Toddler Art Project - Sticky Board

This was an easy activity to put together for Zosia. Taping the non-sticky side of a sheet of contact paper to a foam board created our stickyboard. I gathered random craft project objects for Z to create a collage of fun. Learning about sticky vs. non-sticky materials while making art!

She really enjoyed using glitter for the first time!

She let me know she was finished when she picked up her artwork to bring to her room! 

Love's wings, my heart

Weightless water, my body

Outstretched, I dare not make a sound...
it is to great to whisper

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When Mothering Gets Hard - 5 Ways to Bring Back My Mama Mojo

I am blessed to say I have a simple life. I take full responsibility for this choice. Several years ago, after attending a weekend long musicfest with Nate, I quit my corporate job never to return. When I was there camping in a tent, brushing my teeth with a water bottle, and 'bathing' with a wet towel and soap, I realized I felt truly alive and happy. I was contented to be with my love, and saw how life could be easier than chasing the dollar and stressing about climbing the corporate ladder. My husband soon followed, leaving his corporate job to pursue his music career full time, his true talent.

Let me be clear, I am not a hippie, a crunchy, a granola or whatever labels get placed on those who choose a more 'natural' lifestyle. I enjoy a little luxury in my life. I want to be healthy and happy, this is my goal.

Currently we have an income that leaves us comfortable... some months are better than others. But, here's what we have plenty of... Time. We are together a lot. This affords us plenty of space for moments of true enjoyment. To be honest, it took me awhile to become comfortable with such an easy life. I still felt the need to 'go fast'. It's funny how you can get so used to stress that you begin to feel uncomfortable without it.

Now, I find myself practicing letting go with all my might. It feels good, really good. How much can I relax into being? This has helped me realign myself with the best of intentions for my life. It helps me stay focused on mothering my daughter with intuition and grace. Nate describes my mothering as "a warm embrace that flows instead of holds", such a sweet description!

When mothering challenges me it usually means I'm out of alignment and stuck in the doingness of life. I'm wanting personal freedom to be selfish and do what I want. When I'm in this space everyone around me reflects that same feeling. Zosia becomes needy and whiny, and Nate becomes irritated and frustrated.

Here are 5 Ways I Bring Back My Mothering Mojo ~

1. Ask For Help: When I'm lost in the momentum of life and carried way off balance, I get desperate. A sudden urge comes over me and begs for instant gratification of alone time.  Nate will see this frantic look on my face and I will demand a 'tap in' exchange of parenting. When Nate's not available, I will ask my own mother. Thankful I have such loving helpers!

2. Nourish Myself: Eating well is a must! When my nutrition suffers, my brain suffers. When my brain suffers, my family suffers. It all starts with a healthy gut. Keeping my intestinal wellbeing intact is vital to receiving the nourishment I need to keep on keepin on.

3. Nurture Myself: When I do have alone time, it's important that I nurture my soul, femininity, and love. I live for hot baths! Facials, massage, and acupuncture are part of my personal wellness routine. Date nights and Girls Night Out also fall under this category!

4. Get Organized: I have learned the value of routine and discipline. Having a generalized schedule for my week has made things so much easier. I can map out my 'me time', so I can skip dramatic moments of desperation.

5. Simplify: This to me is key to a happy life. Life is easy if you allow it to be. I'm learning to choose wisely what I bring into my life and into my family's life. It's so empowering to be selective, only choosing that which we find beautiful, enriching, or nourishing! 

Let me be as a Child

a small adventurer of this World

Always Open to the Newness of this moment.. 

and this one, and that one, 

and again this One Moment.

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Beans, Beans the Magical Fruit...

Zosia and I enjoyed a great Montessori sensory experience with beans.This was a great easy activity to occupy her investigative mind and practice focus.

We attempted practice pouring beans from a large bowl into a smaller one.

As you can see, some beans didn't make the bowl! She is always interested in what Papa and I are doing, so she was eager to copy me in bean pouring.

She loved exploring the beans with her hands as well. She did make a few attempts at eating them... but I was quick with removing them from her tiny mouth. It's definitely not a solo activity. 

I love sharing new experiences with her. She is a smart one and I have to keep up with her inquisitive mind.  We will definitely play with beans again. We stopped after 30minutes (mom was hungry). She would've played another 30minutes I bet.

 

Mama's little bean counter. :)

 

Bleeding Heart Love

Living in the Heart can be so scary. The world isn't always delicate with our soft spots. More recently than not, I was afraid to be seen. You know, deeply seen. My insides would flutter and flip and my body would react with jittery scampered movements. I was a fish caught on a line desperately trying to wriggle free of what, to my nervous system, felt like a moment of life or death.

I am a sensitive person. I don't mean overly emotional (although I've had my moments), but I mean I have high sense perception. I feel the situation from the inside out. Colors, moods, emotions, sound, quality... this is the stuff I rest in. Subtle shifts are monumental in my mind.

In order to avoid this sometimes painful sensitivity, I had become hard... armored with steely intellectual sword and shield. I would judge, avoid, blame, manipulate...all disguised protection. My heart would rebel with dramatic outbursts. Leaving me confused and stuck in personal purgatory. I unconsciously struggled with the dichotomy of living in the head and living in the heart.

Now I am aware of what it means to live without shell. My insides served out, juicy with liquid butter. Oh yes, it is a tender heart....even more sensitive now that I consciously choose to be open. My mistakes are giant to me and leave my heart bruised and achy. But, I would not have it any other way. To be truly happy is to look deeply at life, find truth.... and love it fearlessly. 

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5 Thoughts on How I Mother

1. Honor Her as Her Own Being - I read in Unconditional Parenting, by Alfie Kohn, this idea that we treat adults better than children. If an adult friend was occupied with something, we would not demand they immediately drop what they are doing for us. Why then would we not respect our children's attention?

2. Show Her Love with Close Contact - Touch is such an important part of feeling connected and establishes a sense of belonging.  It also has a calming effect on the nervous system which results in better functioning of all our body processes. Being snugly and affectionate is good for the whole family.

3. Allow Her to Explore ( & Get Messy) - Trying to control or coordinate her every move would not only be exhausting, but would weaken her self confidence. I do not want my daughter to be afraid to try new things. I try not to prejudge the situation, rather I watch carefully to see how she is handling herself with new things or situations. If I truly see her challenging her safety, I step in. Otherwise, I trust her natural intelligence.

4. Recognize My Parenting as the Greatest Responsibility - I can see how this mothering thing could be a disaster. It's easy to slip into selfish ways and choose my moment over her needs. Right now, she needs to be close to mama. This time together sets the foundation of her life. Will she live in a world of love, or a world where we have to harden our hearts?

5. Be the Role Model - Zosia is the greatest reason to live to higher expectations of myself. She shines a light on all my flaws. Her brightness and innocence shows me where I have room to improve. For I know that she is a direct reflection of me.