My 2 favorites are: the green mushroom we found in the Berkshires at an Audobon spot and a mushroom with a face that looks like a Fantasia mushroom! Oh, and the puffball that we set afloat on the stream last weekend. They don't sink!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Mushrooms for 2009
A rather limited selection of mushrooms for this year, compared to last! And only 1 stinkhorn (and, gasp, I didn't have my camera with me) that was on the decline when we found it.
My 2 favorites are: the green mushroom we found in the Berkshires at an Audobon spot and a mushroom with a face that looks like a Fantasia mushroom! Oh, and the puffball that we set afloat on the stream last weekend. They don't sink!
My 2 favorites are: the green mushroom we found in the Berkshires at an Audobon spot and a mushroom with a face that looks like a Fantasia mushroom! Oh, and the puffball that we set afloat on the stream last weekend. They don't sink!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Unconditional Parenting
I must have checked this book out around the time Alfie Kohn had his article published in the New York Times. I'll admit I haven't read the article yet (I have it printed out and safely filed away on my bedroom floor somewhere - ah, there it is!), but it looks to be a synopsis of his book 'Unconditional Parenting'.
I have a lot to say about this book - still not entirely agreeing with all that is said. But absorbing a HUGE amount that I feel will be helpful, that has already been helpful. A child getting upset, making me angry, only adds fuel to the fire and, in retrospect, makes me feel childish for not handling the situation more like a grown up. (I think I can say I always feel badly after losing my temper, for so many reasons, least of all for knowing it was not at all how to go about resolving a situation.) I've been taking notes throughout the book and now I have to create a condensed lump of parenting knowledge to present to my husband so we can try some of these techniques together.
I have also come to realize, that when the children haven't received one of three basics at any given time during the day: enough sleep, enough food, enough time outside, that the characteristics that they each have become askew and jagged. So that it's not always the action that should be challenged by us, but rather, making sure their basic needs are taken care of to minimize outbursts, disagreements and difficulties. Offering them solutions and asking them what solutions they could employ to help them through those difficult times is also a wonderful technique.
I know I'll be more careful next time we practice violin. I tried today when I had 15 minutes. Unfortunately, it was when Huxley was starving, but hadn't realized it. So right after a session where I was sure he was going to crack the violin over my head, he asked for some leftover ravioli, followed immediately by a burrito and 2 pears! I have to plan those practices very carefully from now on!
I have a lot to say about this book - still not entirely agreeing with all that is said. But absorbing a HUGE amount that I feel will be helpful, that has already been helpful. A child getting upset, making me angry, only adds fuel to the fire and, in retrospect, makes me feel childish for not handling the situation more like a grown up. (I think I can say I always feel badly after losing my temper, for so many reasons, least of all for knowing it was not at all how to go about resolving a situation.) I've been taking notes throughout the book and now I have to create a condensed lump of parenting knowledge to present to my husband so we can try some of these techniques together.
I have also come to realize, that when the children haven't received one of three basics at any given time during the day: enough sleep, enough food, enough time outside, that the characteristics that they each have become askew and jagged. So that it's not always the action that should be challenged by us, but rather, making sure their basic needs are taken care of to minimize outbursts, disagreements and difficulties. Offering them solutions and asking them what solutions they could employ to help them through those difficult times is also a wonderful technique.
I know I'll be more careful next time we practice violin. I tried today when I had 15 minutes. Unfortunately, it was when Huxley was starving, but hadn't realized it. So right after a session where I was sure he was going to crack the violin over my head, he asked for some leftover ravioli, followed immediately by a burrito and 2 pears! I have to plan those practices very carefully from now on!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Close to home
After school pick ups today: dinner, make chocolate chip cookies, play with violin, read. A quickly moving process, but fairly manageable. It's so hard to 'keep my cool' when I know the clock is ticking and we have to finish dinner by x time, then move on to the next thing. It becomes even more hectic when something that I haven't factored in pops up.
Like Dashiell not eating or using 'gentle hands'. That ends up chewing away another chunk of time. But I suppose these are all teachable moments, when I can lead by example. Remember patience, don't raise my voice, remind him that I love him but his actions are not ok. He needs to try to make choices that he can be happy with and proud of.
But these quick turnarounds from daycare/after school care to home to dinner to bed are so hard on the children. I become impatient too easily some days. They act out very quickly, their energies, as we all come together are all on different planes and feelings get hurt so easily. I need to determine an intermediary step that can try to bring us all together to the same place, even if it's momentarily, to help with those transitions, that remind us to be loving, patient and gentle.
--------------------
And now daddy comes home from a week away. And Nanny (my mum) arrives on Saturday. Home will change again and again as we bring people back into our house. Fingers crossed!
Like Dashiell not eating or using 'gentle hands'. That ends up chewing away another chunk of time. But I suppose these are all teachable moments, when I can lead by example. Remember patience, don't raise my voice, remind him that I love him but his actions are not ok. He needs to try to make choices that he can be happy with and proud of.
But these quick turnarounds from daycare/after school care to home to dinner to bed are so hard on the children. I become impatient too easily some days. They act out very quickly, their energies, as we all come together are all on different planes and feelings get hurt so easily. I need to determine an intermediary step that can try to bring us all together to the same place, even if it's momentarily, to help with those transitions, that remind us to be loving, patient and gentle.
--------------------
And now daddy comes home from a week away. And Nanny (my mum) arrives on Saturday. Home will change again and again as we bring people back into our house. Fingers crossed!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Simple, peaceful, slow
My 3 1/2 year old has been hitting a lot when he's upset so Simple Parenting is a lifesaver (or at least, I hope it is) giving me some ideas to try out to dissuade him.
Next step, getting him to not say 'Stupid' and 'Shut Up' when he's upset!
I've taken off 3 days of work while Michael had to go unexpectedly out of town, through in a weekend and that's 5 straight days off and it's been wonderful. My patience has felt endless, my ability to slow down, leave multitasking to one side and watch as we all experience our days and evenings has been marvelous. THIS is what life is about. I've never really enjoyed working and only do it because we have to for $ reasons. And I've deplored having 3 hours (tops) with my children each weeknight and most of that is 'processing' them to get them fed and in bed. This long weekend has given all a glimpse into what fulltime homeschooling could be like for us in a few more years. Now I need to have a look at the archives from this sight! Enjoyparenting.com/
The Mama-Om site looks inspiring too and I think she's from my old stomping ground in the PNW and practices Non-Violent Communication, which I'm starting to explore myself.
Next step, getting him to not say 'Stupid' and 'Shut Up' when he's upset!
I've taken off 3 days of work while Michael had to go unexpectedly out of town, through in a weekend and that's 5 straight days off and it's been wonderful. My patience has felt endless, my ability to slow down, leave multitasking to one side and watch as we all experience our days and evenings has been marvelous. THIS is what life is about. I've never really enjoyed working and only do it because we have to for $ reasons. And I've deplored having 3 hours (tops) with my children each weeknight and most of that is 'processing' them to get them fed and in bed. This long weekend has given all a glimpse into what fulltime homeschooling could be like for us in a few more years. Now I need to have a look at the archives from this sight! Enjoyparenting.com/
The Mama-Om site looks inspiring too and I think she's from my old stomping ground in the PNW and practices Non-Violent Communication, which I'm starting to explore myself.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
What we've been up to
Yesterday made Chez BeeperBebe's chicken noodle soup including the homemade noodles. Way fun! Kind of messy, but i think that was the fun part. Eating it went over well too.
Trying to finish making a rag rug from a already ripped blue flannel sheet that my lads helped me rip into long strips. Gonna try knitting it up today. Our old bathroom rug is VERY old, discolored, gross and falling apart. That's what happens when a 9 year old throw rug gets used every single day! Using Cocoknits.com as a starting point, but my rug will not have the fancy pants cable down the middle. I wouldn't have a clue how to go about doing that!
Made granola today and might check out Mikes Corn Maze in Sunderland with our wellies on!
Our first Suzuki group violin lesson. That was intimidating - and the lesson was for my kid! I'm still not sold on this method, makes the children look like lemmings and the reward system is not the sort of thing we do. Lastly, insinuating that a child is "lazy" because they don't practice everyday? I don't know, seems rough to say to a 3 to 7 year old.
Now the children are making an uber-train track in the living room, then Huxley's working on my flannel yarn ball. He helped me undo the knots in it earlier, now he's making his own ball of yarn with a renegade piece that ripped off the main yarn.
Trying to finish making a rag rug from a already ripped blue flannel sheet that my lads helped me rip into long strips. Gonna try knitting it up today. Our old bathroom rug is VERY old, discolored, gross and falling apart. That's what happens when a 9 year old throw rug gets used every single day! Using Cocoknits.com as a starting point, but my rug will not have the fancy pants cable down the middle. I wouldn't have a clue how to go about doing that!
Made granola today and might check out Mikes Corn Maze in Sunderland with our wellies on!
Our first Suzuki group violin lesson. That was intimidating - and the lesson was for my kid! I'm still not sold on this method, makes the children look like lemmings and the reward system is not the sort of thing we do. Lastly, insinuating that a child is "lazy" because they don't practice everyday? I don't know, seems rough to say to a 3 to 7 year old.
Now the children are making an uber-train track in the living room, then Huxley's working on my flannel yarn ball. He helped me undo the knots in it earlier, now he's making his own ball of yarn with a renegade piece that ripped off the main yarn.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Trying out new things
Book: Potato Printing – found out about it via Tiny Happy. So intriguing that a random crafty library book from the 60’s is available in separate hemispheres.
Book: Simple Food for Busy Families – a great reminder that the freshest and produce and dried bulk items can be used to give us what our bodies need.
Homemade tinctures – 5 Orange Potatoes and Design*Sponge both recently extolled the virtues of elderberries in helping with immunity. AND I found an elderberry bush on the outskirts of the park down the road. I hope to get a full cup of berries from it – but those berries are so, so tiny!
Eat More Kale – Maya Made’s way to make kale taste delicious. (I have to admit I’ve never liked the cooked flavor, but add a little olive oil, tamari and maple syrup and ‘WOW’ it’s rather yummy and I could definitely eat this at least twice a week)! We’re aiming for dark greens two times a week as a new commitment to treating ourselves better. Plus, it’s growing in our garden like a weed. Honestly, my husband’s been mowing half of the kale that came up in spring.
Trying to get conversations about our day turned into rather uninformative answers: "Good", "Yes", "No". So I came up with three basic questions to encourage everyone to recall what happened to them during their day when they were away from everyone else so we can share our stories.
Daily discussion questions for dinner time conversation:
1. What is something from today that was memorable (be it exciting, challenging, scarey)?
2. What is something from today that you wish you could have changed?
3. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
Family meetings:
We’re trying this on a weekly basis, after our family day together on Sundays.
1. We talk about challenges we’ve faced and, if it’s a habitual thing, how can we approach things differently in future, or try to remember what were we thinking when we did the action we’re trying to change/stop? What were we reacting to?
2. Share praise for a trying (even if it meant failure)
Book: Simple Food for Busy Families – a great reminder that the freshest and produce and dried bulk items can be used to give us what our bodies need.
Homemade tinctures – 5 Orange Potatoes and Design*Sponge both recently extolled the virtues of elderberries in helping with immunity. AND I found an elderberry bush on the outskirts of the park down the road. I hope to get a full cup of berries from it – but those berries are so, so tiny!
Eat More Kale – Maya Made’s way to make kale taste delicious. (I have to admit I’ve never liked the cooked flavor, but add a little olive oil, tamari and maple syrup and ‘WOW’ it’s rather yummy and I could definitely eat this at least twice a week)! We’re aiming for dark greens two times a week as a new commitment to treating ourselves better. Plus, it’s growing in our garden like a weed. Honestly, my husband’s been mowing half of the kale that came up in spring.
Trying to get conversations about our day turned into rather uninformative answers: "Good", "Yes", "No". So I came up with three basic questions to encourage everyone to recall what happened to them during their day when they were away from everyone else so we can share our stories.
Daily discussion questions for dinner time conversation:
1. What is something from today that was memorable (be it exciting, challenging, scarey)?
2. What is something from today that you wish you could have changed?
3. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
Family meetings:
We’re trying this on a weekly basis, after our family day together on Sundays.
1. We talk about challenges we’ve faced and, if it’s a habitual thing, how can we approach things differently in future, or try to remember what were we thinking when we did the action we’re trying to change/stop? What were we reacting to?
2. Share praise for a trying (even if it meant failure)
Friday, September 18, 2009
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