Day Eight: Twenty Days Toward Being A More Mindful Mother

Reblogged from The Parenting Passageway:

With the publication of such important works as “Last Child In The Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv, hopefully parents everywhere are considering the importance of  nature, being in nature, and the foundational learning that occurs from spending time in nature.

I have mentioned many times that I bank on a extraordinary amount of outside time for small children under the age of seven – three to four hours a day  is not too much, and some children may need many more hours.  

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A great post from Carrie on the Parenting Passageway on how to spend time with your children outdoors especially during the summer months when school is officially out.

The Heat is On for Mama's Butter Cake

Reblogged from thekitchensgarden:

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The high nineties is hot. Add the dry wind and it is very hot. All the animals have different coping mechanisms. The Matriarchs dog has decided that he would rather ride than walk.  So he sits like a mini king in his chariot. And the Tall Teenager pedals him all over the county on their travels. 

The Big Baby Bobby cools his heels. 

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Wondering how everyone else is coping with the heat? Great post by Celi on her lovely farmy... Plus a great recipe to try too! Enjoy.

The Sleepy Eye of my Mind

Reblogged from thekitchensgarden:

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When I first dreamed of having peacocks, this was the scene I saw in the sleepy eye of my mind. Kupa up on a fence surveying the farmy.  His colours  flashing but somehow blending with the surroundings. A tail like a collection of impossibly precious emerald brooches draped so casually across  the rustic fence.  Kupa has the most fantastic neon plumage, from his demure petticoats to the tail that grows longer daily.

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Love Celi's posts. She is a great writer, a great farmer and a great friend to her loved ones. If you ever need a pick me up, read her posts!

Happy Mother’s Day! The collective thoughts of some special mamas out there

It’s a beautiful Sunday morning and with lots to do today, so as I have limited time to write, here are some inspiring posts on Mothers and Mother’s Day. So if you’re not out enjoying the weather with your loved ones, sit down, relax, and enjoy with a cup of tea and cake!

Soule Mama – Mama’s Day (love her work and her blog):

http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2009/05/mamas-day.html

The Magic Onions – Mother’s Day Crafts (love Donni’s world! Great fairy gardens displayed here as well!)

http://themagiconions.blogspot.ca/p/mothers-day-crafts-and-gifts.html

And a few from Alison Kramer of Reflections of Motherhood, a Canadian blogger and Waldorf mama who created this great video on motherhood:

http://www.reflectionsofmotherhood.com/

http://www.nummies.com/blog/2010/08/reflections-of-motherhood/

And her insightful comments on celebrating Mother’s Day:

http://www.nummies.com/blog/2012/05/1747/#more-1747

 

Day Four, Part Two: Twenty Days Towards More Mindful Mothering

Reblogged from The Parenting Passageway:

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If you remember, Part One of Day Four was about marriage: http://theparentingpassageway.com/2012/04/06/day-four-part-one-twenty-days-toward-being-a-more-mindful-mother/ Tonight I grabbed some of my well-worn (and needing to be cleaned) block crayons and set to work depicting something one often hears about marriages: how marriages have seasons.

Spring marriages are hopeful, excited, optimistic about the future, full of thankfulness! So thankful and grateful I found you! So excited about the possibilities for the future!

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Great post on marriage and the analogy to the changing of the seasons.

Discipline That Works!

Reblogged from The Parenting Passageway:

Discipline is about guiding your child so they can grow up and be a wonderful adult.

Think for a moment about what you what your child to be like when they grow up. What qualities would you like them to have?

Now, erase that picture. It is not that that picture in your mind doesn’t count; absolutely it does. You are the parent, you are the loving authority in your family.

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Rhythm: Part Seven

Reblogged from The Parenting Passageway:

In Part Five of this series on rhythm, we looked at the number one challenge toward establishing rhythm: going out too much and saying “yes” to too many things outside the home. Today, I want to tell you THE SECRET about having a successful rhythm.

It is getting out of your own way.

Release your anxiety and your fears. Parent after parent after parent that I talk to who have homeschooled children who have graduated from homeschool say their children were well-prepared for college and for life, no matter what method the parent chose to homeschool!

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Wonderful post on maintaining a rhythm to your daily life from Carrie of the Parenting Passageway in her Rhythm series. Keep calm and carry on!