homeschooling | TouchstoneZ

Posts Tagged ‘homeschooling’

Letter to Littles: February 2012

Posted in Letters to Littles, tagged Family, Happiness, homeschooling, Letter Writing, letters-to-littles, letterstolittles, Little Buddhas, Parent on March 4, 2012 | 4 Comments »

I am writing a monthly letter to my children, usually the last week of the month. I hope to capture these moments in time because they go so quickly.

I hope you will join me in writing a monthly letter to your children and linking it up here. Feel free to grab the badge for your website and let me know when you post so I can add you to the list of participants.

Dear Little Buddhas,

This has been a hard month for me. I’ve been sick and exhausted. It has been an effort for me to parent with patience and gentleness as I wish to. Instead of recharging me with our connection, I’ve been feeling more drained by the effort. And you have responded with so much understanding of what I’ve left unsaid. I tear up as I write this because I think about how you are able to ferret out when I am trying to hide my exhaustion from you. I am truly in awe of your empathy.

Nat:

Can I hide my glee that you are loving Yoga right now? You have the choice to take a kid’s yoga class or Jujitsu class once a week and you’ve been choosing Yoga. We’ve been practicing more at home together, with you often teaching the rest of us silly poses until we dissolve into peals of laughter.

This month you said to me, “Mom, I’m so glad we homeschool. I love learning stuff and my friends in formal school hate it so much. I don’t want to hate learning.” I’m very careful not to push my views of homeschooling and formal schooling on you. I hope to allow you to decide when and how you want to do school. Wherever you choose to learn, I hope you continue to question and think for yourself.

Speaking of thinking for yourself, at 5.5 years old, your quest for self-reliance has been showing. I’ve been trying to give you challenging tasks that you will need to work out the solutions to for yourself. For example, you wanted to get your Obie Wan from the car to show your friends. So, I gave you the car remote and you went out on your own. You didn’t know that I was watching every step you made through the window, but I watched you read the remote for the unlock button, look for cars as you stepped into the parking spot, get your toy, find the lock button, and come back inside. The pride on your face when you returned shined.

Gan:

I can’t figure you out this month. So, I’ve stopped trying and started loving you the more for it. You’re adamant about certain things. You’ll burst out with exuberant affection at unexpected times. You are exploring limits and pushing to see if I’ll bend or snap. The more I bend with you, the more reassured you seem. You’re a beautiful bewilderment to me and I adore that.

I also love giving you the freedom to explore quirks without judgment. I remember feeling ashamed when I expressed myself as a young child. I quickly learned to hide it. But, you revel in choosing your own clothes, putting them on backwards and mismatched. Your pockets are stuffed with little rocks, strings, toys, and cards. So much so that they often pull your pants down. And I love all of this about you.

This month, we were scared about whether you were hearing us. It has been inconsistent. Sometimes it seemed you were simply choosing not to respond, other times I was sure you couldn’t hear me. And you enunciation, vocabulary and comprehension is still advanced. So, I took you to the mainstream pediatrician for a check. She found your right ear, the side we were noticing, had an injured ear drum that was healing. She encouraged me to put a few drops of breastmilk in your ear periodically to assist healing and we’ll recheck again in a couple of months.

So, now I know that it is a little your mind and a little your body.

Bud:

You’re almost 20 months now. Your birth doesn’t seem that long ago, but your toddlerhood has left that baby in the dust. You continue to amaze me with your ability your understanding of words and concepts. When we’re getting ready to go, you look for the things we take with us. You find shoes, water bottles, keys, etc, unasked. You remind me when I forget something like the Ergo or the snacks. You love the feeling of contributing to the family by helping the rest of us.

Your physical affection feeds all of us. You may be the only family member whose hugs and kisses are always accepted by your brothers when they’re sad or mad. You’ve certainly had affection showered on your since your birth as the littlest one. It makes sense you would reflect that back to us.

You love telling us jokes and laughing together. You say, “Poop!!” and laugh heartily when I feign shock. Then you get your brothers and dad to say, “Poop!” with you so you can all laugh together. This is followed by kisses or eskimo kisses all-round. Speaking of poop, you want to go in the potty, but I think the feel of it, as is has changed to more solid, is freaking you out. The expression on your face as you try is fearful. I hope I can help you feel reassured as you transition into fulltime pottying, since you obviously hate going in your dipes or underpants.

Sar:

I have been quiet with you this month. Partly, it’s fear of the current changes going on. Partly, it’s the disconnect from my body, I’ve been gently healing. Things I can’t share here, yet, but they’re strongly tied with you.

***

For my boys, I think this example sums up where each of you are this month:

When my bedroom door is locked:

Nat: loudly bangs and kicks the door someone comes and won’t stop until that happens.

Gan: checks the doorknob, then searches out something small and pokey to pick the lock with and has succeeded a few times.

Bud: gets a stepstool and wiggles the doorknob, sits down and wails for “mama” and won’t settle for anyone else.

Love,

Yo’ mama
February, 2012

If you would like to participate in the Letters to Littles Project, feel free to link up your post below.
Keep up to date on this project and find out more information on the Letters to Littles Homepage.
NEW: If you link your post this month in the comments below or on my facebook page, I’ll add the links to the list of this month’s Letters to Littles and tweet it for you
Letters are written during the last week of the month, but feel free to write and link up whenever you feel inspired.
You can follow all of the participant’s tweets here: @TouchstoneZ/letters-to-littles
You can use the hashtag #letterstolittles on twitter as well.
And don’t forget to click over and Grab the Updated badge (it’s set up to promote the project, not my personal page. So you won’t find my name on it):

Letters to Littles Participants:

Pop by their blogs and leave a little comment love, won’t ya’?

Letters to Littles: February 2012 (Radical Ramblings)
A Valentine for My 20 Month Old (I Thought I Knew Mama)
A Letter to *Those* Parents (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: September 2011 (touchstonez.com)
To My Dear One (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: October 2011 (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: November 2011 (touchstonez.com)

This article contains all original content by TouchstoneZ.com and is protected by copyright. If you are viewing this post on another site than TouchstoneZ.com please notify the author at zoie.touchstonez(at)gmail.com

Read Full Post »

Playing Follow the Leader

Posted in Parenting, tagged Authentic Parenting, authentic parenting carnival, Carnival, Child, Education, Family, Home, homeschooling, Learning, mudpie mama, Parent on February 24, 2012 | 13 Comments »

Welcome to February edition of the Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival, hosted by Authentic Parenting and Mudpiemama. This month, participants have looked into the topic of “Fostering Healthy Attachment”. Please scroll down to the end of this post to find a list of links to the entries of the other participants. Enjoy!

***

Homeschooling is making me into a better parent. The longer we homeschool (which is more unschooling in our home), the more comfortable I am in letting them decide what to learn. And, more importantly, the greater their interest is in learning.

I can lean into the trust I have in my kids whenever I am worried we’re not being rigorous enough in our study plan. And they inevitably come up with more creative and fun ways to learn than I could. They learn more when they take the lead because their brains work differently than mine. They learn the way that is best for them as individuals.

So, why am I writing about homeschooling in a carnival about fostering attachment?

Because I am taking the lessons I learn in homeschooling and applying them directly to parenting. We are a crunchy household. There’s little we do that wouldn’t make most mainstream parents shudder in horror or at least roll their eyes. But, it’s not those things that most people focus on that matter to our family. Those things (breastfeeding, babywearing, organic, whole, raw foods, careful environmental practices, etc) are incidental. They are the outward shows of our core family philosophy of unconditional love and genuine respect.

Unconditional love and respect in a family means, for the scope of this post, taking everyone’s needs into account. To break it down further, this means seeing each person individually, valuing where they are, and balancing their needs against each other person’s position. For example, my need to arrive to our family Spanish lesson on time must be weighed against the 5yo’s sudden need for food, the 3yo’s urgent need to find a particular lost toy to bring with us, and the 19mo’s need for control over his time to linger on the potty. These are often instant needs that crop up when we’re going somewhere. Can an acceptable snack be eaten in the car? Can we substitute for the lost toy? Can potty time happen at Spanish? Can we be a little late? How much bend do we have? How can we work together?

There’s lots of bend and opportunity to work together because, above all else, each person feels heard and valued. And there is precedent in the past that if they compromise in some way, their needs will be met, perhaps delayed, but not forgotten. Having the history of being listened to and valued, gives a sense of trust. It brings elasticity to our bond. That resiliency makes our relationship stronger because it can withstand the times when one of us misses and fails to meet needs.

One of the hardest things I find is to meet my children where they are instead of where I wish they would be. I compare one with another or think one should have more maturity than they do. Or I flat out find their opinion inconvenient and want to override them because “I know better.” It can be difficult to appreciate the unique being that is my child when they’re adamant or even angry about feelings of being treated unfairly. For example, when my 3yo is crying because no other toy will do than the green dragon, which has somehow ceased to exist on the earth, I try not to wish he had the coping skills of his older brother or the distractibility of his younger brother. I would prefer that he be compliant to my wish that the purple dragon is an acceptable substitute.

But, I want to meet him where he is. I don’t want to raise convenient children. I want to raise adults who have opinions without the worry that holding those opinions will be cause to assail their character. I want to help him cope with the upset and gently assist him in deciding for himself whether to calm or stay upset. I meet him where he is unconditionally so that he is in control of how he will cope. He can lean into my support knowing that he won’t be overwhelmed by his feelings alone and that his feelings are accepted and acknowledged-valued even.

Just like in homeschool, they always come up with more creative, more satisfying solutions than I could ever come up with. They learn far more with me lending my support than they do with me pushing them to “get over it” or “be the way I want it to be.” Sometimes, although not often, this means we don’t make it to Spanish or we go on time and spend the session learning to express feelings of frustration in Spanish.

So, here’s the kicker that keeps me going even though it’s hard, when I give them the reins, we share more. We connect more and love more gently when they have the freedom to explore. They go just as far as they feel safe by themselves and then come back on their own to ask for a hug or help. They know I’m right there to support them when they need it.

They see trust and support modeled to them and they give it back a thousand times over. They look out for one another. They treat their siblings and other children with respect. They shower affection on the people they love because they receive it unconditionally. That’s fostering the knowledge of how to create strong bonds of love that they can take with them long after they’re out on their own.

(I will share one caveat, my mother’s heart would prefer to keep them close to me and spare them from any difficulty or harm. It seems hard to meet each individual where they are, but the truly hard part for me is not wrapping them in bubble wrap and keeping them protected from the world-If it wouldn’t do them such a great disservice.)

***

Visit Authentic Parenting and Mudpiemama to find out how you can participate in the next Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

“Keep Them Close and Let Them Go: Fostering Healthy Attachment As They Grow” — Helen at Zen Mummy wonders how to maintain a healthy attachment as our children become more independent.
“Honesty (With Your Children) is the Best Policy” — Mandy at Living Peacefully With Children shares how honesty with her children is helping to build an authentic relationship which will last through the teen years and beyond.
“Fostering Healthy Attachment?” — Momma Jorje discusses how she is building a foundation of attachment with her children and how she hopes it serves them in their lives as they grow into adults.
Beyond Bookend Parenting — Marisa at Deliberate Parenting describes their efforts to maintain their toddler’s attachment to her working parent through play and routines throughout the day.
Have You “Huggled” Today? — Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling shares how “huggles” work like magic in her home.
Your Childhood=Your Child’s Childhood? — Amy at A Secure Base examines the research about how our attachment experience can shape our attachment with our children.
List-Making Activities to Celebrate Family Connections — Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares some family list-making activities that will help you reflect on what you love about your family and can spark ideas for future family fun.
How To Keep in Touch With Distant Grandparents — Lauren at Hobo Mama offers several tips to foster connection with relatives who live far away.
Beyond Bonding: The Power of Positioning in Babywearing — Steffany, a babywearing educator, guest posting at Natural Parents Network, explains how optimal positioning in quality carriers can help babies’ physical growth, brain development, and overall attachment.
Playing Follow the Leader — Zoie at TouchstoneZ has learned that the more she meets her children where they are rather than where she would like them to be, the greater the elasticity of their bonds are.
The Evolution of Attachment: Parenting Without a Roadmap — Sheila at A Living Family reflects on her family’s recent generation of mothers and shares how she is working to make an evolutionary leap towards forming healthy attachment.
Facilitating Sibling Connection — Laura at Authentic Parenting gives a set of pointers on how to facilitate sibling bonding.
The Farm in my Bed — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama discusses fostering children’s healthy attachment to “lovies” and comfort objects..

Read Full Post »

Letter to Littles: January 2012

Posted in Letters to Littles, tagged Family, Happiness, homeschooling, Letter Writing, letters-to-littles, letterstolittles, Little Buddhas, Parent on February 5, 2012 | 5 Comments »

I am writing a monthly letter to my children, usually the last week of the month. I hope to capture these moments in time because they go so quickly.

Dear Little Buddhas,

I skipped last month, but I think it will be alright for you anyway. It turns out we took a lot of photos during the holidays and they’ll serve well for the milestones and events we experienced together.

Nat:

Image via Wikipedia

You had a series of amazing performances in the production of the Nutcracker at the theatre downtown. I was worried that you might get burned out being in every performance, but you enjoyed it and wished there were more. I thought it was interesting that you cared about dancing and being onstage, but not about the audience. I hope you keep that internal motivation as you grow.

You lost your first tooth this month (although technically, this was your second since your first was pulled at the dentist last year) and were thrilled to find 50cents and a book about Winter the Dolphin under your pillow when you woke. You have been in love with marine mammals, and Winter in particular, since we saw The Dolphin Tale movie last September. But, your obsession started when you got the dvd for Christmas. You asked to go to the library to check out books about dolphins a couple of weeks ago and ended up taking home the entire shelf of books. You came up with the idea to return a few every week after I expressed my concern about another child who loves dolphins coming to check out the same books. You have decided that you want to protect dolphins as a job.

In December we backed way off from homeschooling and it has really shown. You have been enthusiastic about deciding what you want to learn about. You stay up late practicing reading and doing copywork long after your brothers have fallen asleep in bed beside you. You are sitting beside me doing a math workbook (with a dolphin on the cover, of course) as I write this and insisted I include a picture of Winter to represent you this month.

Image via Wikipedia

Gan:

I love your happy run. Every time you include your happy hop, my heart skips a beat. You’ve been very serious this month and laughter has not been often. I’m trying to give you the space you need to take everything in and be happy in your own more quiet way. You love to collect small things. Wherever we go, you fill your pockets with small rocks or broken sticks-that is, if your pockets aren’t already full of beads, tiny ninjas and bouncy balls before we leave.

Your vocabulary is rich this month. Words like, “superb,” and “hypothesis” are part of your ordinary vocabulary. It may take me a few repetitions, but eventually I figure out what it is you are saying. I just have to keep reassessing the language of a 3.5yo who prefers audiobooks from real authors like E. B. White and Barrie over “kids” books. I think your more introspective reactions this month have been, in part, processing some of the issues you’ve encountered in “Trumpet of the Swan” and “Peter Pan.”

I still think it sucks being the middle kids, who is also a bit on the quiet-side. At times, your requests and opinions aren’t heard or considered as fairly as they should be. I hope you see that I am doing my best to notice when that happens and to give you uninterrupted time with me and away from the larger personalities of your brothers. If your generous nature is any indicator, you are getting your needs met well enough to give a backrub when someone is upset, to share freely of your food, and to get a second toy so that your little brother is included in the free play.

Image via Wikipedia

Bud:

Teething has been your mainstay this month. You’ve popped at least four molars and two canines, last I checked (when you let me, that is.) It has led to really bad sleep for you and me as you squirm and wiggle all night, then latch on for comfort often all night, too.

You have discovered the power of, “No!” complete with pursing lips, shaking head, and scrunched eyebrows (I call it, “you’re giving me the eyebrows.”) You have definite opinions on things, but again, the benefit of being a third child is that your parents are comfortable giving you your head about everything and allowing you to experience the good and the bad that comes from it. Short of real safety issues (such as dancing on the kitchen counter or throwing a shovel near your brothers) I’m okay with some bumps and bruises, especially since most of the time, you don’t repeat the same action that ended badly for you.

As I predicted, you’ve no patience with walking, but prefering running-while-cackling everywhere. You’re incredibly independent, but at the same time surprisingly deliberate with your actions. So, you might climb to the top of the highest playstructure and dangle your feet while watching me for a reaction, but you stopped and thought about it for awhile before doing it-and you never go further than you can get yourself out of. Tempered with this strong will and independence, you are promiscuously affectionate with everyone. You give hugs, kisses, say, “I Love You!” and demand your snuggle time with each of us daily. You’ve been a boon to our dog, Pirate, who often gets forgotten in our busy lives.

Freesia with buds (Photo credit: Martin LaBar)

Sar:

I’ve taken to talking to you when I’m alone. And I imagine that I could feel your presence. Then, on January 11th, as I was in bed snuggling Buddha, I felt your presence with me stronger than I have for a long time. Thank you. You and I know why I am saying that. Thank you, with all of my broken heart.

I miss you, my girl.

***

One of the reasons I write these letters is to capture the small moments that are forgotten. The big events are documented in photos and memories of celebrations. But, the small things, like Bud saying, “I Love” for “I Love You” or Gan placing his finger on his upper lip when considering before replying or Nat discovering stickers in the workbook he picked out and choosing to reward himself with them every time he completes a page or the bittersweet feeling of finding a lost note an acquaintance wrote to give comfort after Sar’s stillbirth, these are what I want to remember with these letters. It’s these normal moments that are worth remembering because they are what fill up a life with joy. There are so many of these tiny stars that blink out of existence, only to be replaced with another that is just as bright.

Keep shining daily, my dear ones.

Love,

Yo’ mama
January, 2012

If you would like to participate in the Letters to Littles Project, feel free to link up your post below.
Keep up to date on this project and find out more information on the Letters to Littles Homepage.
NEW: If you link your post this month in the comments below or on my facebook page, I’ll add the links to the list of this month’s Letters to Littles and tweet it for you
Letters are written during the last week of the month, but feel free to write and link up whenever you feel inspired.
You can follow all of the participant’s tweets here: @TouchstoneZ/letters-to-littles
You can use the hashtag #letterstolittles on twitter as well.
And don’t forget to click over and Grab the Updated badge (it’s set up to promote the project, not my personal page. So you won’t find my name on it):

Letters to Littles Participants:

Pop by their blogs and leave a little comment love, won’t ya’?

A Letter to *Those* Parents (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: September 2011 (touchstonez.com)
To My Dear One (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: October 2011 (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: November 2011 (touchstonez.com)

This article contains all original content by TouchstoneZ.com and is protected by copyright. If you are viewing this post on another site than TouchstoneZ.com please notify the author at zoie.touchstonez(at)gmail.com

Read Full Post »

A Conversation About MLK

Posted in Peace, tagged gentle discipline, homeschooling, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Day, parenting, positive parenting, unschooling on January 13, 2012 | 6 Comments »

Martin Luther King leaning on a lectern. Deuts...

Image via Wikipedia

I was driving in the car to Lego Homeschool Engineering class with my 5yo, when he asked, “Mom, when is our next holiday to celebrate?”

“Martin Luther King, Jr Day is next. Do you know who that is?”

“No. Who is that?”

“Martin Luther King is a hero. He was a warrior for peace and making sure everyone is treated with equality.”

My son mulled this over a bit, and asked, “Why does the King need to fight ejally?”

I thought about how to explain this without getting too far into the civil rights movement. It’s a subject I’m passionate about, but want to allow my son to approach gently and at his own pace. I thought about equality and realized that he is all about being treated fairly right now. And felt this would be a good entry into our readings and discussions this week.

I said, “Equality means everyone is treated fairly. Martin Luther King believed so strongly in peace and in treating everyone fairly that the whole world listened to him. That is why we have a holiday for him. To celebrate peace and fairness and a person who fought for peace and fairness.”

My son asked, “Can we see him on the holiday?”

I replied, “He is not alive anymore. We can remember him by watching videos of him talking, looking at pictures of him, and reading books about him. We can remember that peace and being fair are as powerful as love.”

My son said, “Kind of like how I remember Grandpa. He’s dead, but I still talk to him all the time. Do you talk to Grandpa?”

“I remember Grandpa. I remember how much I enjoy hearing his stories and hearing his laugh. So, yes, it is like talking to him. I’m sad because I don’t get to see him anymore, but I remember him.”

“How did Martin Luther King die?”

I replied, “Someone shot him and he died.”

My son asked, “Why did they do that?”

“A person who didn’t agree that everyone should be treated fairly wanted Martin Luther King to stop trying to change things. So, he shot Martin Luther King.”

My son said, “That person was crazy.”

“That person believed in hatred and violence so much that he killed Martin Luther King. But, Martin Luther King believed that love, peace, and treating everyone fairly are more powerful than hate and violence. And he was right. Love and peace were more powerful than hate and violence. Most people in the world believe in what Martin Luther King said so much that they changed the laws to make sure everyone is treated fairly. That is why we have a holiday to celebrate and remember him. We can remember to love and treat everyone fairly.”

My son said, “Let me think about that for a moment. So, even when someone is dead we can talk to them. And we can talk to our family about them, too. And we don’t have to remember people who hate other people at all. We can just love everybody, right?”

Right.

How do you talk with your kids about the ideas of peace, love and equality? How do you answer questions about hatred, violence, and death? I would love to hear your experiences or ideas.

Read Full Post »

Letter to Littles: November 2011

Posted in Letters to Littles, tagged Amber Strocel, Family, Gratitude, Happiness, homeschooling, Letter Writing, letters to littles, letterstolittles, Little Buddhas, Parent, Sausage Mama on November 29, 2011 | 13 Comments »

Inspired by Sausage Mama, I am writing a monthly letter to my children. I hope to capture these moments in time because they go so quickly. To quote Amber Strocel, “blink and you miss it.” (two great, positive blogs, please check them out)

Dear Little Buddhas,

I have been thinking about how different each of you approached things this month. I thought it would be interesting to share some specific examples so we can remember them together.

Nat on a Pumpkin

Nat:

I notice that when you feel secure, you are exuberant and throw your entire heart into things. You are going through a period of separation anxiety that your Dad and I are striving to support with patience and understand as you work through it. You’re about to be in a production of the Nutcracker at the Civic Center and I know you’re excited about it. You approach the rehearsals with reservation every time. You hide behind me until you feel ready to join in and as long as you are given that time, you do join in. Once you’re performing, you’re enthusiastic. Your teachers affectionately call you a natural ham.

In the house, you refuse to go into another room or even out of eyesight of an adult lately. It sometimes tries my patience to drop what I’m doing and accompany you while you get a toy or go to the bathroom, but I’m sucking it up both because you deserve and because I’m hoping it will pass more quickly if I support you. You have also been having a tough time when your dad or I leave without you. There have been many times when you’ve dissolved into tears if you can’t watch our car for as long as you can. Again, as long as you’re given unconditional support, you’re back to your usual well-attached self.

And I understand why this is happening. You’re spreading your wings and doing so many other things with independence. It makes sense you would need to return for security with those who give you unconditional love. I’m grateful that I’m one of the people you cling to when you need it.

Gan on a Pumpkin

Gan:

I see you approach things differently just because it’s different. If being alone in a room scares your big brother, then you fearlessly journey into the dark alone. If your brother is scared of monsters, you go out of your way to choose books about monsters. But, I also see that you enjoy challenging yourself. So, it’s difficult to tell the difference between the rebellious you and the introspective you. Either way, I find your complexity at 3 years old fascinating.

I also see you like to observe things and not necessarily speak about things at first. Once you’ve made up your mind about something, then you’re ready to engage with it. It’s almost impossible to gently move you on to a different idea or activity once you are doing it. I’m challenged constantly to remember you are not trying to push my buttons on purpose. It’s your way of both seeking reassurance and finding out how much control you have. I try to give you both.

Reflecting Smiles

Bud:

You approach things with abandoned glee. There is too much bubbly joy to be contained within your body when you get to try something new or explore a new situation. You still adore running away from me whenever I am not looking. If you didn’t run cackling at the top of your lungs the entire time, you’d probably get away, too.

You have brought so much pure happiness to my life because of your exuberant heart. You have strong opinions and do not like to be thwarted, but your default setting is happy. I plan to continue to nurture that happy as best I am able. The idea that you could keep that optimism through life is breathtaking to me. It’s something I have aspired to catching pieces of in my own life. If I can learn from you anything, it’s to hold onto this joy in encountering new situations.

Image by bill barber via Flickr

Sar:

This month was filled with gratitude. I truly enjoyed writing the Gratitude Challenge this month because I got to think of 10 things I’m grateful for about you. This month has also been one filled with lots of friends giving birth. Every time I hear an announcement I have a simultaneous leap and drop of the heart. My heart leaps with joy for the new baby, for the birth experience, and for the family’s opportunity to fall in love all over again. And it drops because you’re not here. I can’t hug you like I can your, very tolerant, brothers every time I hear more happy announcements.

I miss you, my girl. I will always hold onto the wish to meet you again.

Wagon of Love

I learn so much from being your mother. Every month is a new experience and I love being in the unknown, even when I’m afraid of it. I often think back to that time before each of you was born. It was a time when my mind was all about expectations, but I had to relax into the lack of control. It was a time when I felt most in tune with my body, yet my body was not truly my own anymore.

I hope that I can give back to you even the tiniest bit of understand of what that does to a person; The simultaneous miracle and ordinary that is within you.

Love,

Yo’ mama
November, 2011

If you would like to participate in the Letters to Littles Project, feel free to link up your post below.
Keep up to date on this project and find out more information on the Letters to Littles Homepage.
NEW: If you link your post this month in the comments below or on my facebook page, I’ll add the links to the list of this month’s Letters to Littles and tweet it for you
Letters are written during the last week of the month, but feel free to write and link up whenever you feel inspired.
You can follow all of the participant’s tweets here: @TouchstoneZ/letters-to-littles
You can use the hashtag #letterstolittles on twitter as well.
And don’t forget to click over and Grab the Updated badge (it’s set up to promote the project, not my personal page. So you won’t find my name on it):

Letters to Littles Participants:

Pop by their blogs and leave a little comment love, won’t ya’?

Letters to Littles (November) (An UnSchooling Adventure)
Dear Little One: 22 Months (Bitty Bird)
Letters to My Littles, November 2011 (Lazy Kate)
Letters to Littles VIIII (Rosemarinus Officinalus)
Letters to Littles (November) (Smiling Like Sunshine)
Letter to Littles- Nov (Very Nearly Hippy)
A Letter to *Those* Parents (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: September 2011 (touchstonez.com)
To My Dear One (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: October 2011 (touchstonez.com)

This article contains all original content by TouchstoneZ.com and is protected by copyright. If you are viewing this post on another site than TouchstoneZ.com please notify the author at zoie.touchstonez(at)gmail.com

Read Full Post »

Letter to Littles: October 2011

Posted in Letters to Littles, tagged Amber Strocel, Family, Gratitude, homeschooling, Letter Writing, letters to littles, letterstolittles, Little Buddhas, Parent, Sausage Mama on October 26, 2011 | 4 Comments »

Dear Little Buddhas,

This month’s theme is “looking for moments of gratitude.” I am grateful for so many moments this month. It has been wonderful sifting through those moments this months. I feel happy remembering all that has happened with you.

My moments of gratitude with Nat:

Watching you in your homeschool Lego engineering class and observing how you manage the chaos of the group and the challenge of the builds.
Seeing how you worked out a disagreement with another child on your own to your mutual satisfaction. Even though you felt that you had been wronged, you tried words and listening.
Every hug, every kiss, every kind word you give with your whole heart. I don’t really mind the ones given in order to receive something. I’ll take what I can get with my whole heart.
The “Thank you, Mama” I received when I said, “I have a new homeschool math activity for you.” I adore that you enjoy school so much and hope we can keep you passion for learning intact.
Hearing your laughter as you get more of the jokes in our dvds. You’re maturing so quickly.

My moments of gratitude with Gan:

Your very soft, “Mama? I love you.” That you say whenever you’re feeling the need for some connection.
The pile-driving snuggles in bed in the morning. I love that you carve out time first thing for just you.
Our weekly one on one time together that we have scheduled. I realized that you plan for it ahead of time and look forward to it. The dynamics are very different when we’re alone.
Hearing your excitement when you built a pyramid and recognized it as such.
That you decided not to cut your hair for awhile. How much do I adore your ringlets? More than I can say.

My moments of gratitude with Bud:

Watching how trusting you are of someone touching you, even when you’re unsure about them. You know when you’re with your family that you can take that leap over your fear.
That you already refuse to go to sleep unless read to enough. Ha! We hooked another one!
How much you love eating. You adore your mama milk and haven’t met a solid food you don’t like, yet. It’s wonderful to see you dig in or latch on with gusto.
Your signs for some of your favorite things: “more,” “all done,” “food,” “outside,” “shower,” “bath,” and “mama milk.” Although, you speak many approximations of words so clearly, these are the signs you use along with your words to express their importance.
That your accident this month did not cause permanent damage and you are healing beautifully. This alone could take up every moment of gratitude going forward and backward!

Love,

Yo’ mama
October, 2011

If you would like to participate in the Letters to Littles Project, feel free to link up your post below.
Keep up to date on this project and find out more information on the Letters to Littles Homepage.
NEW: If you link your post this month in the comments below or on my facebook page, I’ll add the links to the list of this month’s Letters to Littles and tweet it for you
Letters are written during the last week of the month, but feel free to write and link up whenever you feel inspired.
You can follow all of the participant’s tweets here: @TouchstoneZ/letters-to-littles
You can use the hashtag #letterstolittles on twitter as well.
And don’t forget to click over and Grab the badge (it’s set up to promote the project, not my personal page. So you won’t find my name on it):

Letters to Littles Participants:

Pop by their blogs and leave a little comment love, won’t ya’?

A Letter to Baby on his 17 Month Birthday at I Thought I Knew Mama
Letters to Littles October 2011 at Smiling Like Sunshine
Letters to Littles VII at Rosmarinus Officinalis
Letters to Littles October 2011 at An Unschooling Adventure
Letters to My Jesse: 11 Months at African Babies Don’t Cry
A Letter to *Those* Parents (touchstonez.com)
To My Dear One (touchstonez.com)
Letter to Littles: September 2011 (touchstonez.com)

Read Full Post »

Kid-Dyed Silk Scarves

Posted in Crafty, Homeschooling, tagged art, art with kids, homeschooling, kids crafts, Paper, playsilks, Scarf, Scarves, Silk, tie dye, Tissue paper, unschooling on May 27, 2011 | 7 Comments »

In our effort to create crafts as a family by re-using and upcycling, we do occasionally do crafts that use new materials. I do try to find non-toxic and eco-friendly versions wherever I can. And I talk about why we make those choices with the kids. Now that we have tried this craft to great success with new materials, we will be doing it again with saved tissue paper and thrift-store silks.

Engrossed in Scarf Dyeing

I have been eyeing silk playscarves for the kids forever, but have been holding off because:

The cost was great if we are to have more than a couple
I hadn’t settled on a method for doing it ourselves
I wanted to stay away from toxic dyes, but wanted something that would give a tie-dyed effect
It had to be a project that was interesting, tactile, and creative enough (that it couldn’t go wrong) so that the kids could do it with minimal input from me. I think they are their most free to explore and create when I’m in the background.

Supplies:

white silk scarf (available through Amazon or MisterArt) These are the ones we used for this project
tissue paper that bleeds its color These are the ones we used for this project
white vinegar
water
bowl
9×12 glass baking dish (do not use Non-Stick)
spray bottle with plain water

We began by mixing about a cup of water and a cup of white vinegar in a bowl then submerged the scarves in the mixture fully (a mini-lesson on measuring, proportions, and saturation) Then we wrung out the excess moisture.

Next we started our scarf and tissue paper lasagna, alternating layers of scarf and tissue paper as we went. The kids and I have made layered casseroles together before. So, they got this concept. (Nat also pointed out that dinosaur fossils are made with layers of dirt so if we left the scarf buried long enough if could become a rock fossil.)

We put part of the scarf across the bottom of the baking dish (leaving the rest draped over the side for the next layer.)

Scarf Lasagna

Then they got to be a bit destructive. They tore tissue paper into pieces either large or small (you really can’t go wrong) and placed it on top of the scarf in the dish. Pushing the tissue paper into the scarf, spraying with plain water in the spray bottle (they loved this whole part.) Once the first layer of scarf was completely covered in tissue paper, I helped them fold the next layer of scarf across the baking dish and they repeated the process of tearing, pressing, and spraying the tissue paper.

Spraying the Tissue Paper into the Scarf

They built it up in layers, with the top layer being tissue paper. They gave it all a good spraying, so that it was completely saturated. Gan even poured in the remaining water in the spray bottle, so his had some extra water in the dish. Then they went off to climb a tree. We let our scarves sit overnight and got brilliant colors. You probably could take them out after an hour or so, if you’re really in a hurry to see them, though.

The next morning, we took out the scarves, peeled off the tissue paper pieces and hung them to dry on the line. They dried in about 20 minutes. Then you can either iron them (place a paper bag on top to keep from scorching) or toss in the dryer on high for 20 minutes to help the color lock in (I couldn’t find my iron, so I dried them)

Kid-Dyed Silk Scarves, posted with vodpod

So far, my kids have made them into: fairy wings, pirate headbands, sword belts, bike handlebar decorations, dancing props, and various additions to costumes. They were engaged in every step of creating their scarves and I think this helps them value their art. Nat’s is the green, purple & gold one. Gan’s is the red, black, and gold one. I could see kids of any age having fun with designs or pictures as complex or random as their imaginations can dream up.

This is our first experiment and it came out so well that we’ll be doing it again with different sizes. The kids want to make tents and costumes. I want to make prayer flags and gifts, as well. I would like to try this on other materials and see how the colors hold up in the wash. I’m planning to order the supplies so that they’re on-hand for whenever we need to pull out this project.

The only thing I’ll do differently next time is to let them add more color. I was worried it would all come out muddied, but the colors are bright and crisp. I don’t have to worry about keeping any white showing.

Dyed Scarves on the Line

Have you ever dyed scarves with your kids? Do you have any other ideas for things we could create with this method? I would love to hear from you.