "playschool."
And while I'm doing this, I'm continuing to process my feelings about my decision to return to work part-time in September.
I wrote this piece last week, which I've submitted for publication (fingers crossed!!).
I've been decluttering and organizing and making space to create my home office and freecycling...and visiting childcare centers and looking up books for kids about starting "playschool."
And while I'm doing this, I'm continuing to process my feelings about my decision to return to work part-time in September.
I wrote this piece last week, which I've submitted for publication (fingers crossed!!).
Standing on the beach alone, listening to the gentle crash of the waves, my mind drifts through the last several months and the interesting ways the Universe has gently, and not-so-gently, nudged me towards my decision to return to work. A decision that was far from easy for me.
I have been trying for four years to love being home with my kids. I really have been trying. And there is a lot about it that I do love and very much appreciate. And I am so grateful for the many special times that I have shared with my children.
But the truth is that I just don't love it. Not full-time.
And the more time I spend doing something that I really just don't love doing, the more impatient, and angry, and snappy I get with my children and the more depressed and resentful I feel.
And being an impatient, angry, resentful mother is really not the mother, or the person, I want to be.
I know I want to make some changes in my life so that I can be the loving, present, connected mother that I’ve always dreamed of being.
But then I think if I just try a little bit harder, or really not even try, but just relax and be present and appreciate the beauty and just stop yelling and getting angry, maybe I can start to love it more.
But I just don’t love it. Not full-time.
I enjoy and appreciate and savor my time with my children so much more when I spend less time being their primary caregiver.
And I'm really excited now that I am finally giving myself permission to feel this, and say this, and imagine my life changing, so that I am spending more time doing things that I do love to do. Which I have shown over and over to myself, help me to savor and enjoy the time I do spend with my children.
And yet it is still so hard.
Admitting, to myself, and others, that I don’t love being a full-time caregiver to my children feels scary.
I'm afraid that what people will hear when I say that, is that I don’t love my children.
And I really, really do love my children. I love them more than words can express. And it is for them, as well as for me, that I am making this change in my life.
I have a quote hanging over my kitchen sink that says:
My greatest gift to give is my happiness.
And I really believe this in my heart.
So it is for myself, and my wonderful husband, and most importantly, my beautiful children, that I am giving myself the gift of time and space to pursue a career that makes my heart sing and that allows me to be the fullest expression of who I am.
I know that doing what I love makes it so much easier to be more present and connected to the people I love, most especially my children.
And being the fullest expression of who I am, invites them to be the fullest expressions of who they are, which is exactly the kind of mother, and person, I want to be.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Rainy Day Closet
Somewhere in the last four years (it's really all very much a blur) I discovered Sarah Ban Breathnach's delightful book, Mrs. Sharp's Traditions, which gives readers a peek into the world of Victorian house-holding, holidays and family traditions.
Among the many helpful and creative suggestions for enjoying family life is the "rainy day closet" -- a collection of books, toys, art supplies etc. that are ONLY enjoyed on rainy days.
While reading the book, I noted which closet I would use to create our own rainy day closet, and began collecting various items to tuck inside, with the hopes of someday organizing them into a fun collection.
But major organizational projects, especially ones that involve toys, are not exactly toddler-friendly activities, and once kids are sleeping, I usually have little energy, and even less creativity to tackle a project like this.
So this morning, while my kids were at my parents, before I even looked at my to-do list, I decided today is that "someday"!!
Here's the closet before:
And after:
Here are some of the things I've included...
Mama's Mystery Box: Various odds and ends, little battery-operated toys, bubble wrap, an inflatable beach ball etc.
Art Supplies: Pipe cleaners, pom-poms, googly eyes, stick-on foam pieces, and Color Wonder-type painting kits (the mystery chemicals involved in this "mess free" painting scare me a bit for regular use, but occasionally on a rainy day, they are a lot of fun).
Sewing & Lacing: Wooden beads, animal shaped lacing cards etc.
Rainy Day Books and Friends: A small, but growing, collection of books about rainy days and stuffed friends and puppets to enjoy them with!
Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head: Lots of open-ended, creative fun, but the tiny plastic pieces are more than I can handle on a daily basis, which makes the Potatoes perfect for a rainy day!
Farm Friends: A Leap Pad refrigerator toy. Requires batteries, sings two songs over-and-over and has little pieces that spend more time on the floor than on the fridge -- a shoe-in for the Rainy Day Closet.
Elmo: A hand-me-down giggling, plastic Elmo that I almost culled before my children saw it. I'm glad I didn't. He's PERFECT for a rainy day!
And lastly, Harvey the Bunny - our Rainy Day mascot who plays "Singing in the Rain" and dances. Harvey (no idea how we came up with that name) was a $2 consignment store score!
Yay! I don't think I've ever looked forward to rainy days as much as I am now!
Among the many helpful and creative suggestions for enjoying family life is the "rainy day closet" -- a collection of books, toys, art supplies etc. that are ONLY enjoyed on rainy days.
While reading the book, I noted which closet I would use to create our own rainy day closet, and began collecting various items to tuck inside, with the hopes of someday organizing them into a fun collection.
But major organizational projects, especially ones that involve toys, are not exactly toddler-friendly activities, and once kids are sleeping, I usually have little energy, and even less creativity to tackle a project like this.
So this morning, while my kids were at my parents, before I even looked at my to-do list, I decided today is that "someday"!!
Here's the closet before:
And after:
Here are some of the things I've included...
Mama's Mystery Box: Various odds and ends, little battery-operated toys, bubble wrap, an inflatable beach ball etc.
Art Supplies: Pipe cleaners, pom-poms, googly eyes, stick-on foam pieces, and Color Wonder-type painting kits (the mystery chemicals involved in this "mess free" painting scare me a bit for regular use, but occasionally on a rainy day, they are a lot of fun).
Sewing & Lacing: Wooden beads, animal shaped lacing cards etc.
Rainy Day Books and Friends: A small, but growing, collection of books about rainy days and stuffed friends and puppets to enjoy them with!
Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head: Lots of open-ended, creative fun, but the tiny plastic pieces are more than I can handle on a daily basis, which makes the Potatoes perfect for a rainy day!
Farm Friends: A Leap Pad refrigerator toy. Requires batteries, sings two songs over-and-over and has little pieces that spend more time on the floor than on the fridge -- a shoe-in for the Rainy Day Closet.
Elmo: A hand-me-down giggling, plastic Elmo that I almost culled before my children saw it. I'm glad I didn't. He's PERFECT for a rainy day!
And lastly, Harvey the Bunny - our Rainy Day mascot who plays "Singing in the Rain" and dances. Harvey (no idea how we came up with that name) was a $2 consignment store score!
Yay! I don't think I've ever looked forward to rainy days as much as I am now!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
upcoming event...
It Really Does Take a Village
Presented by Erin Barrette Goodman
Sunday, August 17, 10 a.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County
American Legion Post 39, 1958 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown
Most people have heard the African proverb "It takes the whole village to raise a child" but as many new parents soon discover, it can be very challenging in our modern society to find a friend or two – never mind a whole village! Join Erin Barrette Goodman, writer, teacher, founder of the Rhode Island Birth Network, and mother of two, as she introduces her village through photos and stories, and shares how she came to find (and create!) a beloved circle of kindred spirits.
Childcare will be available.
Friday, June 27, 2008
TGIF!
It's been quite a wild week around here. There's not any one challenge that stands out but it was more of a "perfect storm" of (seemingly) random frustrating events sprinkled amidst lots and lots of rain that made this week a particularly challenging one. As I attempted to write at least one positive thought in my journal this morning, the only thing that felt genuine was TGIF - Thank goodness it's Friday!
I'm (still) struggling to find time/space to do my work but I'm really too tired to get into the details of it, and I have to think that it's getting pretty boring to anyone who might be reading to hear me continually drone on about my challenges as an aspiring writer/workshop leader/yoga teacher trying to find her way as a stay-at-home-mom.
So instead, I think I'll note a few of the highlights of my day (and maybe that will help to give me a more positive perspective on the rest of the week).
John came home early today so I got to go for a run by myself (no double stroller to push so I could actually swing both of my arms at the same time, no stopping to pick up dropped sippy cups or to mitigate disputes) -- it was heavenly!
On the way home, as I was walking too cool down (not because I was exhausted and out of breath ;-), I noticed something wonderful growing along our street -- milkweed!! (The picture is not mine because I was running and didn't have my camera. It's one I found on the web, which looks just like what I saw!)
I've been very much wanting to attract more butterflies to our yard, and to hopefully find some Monarch eggs that we could hatch out in our critter corner, but planting a butterfly garden is one of the many fun projects that I just never can seem to get to.
I learned from Lily's amazing preschool teacher that Monarch eggs can often be found on milkweed plants in August so now I'm totally excited to check these newly-discovered plants for eggs later in the summer!
Another wonderful thing that happened later today is that on our way home from dinner at my parents' house we saw fireflies!!
It was close to nine o'clock (I had stayed there as late as possible trying to ensure "sleepage" on the way home) but the sky, just a week after Solstice, was still so bright. My kids kept asking if we could watch Max and Ruby when we got home (which comes on at six) and if it was getting close to evening or still afternoon. They were jabbering on (and on...and on) and I was starting to feel myself sliding into scary-mama-mode.
I quickly reached into my imaginary tool box and grabbed on of my favorite yoga chants, a Bija (seed) Mantra.
Lam - Vam - Ram - Yam - Haum - Aum
It is a chant that I often led in both my prenatal and mommy and baby yoga classes that brought much comfort to everyone in the room and that almost-instantly brings me into a more calm place.
As I was humming and settling my own energy, the kids began to breathe more deeply and speak more slowly and softly.
For a while the car was quiet except for my humming and then Lily spotted a sparkle.
"Mama! I think I just saw a firefly in the woods!
"Slow down Mama. This is the perfect time to see animals that come out of the woods to eat in the evening. Wouldn't it be great if we saw a deer and fireflies in the same night, Mama!"
For the rest of the ride home, as I alternated between my chant and silently enjoying the drive, they giggled and rejoiced at the show of lights along the roadside.
At some point Lily nodded off. Quinn was quiet but still awake when we got home. As John carried a sleeping Lily into the house, Quinn and I stood on the deck and watched the fireflies dancing in the garden.
As I stood there snuggling my beautiful sleepy boy I took a deep breath. TGFF - Thank goodness for fireflies!
I'm (still) struggling to find time/space to do my work but I'm really too tired to get into the details of it, and I have to think that it's getting pretty boring to anyone who might be reading to hear me continually drone on about my challenges as an aspiring writer/workshop leader/yoga teacher trying to find her way as a stay-at-home-mom.
So instead, I think I'll note a few of the highlights of my day (and maybe that will help to give me a more positive perspective on the rest of the week).
John came home early today so I got to go for a run by myself (no double stroller to push so I could actually swing both of my arms at the same time, no stopping to pick up dropped sippy cups or to mitigate disputes) -- it was heavenly! On the way home, as I was walking too cool down (not because I was exhausted and out of breath ;-), I noticed something wonderful growing along our street -- milkweed!! (The picture is not mine because I was running and didn't have my camera. It's one I found on the web, which looks just like what I saw!)
I've been very much wanting to attract more butterflies to our yard, and to hopefully find some Monarch eggs that we could hatch out in our critter corner, but planting a butterfly garden is one of the many fun projects that I just never can seem to get to.
I learned from Lily's amazing preschool teacher that Monarch eggs can often be found on milkweed plants in August so now I'm totally excited to check these newly-discovered plants for eggs later in the summer!
Another wonderful thing that happened later today is that on our way home from dinner at my parents' house we saw fireflies!!
It was close to nine o'clock (I had stayed there as late as possible trying to ensure "sleepage" on the way home) but the sky, just a week after Solstice, was still so bright. My kids kept asking if we could watch Max and Ruby when we got home (which comes on at six) and if it was getting close to evening or still afternoon. They were jabbering on (and on...and on) and I was starting to feel myself sliding into scary-mama-mode.
I quickly reached into my imaginary tool box and grabbed on of my favorite yoga chants, a Bija (seed) Mantra.
Lam - Vam - Ram - Yam - Haum - Aum
It is a chant that I often led in both my prenatal and mommy and baby yoga classes that brought much comfort to everyone in the room and that almost-instantly brings me into a more calm place.
As I was humming and settling my own energy, the kids began to breathe more deeply and speak more slowly and softly.
For a while the car was quiet except for my humming and then Lily spotted a sparkle.
"Mama! I think I just saw a firefly in the woods!
"Slow down Mama. This is the perfect time to see animals that come out of the woods to eat in the evening. Wouldn't it be great if we saw a deer and fireflies in the same night, Mama!"
For the rest of the ride home, as I alternated between my chant and silently enjoying the drive, they giggled and rejoiced at the show of lights along the roadside.
At some point Lily nodded off. Quinn was quiet but still awake when we got home. As John carried a sleeping Lily into the house, Quinn and I stood on the deck and watched the fireflies dancing in the garden.
As I stood there snuggling my beautiful sleepy boy I took a deep breath. TGFF - Thank goodness for fireflies!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
More excitement in the critter corner!
It's Thursday, which for the summer months is our one daycare morning. Generally speaking, that means I'm usually doing some form of "work" today -- writing, answering e-mails, planning birth network events, making phone calls etc.
But today is also Lily's fourth birthday so I'm doing a quick power cleaning (things have gotten seriously out of control recently) of the house before setting up some streamers and balloons (which I totally forgot that I still have to get).
As I was sorting through the coats that have overtaken the kids' hooks, I noticed that the critter tank is looking a little dry.
And then I also noticed something else -- eggs of some sort under the soil, right up against the glass!
I'm not sure what kind of eggs they are - snail? toad? (Do toads even lay eggs? Oh, I have SO much to learn!) Or maybe something else that we didn't even know was in our tank?
I think it's so interesting that most of my amazing critter corner moments happen when I am alone. It really is becoming more and more clear to me that much of the "fun stuff" I do now that I am a parent, I could have been doing all along!
My kids are only mildly interested in what is happening in the tank (not that I blame them -- snails are pretty slow moving and the toad has not been seen since the night it surprised me).
And yet it is my children who inspire me, and gently remind me, to slow down and dig in the Earth and study snails and talk to Fairies.
And it is my children who inspire me to savor the special joy of birthdays with favorite dinners and streamers and balloons and cake and funny stories from the last year.
And so, at least for today, cleaning up the house and getting ready for tonight's (quiet family) celebration is my "work", which I will do with great joy!
And I'll be sure to stop and peek in the critter tank every chance I get!
(My "point & shoot" camera was rather confused by my attempts to photograph the eggs through a dirty glass tank but I think I managed to get a half-way decent shot. Click on the photo to enlarge.)
But today is also Lily's fourth birthday so I'm doing a quick power cleaning (things have gotten seriously out of control recently) of the house before setting up some streamers and balloons (which I totally forgot that I still have to get).
As I was sorting through the coats that have overtaken the kids' hooks, I noticed that the critter tank is looking a little dry.
And then I also noticed something else -- eggs of some sort under the soil, right up against the glass!
I'm not sure what kind of eggs they are - snail? toad? (Do toads even lay eggs? Oh, I have SO much to learn!) Or maybe something else that we didn't even know was in our tank?
I think it's so interesting that most of my amazing critter corner moments happen when I am alone. It really is becoming more and more clear to me that much of the "fun stuff" I do now that I am a parent, I could have been doing all along!
My kids are only mildly interested in what is happening in the tank (not that I blame them -- snails are pretty slow moving and the toad has not been seen since the night it surprised me).
And yet it is my children who inspire me, and gently remind me, to slow down and dig in the Earth and study snails and talk to Fairies.
And it is my children who inspire me to savor the special joy of birthdays with favorite dinners and streamers and balloons and cake and funny stories from the last year.
And so, at least for today, cleaning up the house and getting ready for tonight's (quiet family) celebration is my "work", which I will do with great joy!
And I'll be sure to stop and peek in the critter tank every chance I get!
(My "point & shoot" camera was rather confused by my attempts to photograph the eggs through a dirty glass tank but I think I managed to get a half-way decent shot. Click on the photo to enlarge.)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Happy (almost) Father's Day, Papa!
I spent some time out in the garden tonight while John was putting the kids to bed. He's put them to bed almost every night this week and I am SO grateful for this gift he is giving both me and them.
The gift to me is time alone to write, garden, read, dream, shower -- whatever I am most needing.
The gift to our children is that this increase in creative time/space is helping me to feel less scattered and less distracted and less restless and a little more excited and present and patient and go with the flow-ish during the (sometimes really long) days when I am home with them.
That's not to say I don't still have moments where I just want to scream or run away (or both) but that feels normal and healthy as the mother of two young children.
What it thankfully, does NOT feel like is hours that turned into days that turned into weeks of feeling really sad and frustrated and stuck and not knowing how to un-stick myself, that I felt all too often as a new mother.
I am so grateful for all the ways that I have grown as a person and mother in the last several years and that my husband has encouraged me and supported me and made space for this growth.
And I'm incredibly grateful that he and our children have developed special evening and weekend routines -- like basketball on the front porch and trains in their room and Papa's pancakes and visiting the children's museum -- that are all their own!
The gift to me is time alone to write, garden, read, dream, shower -- whatever I am most needing.
The gift to our children is that this increase in creative time/space is helping me to feel less scattered and less distracted and less restless and a little more excited and present and patient and go with the flow-ish during the (sometimes really long) days when I am home with them.
That's not to say I don't still have moments where I just want to scream or run away (or both) but that feels normal and healthy as the mother of two young children.
What it thankfully, does NOT feel like is hours that turned into days that turned into weeks of feeling really sad and frustrated and stuck and not knowing how to un-stick myself, that I felt all too often as a new mother.
I am so grateful for all the ways that I have grown as a person and mother in the last several years and that my husband has encouraged me and supported me and made space for this growth.
And I'm incredibly grateful that he and our children have developed special evening and weekend routines -- like basketball on the front porch and trains in their room and Papa's pancakes and visiting the children's museum -- that are all their own!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
A new friend in the Critter Corner!
After the brief excitement of watching the snail eat (lick) breakfast, things were pretty quiet in the Critter Corner yesterday.
It was hot. Really hot. And the snail didn't seem to be any more interested in moving than any of us were.
Then late last night, long after I should have collapsed in bed, I opened the tank to share some fresh chard and spinach with the snail and was totally surprised to find a little TOAD in the tank!
I later learned that it was put in there by John over the weekend. He said he kind of forgot about it and then he wasn't sure if it was still there since he hadn't seen it in a couple of days!
It was really fun to have it be a mystery for a while though. I am usually the one behind the scenes creating the magic for the kids (bringing interesting bits of nature into the house, leaving small gifts from the fairies for them to find in the morning etc.). It was so nice to be on the receiving end of some of nature's magic, even for a short time!
I've yet to get a picture of the new visitor, because I've yet to see it again. I did, however, consult our Pets in a Jar book and learned a bunch of cool stuff about toads.
~ Toads are really good to have in your garden because they eat lots of insects that would otherwise eat our plants.
~ They are active in the evening.
~ Despite popular folklore, you cannot get warts from touching a toad.
~ They like to hide out in the garden and broken flower pots turned upside down make great toad houses.
~ Toads like to eat live insects, earthworms and slugs but can also be trained to eat dog food off a moving string.
Sounds kind of cool but I really don't have the energy to care for anyone or anything else right now so once we have some new toad houses set out, and if I can find it again, I'll move our friend out to the garden!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Bring on the summer smoothies!
I made smoothies for the kids at lunchtime today and they drank them and loved them, and thanked me for making them!
I've been hoping to introduce smoothies to our breakfast repertoire for a while now but just somehow haven't gotten to it until today.
I've read that it's a great way to get healthy stuff into growing bodies and kids think they are a great treat. (There are various smoothies at the grocery store but generally I've found them to be low in nutrients and high in sugar.)
We did love the Stonyfield Farm organic strawberry yogurt smoothies for a while. When Quinn started part-time daycare last fall we sent him with "milky", which was half strawberry smoothie and half fresh, raw milk. (Then somewhere along the line, he got a taste for orange juice, so now we send him with "juicy", which is half orange juice and half water.)
Today's smoothie was...
Organic Stonyfield Farm Vanilla Yogurt
One frozen banana
A little bit of coconut oil (which was liquid because it was so hot out today)
Tomorrow I'm going to try...
Vanilla yogurt
Fresh strawberries that we picked today!
Coconut oil
...for the kids. And the same, with some fresh chard leaves, for me.
I plan to slowly add veggies and other goodies in to the kids' smoothies, but I'm going to start by slowly experimenting with my own!
I've been hoping to introduce smoothies to our breakfast repertoire for a while now but just somehow haven't gotten to it until today.
I've read that it's a great way to get healthy stuff into growing bodies and kids think they are a great treat. (There are various smoothies at the grocery store but generally I've found them to be low in nutrients and high in sugar.)
We did love the Stonyfield Farm organic strawberry yogurt smoothies for a while. When Quinn started part-time daycare last fall we sent him with "milky", which was half strawberry smoothie and half fresh, raw milk. (Then somewhere along the line, he got a taste for orange juice, so now we send him with "juicy", which is half orange juice and half water.)
Today's smoothie was...
Organic Stonyfield Farm Vanilla Yogurt
One frozen banana
A little bit of coconut oil (which was liquid because it was so hot out today)
Tomorrow I'm going to try...
Vanilla yogurt
Fresh strawberries that we picked today!
Coconut oil
...for the kids. And the same, with some fresh chard leaves, for me.
I plan to slowly add veggies and other goodies in to the kids' smoothies, but I'm going to start by slowly experimenting with my own!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Where are you, snail?
After spending Saturday afternoon creating a nice "cozy" space for our garden snail, we woke Sunday eager to observe our new friend -- only to find that that it was missing!
I was pretty sure that it hadn't left its home since we have a nice wire screen on the top of the tank, but I was very puzzled by the fact that we could not see it anywhere.
Quinn was sure that the "snail napping", which he announced every time he looked in the tank, and Lily was pretty sure that the snail was exploring underground.
I, however remained thoroughly puzzled, and a little disappointed by this turn of events.
So you can imagine my excitement when I woke up early this morning (LOVE it when I manage to wake up before everyone else and can enjoy a little quiet time before the day begins) and found our snail stuck to the side of the tank!
As I was cleaning up from the weekend's adventures, and trying to come up with a plan for today's heat (90+ degrees), I kept walking by the tank to see what our friend was doing. I also put some fresh carrot peels and some sprinkles of water into the tank.
Within a short time (not sure exactly, but less than an hour because that's how long I was up before Quinn woke up) the snail found its way to the carrots and began happily feasting. (Click on photo for a close-up view.)
Lily slept at my parents' last night so I reported the exciting development to her over the phone this morning.
Me: "Great news, Lily! Guess who I found this morning?"
Lil: Who?"
Me: "The snail! I woke up this morning and found it on the side of the tank."
Lil: "That's good, Mama."
Me: "And I gave it some fresh carrot peels, which it really seems to like to eat."
Lil" "I know mom. That's what I told you. They really do like carrots. I'll see you in a little while. Bye Mama."
As I was taking (several) photos of the snail this morning and trying to find a minute to jump on my laptop and write about it, I had to laugh.
I realized that much of what I am trying to create in our home for the benefit of our children (like access to nature via our "critter corner") is as much for me as it is for them -- and maybe, as evidenced by the slight disparity of enthusiasm during Lily and my phone conversation -- a little more for me!
I was pretty sure that it hadn't left its home since we have a nice wire screen on the top of the tank, but I was very puzzled by the fact that we could not see it anywhere.
Quinn was sure that the "snail napping", which he announced every time he looked in the tank, and Lily was pretty sure that the snail was exploring underground.
I, however remained thoroughly puzzled, and a little disappointed by this turn of events.
So you can imagine my excitement when I woke up early this morning (LOVE it when I manage to wake up before everyone else and can enjoy a little quiet time before the day begins) and found our snail stuck to the side of the tank!
As I was cleaning up from the weekend's adventures, and trying to come up with a plan for today's heat (90+ degrees), I kept walking by the tank to see what our friend was doing. I also put some fresh carrot peels and some sprinkles of water into the tank.
Within a short time (not sure exactly, but less than an hour because that's how long I was up before Quinn woke up) the snail found its way to the carrots and began happily feasting. (Click on photo for a close-up view.)
Lily slept at my parents' last night so I reported the exciting development to her over the phone this morning.
Me: "Great news, Lily! Guess who I found this morning?"
Lil: Who?"
Me: "The snail! I woke up this morning and found it on the side of the tank."
Lil: "That's good, Mama."
Me: "And I gave it some fresh carrot peels, which it really seems to like to eat."
Lil" "I know mom. That's what I told you. They really do like carrots. I'll see you in a little while. Bye Mama."
As I was taking (several) photos of the snail this morning and trying to find a minute to jump on my laptop and write about it, I had to laugh.
I realized that much of what I am trying to create in our home for the benefit of our children (like access to nature via our "critter corner") is as much for me as it is for them -- and maybe, as evidenced by the slight disparity of enthusiasm during Lily and my phone conversation -- a little more for me!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails...
...that's what little boys are made of.
In one of our favorite nursery rhyme books, Here Comes Mother Goose, by Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells, this traditional rhyme is turned around so that it's the little boys who are made of "sugar and spice and all things nice" and little girls who are made of "frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails."
I still find myself tripping over the words a bit when we come to that rhyme, as the traditional version is so etched in me mind, but I am grateful for this gentle reminder of the power of language.
And I am grateful that my creepy-crawly-critter-loving daughter has ample roll models, both in literature and life, that encourage her to pursue her love of nature and insects and mud, as well as dolls and tea parties.
And I guess I should also consider myself, her primary caregiver for the last four years, among these roll models -- though that feels odd as I have yet to make peace with most things that creep or crawl myself.
My parents were (are) fantastically wonderful parents (and grandparents) but, near as I can tell, neither of them -- a math/computer science teacher and an electrical engineer -- were particularly interested in exploring nature. I don't remember ever having a garden as a child or going camping or (intentionally) having bugs or other critters in our house.
It was actually my experiences, beginning as a young teenager and continuing through college, as a mother's helper, babysitter, camp counselor and eventually (albeit briefly) as an elementary school teacher, that got me really excited about the discoveries one can make by digging in the dirt.
And like most every parent on the planet who looks back at their own childhood and notices something lacking, I set the intention to raise our children to feel comfortable in and connected to the natural world.
And yet I still didn't feel any more comfortable with the thought of handling critters.
Over the course of the last four years, and most significantly this past year, I have been stretching outside of my comfort zone and getting to know the creature world.
In the beginning, I mainly just noticed how uncomfortable creepy-crawly things make me feel and tried to use this new awareness as a growth opportunity.
One of the biggest things for me has been reading books -- lots of them! Every couple of weeks I go online and order books about a particular critter that is of interest to our daughter (often inspired by her favorite TV shows, Zoboomafoo and Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies).
Sometimes I read them with her. Sometimes I read them myself and talk about them with her. Sometimes I just put them on our book shelf to have as a reference if something comes up (like today when we wondered how to create a habitat for a garden snail).
I also have started handling critters -- well sort of.
What I do is wear garden gloves when we work outside. When Lily finds something interesting -- a small toad, a wriggling worm, ants, spiders, inchworms -- she joyfully picks them up and often wants me to do the same.
Without my gloves on I am (still) pretty freaked out to touch them but with my gloves on it doesn't bother me a bit. And she really doesn't seem to notice that I'm wearing gloves because their just kind of part of my gardening/yard work gear!
We also visit the aquarium often and enjoy some of the less splashy (literally) exhibits like the bat cave and snake and lizard habitats. Observing the critters through glass feels very comfortable for me -- and is actually a lot of fun!
A few weeks ago, I decided it would be fun to get a tank and create a little habitat in our house like the one at Lily's preschool (pictured below).
Through the wonders of technology, I posted a request on Freecycle and within a couple of days, we had our tank! It's been sitting empty for a few weeks, waiting for its first inhabitants.
Then yesterday, while out working in the garden, John and Lily happened upon a garden snail (which a few years ago would have evoked a loud "EWWWWWW" from me), but after hearing about the snails at school for months now, I was thrilled to welcome our first critter.
This afternoon Lily and I spent some time making the tank a little cozier for our guest by adding soil, rocks, sticks, leaves, rocks, moss and a shell. Lily told me that at school they feed the snails carrot peels, so that is what ours received as its first meal. I learned, yesterday, while visiting her school for her birthday celebration, that it is also necessary to spray the tank with water every couple of days.
Here's Lily (nails freshly painted for the baby shower luncheon we attended today) checking out the snail.
Apparently she was right! The snail moved (surprisingly quickly) to the carrot shreds, which, according to the book I read last night, it will use its rough tongue to lick nutrients off of.
And here is our new critter tank. Like everyone else in our cozy, little house, our snail friend will live in our "living" room!
Thank you Rosemary Wells, Iona Opie, and my sweet Lily for reminding me that both boys and girls -- and grown ups too -- can be made of "frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails"!
In one of our favorite nursery rhyme books, Here Comes Mother Goose, by Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells, this traditional rhyme is turned around so that it's the little boys who are made of "sugar and spice and all things nice" and little girls who are made of "frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails."
I still find myself tripping over the words a bit when we come to that rhyme, as the traditional version is so etched in me mind, but I am grateful for this gentle reminder of the power of language.
And I am grateful that my creepy-crawly-critter-loving daughter has ample roll models, both in literature and life, that encourage her to pursue her love of nature and insects and mud, as well as dolls and tea parties.
And I guess I should also consider myself, her primary caregiver for the last four years, among these roll models -- though that feels odd as I have yet to make peace with most things that creep or crawl myself.
My parents were (are) fantastically wonderful parents (and grandparents) but, near as I can tell, neither of them -- a math/computer science teacher and an electrical engineer -- were particularly interested in exploring nature. I don't remember ever having a garden as a child or going camping or (intentionally) having bugs or other critters in our house.
It was actually my experiences, beginning as a young teenager and continuing through college, as a mother's helper, babysitter, camp counselor and eventually (albeit briefly) as an elementary school teacher, that got me really excited about the discoveries one can make by digging in the dirt.
And like most every parent on the planet who looks back at their own childhood and notices something lacking, I set the intention to raise our children to feel comfortable in and connected to the natural world.
And yet I still didn't feel any more comfortable with the thought of handling critters.
Over the course of the last four years, and most significantly this past year, I have been stretching outside of my comfort zone and getting to know the creature world.
In the beginning, I mainly just noticed how uncomfortable creepy-crawly things make me feel and tried to use this new awareness as a growth opportunity.
One of the biggest things for me has been reading books -- lots of them! Every couple of weeks I go online and order books about a particular critter that is of interest to our daughter (often inspired by her favorite TV shows, Zoboomafoo and Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies).
Sometimes I read them with her. Sometimes I read them myself and talk about them with her. Sometimes I just put them on our book shelf to have as a reference if something comes up (like today when we wondered how to create a habitat for a garden snail).
I also have started handling critters -- well sort of.
What I do is wear garden gloves when we work outside. When Lily finds something interesting -- a small toad, a wriggling worm, ants, spiders, inchworms -- she joyfully picks them up and often wants me to do the same.
Without my gloves on I am (still) pretty freaked out to touch them but with my gloves on it doesn't bother me a bit. And she really doesn't seem to notice that I'm wearing gloves because their just kind of part of my gardening/yard work gear!
We also visit the aquarium often and enjoy some of the less splashy (literally) exhibits like the bat cave and snake and lizard habitats. Observing the critters through glass feels very comfortable for me -- and is actually a lot of fun!
A few weeks ago, I decided it would be fun to get a tank and create a little habitat in our house like the one at Lily's preschool (pictured below).
Through the wonders of technology, I posted a request on Freecycle and within a couple of days, we had our tank! It's been sitting empty for a few weeks, waiting for its first inhabitants.
Then yesterday, while out working in the garden, John and Lily happened upon a garden snail (which a few years ago would have evoked a loud "EWWWWWW" from me), but after hearing about the snails at school for months now, I was thrilled to welcome our first critter.
This afternoon Lily and I spent some time making the tank a little cozier for our guest by adding soil, rocks, sticks, leaves, rocks, moss and a shell. Lily told me that at school they feed the snails carrot peels, so that is what ours received as its first meal. I learned, yesterday, while visiting her school for her birthday celebration, that it is also necessary to spray the tank with water every couple of days.
Here's Lily (nails freshly painted for the baby shower luncheon we attended today) checking out the snail.
Apparently she was right! The snail moved (surprisingly quickly) to the carrot shreds, which, according to the book I read last night, it will use its rough tongue to lick nutrients off of.
And here is our new critter tank. Like everyone else in our cozy, little house, our snail friend will live in our "living" room!
Thank you Rosemary Wells, Iona Opie, and my sweet Lily for reminding me that both boys and girls -- and grown ups too -- can be made of "frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails"!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Beginning to explore education options more deeply
Lily is turning four in a couple of weeks.
Last month she started teaching herself to write words. She has been writing her name for a while now - and occasionally a couple of other words like Mama, Papa, Nana, Grandpa and Grandma.
But last month she made the connection that all "things" have "words" and all words have "letters".
And that if she wants to write about something she can find the word (in a book, on a sign, on a toy) or ask someone what the letters are and then she can write the letters that make the word, that represent the "thing" that she wants to write about.
And she is THRILLED with this discovery.
She has a new mode of expression and she is having SO much fun with it -- labeling her pictures, making cards, writing letters and addressing envelopes, drawing on our chalkboard...
And when I witnessed the amazing process by which this learning took place -- in our car, at our dining room table (which is actually in our living room because the former "dinette" next to the kitchen is now a play area), at her nursery school, at my parents' house, at the grocery store and just about anywhere else we went in the last several weeks -- it made me realize that learning can and does happen EVERYWHERE!
Which made me feel really excited about the idea of unschooling our kids.
And so I spent the next several weeks moving/dreaming in an unschooling direction...gathering items off Craig's List and Freecycle, like old (but working) digital cameras for my budding photographers and aquarium tanks for our growing critter collection, and checking books out of the library on insects and gardening...and feeling really in the flow of life while I was doing.
And then I crashed.
I had a couple of events that I was hosting -- a blessingway for a friend's new homebirth midwifery practice (the first in our state in 100+ years) and a potluck picnic for our friends and family -- and a writing assignment that made my heart sing and suddenly my needs and the kids needs seemed really at odds.
And we all started fighting a lot. And I tried to push through with my stuff (because I was really, really excited about the events and the writing project and not having time/space to do them felt really frustrating).
And things got more and more tense.
And then I thought, "There is NO WAY I can homeschool (or unschool or roadschool or any of the other cool things I've been reading about) because I will go totally INSANE!!!"
I need some regular blocks of time away from my kids (or anyone else who wants anything from me) to create and dream and write and do whatever it is I most want to do. I do not enjoy ALWAYS having them with me and ALWAYS having to take their needs into consideration.
And then I started moving/dreaming in the direction of them going to school -- a charter school or a Montessori school or a Waldorf school (yes! I realize the philosophies are VERY different and some would even say opposite) or an Enki school or some other awesome school that I don't even know about yet!
And then Thursday (Lily has preschool, Quinn has daycare and I get to write, or garden, or both!) and the energy in our house was SO peaceful. And we parted ways joyfully in the morning and reconnected joyfully at noon and life felt REALLY groovy and fun! And I thought, Yes! School really is GOOD for our family.
And I talked to my friends whose kids go to school and they told me all the things that they love about it. And all the things they love about what they do while their kids are in school.
And I continued to think, Yes! School is REALLY good for our family.
And then my friend who is finishing up a year of homeschooling her kindergarten-aged daughter and exploring options for going to school for first grade said that her big concern is how much time kids are away from home.
When would we do all of the fun things that we love to do with our kids?
(In our house it's reading books and having our morning sharing circle where we speak our intentions for the day and do yoga and sing songs, writing in our journals, working in the garden, going on nature walks, and collecting eggs and visiting with our chickens, and having a weekly "adventure day" where we do something different/fun, and cooking, and baking, and listening to my daughter act out plays with her wooden animals while I cook dinner.)
When would we do those things if they got on a bus at 7:30 or 8 o'clock and got home at 3:30 or 4 o'clock, five days a week??
So now I'm starting to feel myself dream/move in the direction of a cottage school that meets two-three days per week...where we get some of the many benefits of a school community, and I get a regular chunk of time for my work, but we are not committed to a five-full-day school week schedule.
To be continued....
Last month she started teaching herself to write words. She has been writing her name for a while now - and occasionally a couple of other words like Mama, Papa, Nana, Grandpa and Grandma.
But last month she made the connection that all "things" have "words" and all words have "letters".
And that if she wants to write about something she can find the word (in a book, on a sign, on a toy) or ask someone what the letters are and then she can write the letters that make the word, that represent the "thing" that she wants to write about.
And she is THRILLED with this discovery.
She has a new mode of expression and she is having SO much fun with it -- labeling her pictures, making cards, writing letters and addressing envelopes, drawing on our chalkboard...
And when I witnessed the amazing process by which this learning took place -- in our car, at our dining room table (which is actually in our living room because the former "dinette" next to the kitchen is now a play area), at her nursery school, at my parents' house, at the grocery store and just about anywhere else we went in the last several weeks -- it made me realize that learning can and does happen EVERYWHERE!
Which made me feel really excited about the idea of unschooling our kids.
And so I spent the next several weeks moving/dreaming in an unschooling direction...gathering items off Craig's List and Freecycle, like old (but working) digital cameras for my budding photographers and aquarium tanks for our growing critter collection, and checking books out of the library on insects and gardening...and feeling really in the flow of life while I was doing.
And then I crashed.
I had a couple of events that I was hosting -- a blessingway for a friend's new homebirth midwifery practice (the first in our state in 100+ years) and a potluck picnic for our friends and family -- and a writing assignment that made my heart sing and suddenly my needs and the kids needs seemed really at odds.
And we all started fighting a lot. And I tried to push through with my stuff (because I was really, really excited about the events and the writing project and not having time/space to do them felt really frustrating).
And things got more and more tense.
And then I thought, "There is NO WAY I can homeschool (or unschool or roadschool or any of the other cool things I've been reading about) because I will go totally INSANE!!!"
I need some regular blocks of time away from my kids (or anyone else who wants anything from me) to create and dream and write and do whatever it is I most want to do. I do not enjoy ALWAYS having them with me and ALWAYS having to take their needs into consideration.
And then I started moving/dreaming in the direction of them going to school -- a charter school or a Montessori school or a Waldorf school (yes! I realize the philosophies are VERY different and some would even say opposite) or an Enki school or some other awesome school that I don't even know about yet!
And then Thursday (Lily has preschool, Quinn has daycare and I get to write, or garden, or both!) and the energy in our house was SO peaceful. And we parted ways joyfully in the morning and reconnected joyfully at noon and life felt REALLY groovy and fun! And I thought, Yes! School really is GOOD for our family.
And I talked to my friends whose kids go to school and they told me all the things that they love about it. And all the things they love about what they do while their kids are in school.
And I continued to think, Yes! School is REALLY good for our family.
And then my friend who is finishing up a year of homeschooling her kindergarten-aged daughter and exploring options for going to school for first grade said that her big concern is how much time kids are away from home.
When would we do all of the fun things that we love to do with our kids?
(In our house it's reading books and having our morning sharing circle where we speak our intentions for the day and do yoga and sing songs, writing in our journals, working in the garden, going on nature walks, and collecting eggs and visiting with our chickens, and having a weekly "adventure day" where we do something different/fun, and cooking, and baking, and listening to my daughter act out plays with her wooden animals while I cook dinner.)
When would we do those things if they got on a bus at 7:30 or 8 o'clock and got home at 3:30 or 4 o'clock, five days a week??
So now I'm starting to feel myself dream/move in the direction of a cottage school that meets two-three days per week...where we get some of the many benefits of a school community, and I get a regular chunk of time for my work, but we are not committed to a five-full-day school week schedule.
To be continued....
Thursday, May 29, 2008
More contrast...more growth.
It's tempting to skip over the last couple of days like they never happened but I know that doing so would be dishonest to myself, and to anyone who might be reading along with my happy-fun-mothering-adventures.
There have been many wonderful moments in recent days, most especially our potluck picnic at the park on Sunday, and the creation of my new dating column on kidoinfo.com, but there have also been many long, dark, angry, scary, trudging-uphill-in-a-snowstorm moments.
And I am once again examining who I am as a person and mother and who I want to be.
In the last week, and especially in the last two days, I have been ugly and angry and disrespectful and violent (physically, emotionally, verbally, energetically) with my children.
And the whole time I have been feeling angry and trapped because if they would just start behaving themselves, I wouldn't be so frustrated all the time.
My two-year-old has been biting my four-year-old and my four-year-old has been throwing food and books and toys at my two-year-old and at me.
Yesterday I read Scott Noelle's Daily Groove and it spoke to me so deeply.
"It's okay to feel angry but it's not okay to bite"
"It's okay to feel angry but it's not okay to throw food at your Mama."
...and threatening them with consequences and putting them in Time Out (yet another of the many things I vowed I would never do).
Meanwhile, I have continued to do exactly what I am trying to teach them not to do.
I am taking MY anger and frustration out on THEM.
And when I step back and look at the words I have been using and the energy behind them, as I am now, I feel sick to my stomach.
I know that the way that I have been acting this week is NOT who I am and most definitely not who I want to be.
Thankfully, I have a loving and supportive partner who patiently and gently put kids to bed the last two nights when I just couldn't do it.
And I was able to get out and take a walk alone and work in the garden and return just a short time later with a fresh perspective.
I am simply out of balance.
Really that's all there is to it. And as a yoga teacher I *should* know this, right?
But it's so hard to see it in your own life. And when there is so much chaos and anger around you, it's so easy to point at everyone else and say it is their fault.
I love my children dearly and I love being their mother. But I also love being a writer and a teacher, and working in my garden, and learning new things and dialoging with other adults.
And I am a much happier, calm, centered, joyful, present mother when I acknowledge and honor these needs.
And yet I still keep pushing forward (with a clenched jaw and knotted stomach) with this idea that it wrong for me to want to be away from them. To need to be away from them. And that if I just keep trying hard enough I will somehow figure out how to balance it all at the same time.
And it's not working.
So today, once again, I am deeply grateful for wonderful and nurturing childcare so that I may have this time and space to explore these feelings, to rest and to recharge and to, once again, find my balance.
There have been many wonderful moments in recent days, most especially our potluck picnic at the park on Sunday, and the creation of my new dating column on kidoinfo.com, but there have also been many long, dark, angry, scary, trudging-uphill-in-a-snowstorm moments.
And I am once again examining who I am as a person and mother and who I want to be.
In the last week, and especially in the last two days, I have been ugly and angry and disrespectful and violent (physically, emotionally, verbally, energetically) with my children.
And the whole time I have been feeling angry and trapped because if they would just start behaving themselves, I wouldn't be so frustrated all the time.
My two-year-old has been biting my four-year-old and my four-year-old has been throwing food and books and toys at my two-year-old and at me.
Yesterday I read Scott Noelle's Daily Groove and it spoke to me so deeply.
THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott NoelleI have been repeatedly telling my kids over the last several days...
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove
:: Blessing the Mirror ::
Today, stand before a mirror and bless it for the gift
of reflection...
Thank you, blessed mirror, for helping me
see myself, so I can use that awareness to
express myself more authentically.
Thank you for letting me see when my face
shows signs of stress, so I can shift my
thinking until my reflection indicates that
I've found my way back to Well-Being.
You know where this is going, don't you? . . .
Your *child* is the mirror!
When you don't like what you see in your child,
there's a good chance s/he's reflecting some aspect of
yourself that's out of alignment with Who You Really Are.
Be open to seeing that. And remember that it's rarely
a *literal* reflection. Children often reflect their
parents' shadows in exaggerated or quirky ways.
Follow your intuition.
Bless your beloved "mirror" and focus on being true to
your Self. Eventually, your child will reflect that
Truth back to you.
http://dailygroove.net/mirror
Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2008 by Scott Noelle
"It's okay to feel angry but it's not okay to bite"
"It's okay to feel angry but it's not okay to throw food at your Mama."
...and threatening them with consequences and putting them in Time Out (yet another of the many things I vowed I would never do).
Meanwhile, I have continued to do exactly what I am trying to teach them not to do.
I am taking MY anger and frustration out on THEM.
And when I step back and look at the words I have been using and the energy behind them, as I am now, I feel sick to my stomach.
I know that the way that I have been acting this week is NOT who I am and most definitely not who I want to be.
Thankfully, I have a loving and supportive partner who patiently and gently put kids to bed the last two nights when I just couldn't do it.
And I was able to get out and take a walk alone and work in the garden and return just a short time later with a fresh perspective.
I am simply out of balance.
Really that's all there is to it. And as a yoga teacher I *should* know this, right?
But it's so hard to see it in your own life. And when there is so much chaos and anger around you, it's so easy to point at everyone else and say it is their fault.
I love my children dearly and I love being their mother. But I also love being a writer and a teacher, and working in my garden, and learning new things and dialoging with other adults.
And I am a much happier, calm, centered, joyful, present mother when I acknowledge and honor these needs.
And yet I still keep pushing forward (with a clenched jaw and knotted stomach) with this idea that it wrong for me to want to be away from them. To need to be away from them. And that if I just keep trying hard enough I will somehow figure out how to balance it all at the same time.
And it's not working.
So today, once again, I am deeply grateful for wonderful and nurturing childcare so that I may have this time and space to explore these feelings, to rest and to recharge and to, once again, find my balance.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Spring Peepers: Week five (maybe six??)
The chicks are now out in the barn in the extra stall next to Roosty and the "big girls". Cleaning out the stall was quite a project (one I opted to do without any "help" from kiddos :-).
The chicks seem to have adjusted pretty well and are enjoying the extra room to move and practice flying. They were a little freaked out at first by the rooster's crowing and the squawking of the hens as they lay their eggs, but they seem to be settling in to the new sounds.
I hope, at some point soon (if the weather ever gets warm), to start putting them out in the yard in a wire dog crate so they can start scratching for bugs and eating grass.
The stall before I cleaned it out:
The displacement factor outside the barn (which I'm still working on cleaning up):
The chicks check out their new digs:
Lily and Sarah:
The chicks seem to have adjusted pretty well and are enjoying the extra room to move and practice flying. They were a little freaked out at first by the rooster's crowing and the squawking of the hens as they lay their eggs, but they seem to be settling in to the new sounds.
I hope, at some point soon (if the weather ever gets warm), to start putting them out in the yard in a wire dog crate so they can start scratching for bugs and eating grass.
The stall before I cleaned it out:
The displacement factor outside the barn (which I'm still working on cleaning up):
The chicks check out their new digs:
Lily and Sarah:
Monday, May 5, 2008
Spring Peepers - Week 3
It's been quite an adventurous week with our basement-dwelling chicks!
One day last week (Wednesday, I think) I went downstairs to get, ironically enough, chicken out of the freezer for dinner and discovered one of our little chicks hanging upside down with its leg stuck between two metal bars (firewood rack holding the heat lamp).
Lily was upstairs putting our her boots, which I've made mandatory for visiting with the chicks as the wood chips are not quite as fresh and clean as they were last week.
I scanned the plastic wading pool and realized that it was her beloved friend, Cocoa, who was injured, and I thought possibly dead.
I yelled up to Lily to please wait at the top of the stairs and as I did that Cocoa moved a bit. And that is when my first official chick rescue began.
Well, almost.
I kind of hopped around in a circle for a minute or so trying to figure out what the heck I was supposed to do, wanting to call someone (I have no idea who) to help, but realizing, once again (though it still never ceases to amaze me), that I am the Mama. I'm the one in charge who is supposed to remain calm and know what to do in emergencies.
I stopped hopping in place and flailing my arms and took a deep breath.
I was able to slip her leg out (without really looking at it because I was afraid it was going to be broken and horrible to see) and she snuggled right in to my chest. I brought her upstairs and explained what happened to Lily who suggested that we needed to give her Rescue Remedy and lots of love energy, which we did.
Lily examined Cocoa's leg and reported that it was not broken, just badly sprained and that she needed to be snuggled by her best friend Lily.
After about a half an hour, we brought her back down with her friends, where she hopped around on one foot for the rest of the day.
By the next morning she was walking, gingerly, on the leg and within a couple of days, there was no sign of the injury.
All was quiet with the chicks for a couple of days. I started noticing that taking care of them (fresh water and food twice a day) was becoming a bit of a chore for Lil.
But then they started to change. Virtually overnight, they went from cute fluffy little chicks to awkward teenager chicks, which apparently Lily finds even more beautiful than the fluffy babes.
They have lost most of their soft fuzzy feathers and their new feathers are showing their distinctive markings.
They are starting to attempt flying more regularly and are beginning to take interest in what is beyond the blue plastic walls containing them.
This weekend we will move them out to an empty stall in the barn where they will have even more room to roam and partake in their teenage chicken antics!
One day last week (Wednesday, I think) I went downstairs to get, ironically enough, chicken out of the freezer for dinner and discovered one of our little chicks hanging upside down with its leg stuck between two metal bars (firewood rack holding the heat lamp).
Lily was upstairs putting our her boots, which I've made mandatory for visiting with the chicks as the wood chips are not quite as fresh and clean as they were last week.
I scanned the plastic wading pool and realized that it was her beloved friend, Cocoa, who was injured, and I thought possibly dead.
I yelled up to Lily to please wait at the top of the stairs and as I did that Cocoa moved a bit. And that is when my first official chick rescue began.
Well, almost.
I kind of hopped around in a circle for a minute or so trying to figure out what the heck I was supposed to do, wanting to call someone (I have no idea who) to help, but realizing, once again (though it still never ceases to amaze me), that I am the Mama. I'm the one in charge who is supposed to remain calm and know what to do in emergencies.
I stopped hopping in place and flailing my arms and took a deep breath.
I was able to slip her leg out (without really looking at it because I was afraid it was going to be broken and horrible to see) and she snuggled right in to my chest. I brought her upstairs and explained what happened to Lily who suggested that we needed to give her Rescue Remedy and lots of love energy, which we did.
Lily examined Cocoa's leg and reported that it was not broken, just badly sprained and that she needed to be snuggled by her best friend Lily.
After about a half an hour, we brought her back down with her friends, where she hopped around on one foot for the rest of the day.
By the next morning she was walking, gingerly, on the leg and within a couple of days, there was no sign of the injury.
All was quiet with the chicks for a couple of days. I started noticing that taking care of them (fresh water and food twice a day) was becoming a bit of a chore for Lil.
But then they started to change. Virtually overnight, they went from cute fluffy little chicks to awkward teenager chicks, which apparently Lily finds even more beautiful than the fluffy babes.
They have lost most of their soft fuzzy feathers and their new feathers are showing their distinctive markings.
They are starting to attempt flying more regularly and are beginning to take interest in what is beyond the blue plastic walls containing them.
This weekend we will move them out to an empty stall in the barn where they will have even more room to roam and partake in their teenage chicken antics!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Fun Finger Foods
Tonight we had a dinner that was so well received by the under-four crowd in our house, that I want to jot for future inspiration!
We've had a lot of favorites in the last couple days - chicken-broccoli and yummy tacos - so I really didn't feel like doing much cooking tonight.
So, while John took the kids to the playground to play, I whipped up some mini-bagel pizzas (mini bagels, jarred sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese - easy peasy).
I wanted to serve a veggie with it and decided some edamame (in the shells of course - so much more fun to eat when you have to pop the beans out of their shells!) would be great.
I know the kids love edamame but the bagel pizzas were new (you'd think pizza would be an easy sell but Lily is quite particular about the sauce the cheese ratio and the amount of "spicy-ness" that works for her) so I thought I'd put out a couple of sure things like a bowl of olives (fun to slip onto all of your fingers) and peanut butter with pretzel sticks for dipping!
The theme on the table this week has been Matchbox Cars so it just all came together really nicely to be a super fun and easy meal.
Half-way through the meal, Lily started using a little dump truck to dump edamame shells in the shell bowl, and Quinn was bulldozing some olives around the table.
I think there was a time that I would have thought toys at the table and finger foods were not good for dinner, especially not Sunday Dinner, but tonight was one of the most relaxing and fun meals we've had in a long time!
And no one was jumping up from the table after five minutes to run off and play. I think this was one of the longest meals that both kids contently ate and played at the table!
And there was very little kitchen clean up after we ate since there wasn't a whole lot of mixing and cooking involved -- which is always a hit with the over-30 crowd in our house! ;-)
We've had a lot of favorites in the last couple days - chicken-broccoli and yummy tacos - so I really didn't feel like doing much cooking tonight.
So, while John took the kids to the playground to play, I whipped up some mini-bagel pizzas (mini bagels, jarred sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese - easy peasy).
I wanted to serve a veggie with it and decided some edamame (in the shells of course - so much more fun to eat when you have to pop the beans out of their shells!) would be great.
I know the kids love edamame but the bagel pizzas were new (you'd think pizza would be an easy sell but Lily is quite particular about the sauce the cheese ratio and the amount of "spicy-ness" that works for her) so I thought I'd put out a couple of sure things like a bowl of olives (fun to slip onto all of your fingers) and peanut butter with pretzel sticks for dipping!
The theme on the table this week has been Matchbox Cars so it just all came together really nicely to be a super fun and easy meal.
Half-way through the meal, Lily started using a little dump truck to dump edamame shells in the shell bowl, and Quinn was bulldozing some olives around the table.
I think there was a time that I would have thought toys at the table and finger foods were not good for dinner, especially not Sunday Dinner, but tonight was one of the most relaxing and fun meals we've had in a long time!
And no one was jumping up from the table after five minutes to run off and play. I think this was one of the longest meals that both kids contently ate and played at the table!
And there was very little kitchen clean up after we ate since there wasn't a whole lot of mixing and cooking involved -- which is always a hit with the over-30 crowd in our house! ;-)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Life is good.
Here are a few things I want to remember about my 34th birthday...~ Still riding the high from the amazing weekend and my first official overnight retreat since Lily was born, almost four years ago.
~ Taking several important steps towards starting my new career!
~ Driving the van through puddles today and hearing both kids SQUEAL with delight when the water splashed up.
~ Quinn having a major tantrum and throwing everything that came near him at the restaurant during lunch.
{And me REALLY not being all that bothered about it. Don't get me wrong, I definitely would have preferred to eat under more peaceful conditions but it didn't totally ruin my day in the way tantrums have in the past. That feels really BIG.}
~ Sitting in the van in the rain with the kids and watching surfers riding the waves and yelling "surfer up!!!.....awwwwww....surfer dooooooown" over and over and then laughing and laughing.
~ Receiving cards and e-mail wishes from friends I haven't talked to in a long time. It felt so good to reconnect!
~ Helping Quinn through another tantrum at nap time, and again being really pretty okay with it (I never imagined I'd feel this way about tantrums. Very cool. :-).
~ Having one of my wonderful Mother's Helpers here to keep Lil company while I was upstairs being okay with above-mentioned tantrum.
~ Hearing about the crazy adventure that my mom took to pick up a reflexology gift certificate for me and thinking about how wonderful it's going to be when I go for the treatment.
~ Watching Quinn be totally satisfied to re-gift me flowers two seconds after Lily presented them to me!
~ Eating delicious Pad Thai that John picked up on his way home tonight.
~ Having my dad take something out of the yard that I've been wishing would disappear so I can enjoy a more pleasing view out of my kitchen window.
~ And the most wonderful thing I want to remember about my 34th birthday...
Having Lily smile and reach under her pillow this morning. And pull out the birthday card she made for me.
On it she drew a picture and wrote in something that looked like this...
MMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMM
Which she dictated to John to be...
~ I love when Mama helps me to take a bath.
~ I love when Mama feeds me food.
~ I love when Mama takes me places and gives me treats.
~ I love when Mama helps me to sleep.
~ And when Mama helps me write letters.
~ And I love that Mama always cares about me and hugs me and kisses me.
Ahhhhhhh....life is good.
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