I wanted to share this wonderful and moving blog post with you. One of the things on my 'to do' list, is to teach the blue-eyed boy to knit. At seven years old, he's at the perfect age. Science shows that learning to knit helps a particular development of the brain that occurs around this time. But of course, there's far more to it than this. Take a look to discover more!
http://www.onbeing.org/blog/world-through-hands/3931
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Another couple of links
The epublishing of my letters to Cheryl is not far off now. Seeing as I've split my original book in two, I decided to use a new title. So look out for 'How to Welcome Your Spiritual Child'. Coming soon!
Meantime, another link for you. I think this post addresses something all mothers feel at some stage, that we let our children down.
http://www.janetlansbury.com/2013/08/repairing-relationships-with-our-children/
and fun for older children:
http://www.greenchildmagazine.com/cold-weather-outdoor-games/
Meantime, another link for you. I think this post addresses something all mothers feel at some stage, that we let our children down.
http://www.janetlansbury.com/2013/08/repairing-relationships-with-our-children/
and fun for older children:
http://www.greenchildmagazine.com/cold-weather-outdoor-games/
Sunday, November 17, 2013
In the meantime...
I'm working on revising for epublishing my book 'Magical Motherhood'. It'll be split it into two volumes, the first focusing on pre-conception, pregnancy and birth, and the second on more general parenting tips for the young child.
In the meantime, I thought it would be good to share links with all of you. So here's a fun one to start with:
http://www.calgaryschild.com/family-fun/1460-10-terrific-things-to-do-in-the-snow-with-kids
In the meantime, I thought it would be good to share links with all of you. So here's a fun one to start with:
http://www.calgaryschild.com/family-fun/1460-10-terrific-things-to-do-in-the-snow-with-kids
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
A Rainy Afternoon
Yesterday, I was on after-school and after-kindergarten duty. All I had planned was to provide the boys with much-diluted apple cider drinks and the wholewheat raisin scones I'd baked for them, late morning. After that, I thought I'd read from 'Stories for Six Year-Olds', six being the mid point between the Blue-Eyed Boy who's seven now, and Curly-Locks, who's five.
"Let's make an apple pie," suggests the Blue-Eyed Boy, who loves to bake and cook.
Hmm. Nana's pastry-making skills? Not brilliant.
"How about apple crumble?"
"Fine."
So we set to. He measures out the flour. Spills some on the table by mistake. Looks to see my reaction. When I chuckle, he does too, and looks relieved.
He rubs the butter into the flour, adds a small amount of sugar and then manages to spice it up with a sprinkling of ground cloves and cinnamon.
I prepare and cook the apples; he retrieves an organic lemon from the fridge, picks up the peeler and adds a little to give flavour to the apples. And into the oven it goes. Later, his dad phones to say the dessert was delicious.
But me, I remember one of the first times the Blue-eyed Boy and I baked together. After I'd shown him how to crack an egg and he'd dropped it into the mixture, he turned to me and said, "I love you, Nana."
And Curly-Locks? He enjoyed hearing 'The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle' and 'The Gingerbread Boy'.
"Let's make an apple pie," suggests the Blue-Eyed Boy, who loves to bake and cook.
Hmm. Nana's pastry-making skills? Not brilliant.
"How about apple crumble?"
"Fine."
So we set to. He measures out the flour. Spills some on the table by mistake. Looks to see my reaction. When I chuckle, he does too, and looks relieved.
He rubs the butter into the flour, adds a small amount of sugar and then manages to spice it up with a sprinkling of ground cloves and cinnamon.
I prepare and cook the apples; he retrieves an organic lemon from the fridge, picks up the peeler and adds a little to give flavour to the apples. And into the oven it goes. Later, his dad phones to say the dessert was delicious.
But me, I remember one of the first times the Blue-eyed Boy and I baked together. After I'd shown him how to crack an egg and he'd dropped it into the mixture, he turned to me and said, "I love you, Nana."
And Curly-Locks? He enjoyed hearing 'The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle' and 'The Gingerbread Boy'.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
About birthing: two links
Inspiring!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-500430/Doctors-gave-20oz-baby-dead---I-saved-life-cuddle.html
and
http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1388640/reducing-fear-of-birth-in-u-s-culture-inspiring-ted-talk-by-ina-may-gaskin
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-500430/Doctors-gave-20oz-baby-dead---I-saved-life-cuddle.html
and
http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1388640/reducing-fear-of-birth-in-u-s-culture-inspiring-ted-talk-by-ina-may-gaskin
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Kids drinks
Recently I've seen and read on line quite a bit about drinks for children, and juice in particular. So I've been mulling this over. Here are my thoughts...
Back in South Africa when my kids were small we used to get juice from the dairy: apple, orange and guava. These were kept refrigerated and were made from fresh fruits. They contained sugar for sweetening. As far as the sugar was concerned, not too bad because it was cane sugar rather than beet. Then came the juices made from concentrated and deflavoured apples that had fruit flavouring added, but no sugar.
Choices... choices...
The thing is, children enjoy drinking juice and sugar is not always a bad thing. Moderation is always good! But if you're worried about giving commercial fruit juices and causing a possible sugar rush, here's a simple solution: get your child to make lemonade.
All you need is an old-fashioned simple lemon squeezer, some maple syrup and a lemon or two, depending on how many glasses you want to fill... or half fill. Cut the lemons in half and your small child will probably be able to squeeze them him or herself. Then all you have to do is add syrup, filtered water and stir. Voila!
Back in South Africa when my kids were small we used to get juice from the dairy: apple, orange and guava. These were kept refrigerated and were made from fresh fruits. They contained sugar for sweetening. As far as the sugar was concerned, not too bad because it was cane sugar rather than beet. Then came the juices made from concentrated and deflavoured apples that had fruit flavouring added, but no sugar.
Choices... choices...
The thing is, children enjoy drinking juice and sugar is not always a bad thing. Moderation is always good! But if you're worried about giving commercial fruit juices and causing a possible sugar rush, here's a simple solution: get your child to make lemonade.
All you need is an old-fashioned simple lemon squeezer, some maple syrup and a lemon or two, depending on how many glasses you want to fill... or half fill. Cut the lemons in half and your small child will probably be able to squeeze them him or herself. Then all you have to do is add syrup, filtered water and stir. Voila!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Jokes
It's amazing how early in life children can laugh and respond to humour. And humour, I believe, can be an important part of parenting. It's helpful for bonding, for lightening a fraught situation and just generally a wonderful aspect of being human. And especially useful when dealing with teenagers.
However, I experienced something the other evening that stayed in my mind, and not in a good way. I decided it would be good to share it with you, dear Readers, as a cautionary tale.
Our local Waldorf school was showing the second half of the Jonathan Stedall documentary 'The Challenge of Rudolf Steiner'. Having already watched the first half on youtube, I decided it would be nicer to see the second on a proper screen. When I arrived at the school I found I had a few minutes to waste. The whole day had been steamy hot, and I'd been dying to try the new, homemade ice-cream store nearby. So off I went.
Families were sitting outside, enjoying the treats. Except for one little boy, who was perhaps seven or eight years old. His dad emerged, having bought him a large sugar cone, loaded with two ginormous scoops of ice-cream. He handed it to his son.
"But I said I just wanted a taste," the little chap moaned.
Then I realized that the father had done this as a joke. That might have been okay for an adult, but his kid was truly upset, and close to tears.
"I hate it," he wailed.
So, as I said, a cautionary tale. 'Tricks' that might be fun for the grown-ups aren't necessarily so for little ones.
p.s. If you happen to watch the film, make sure you click on the 10 minute postscript, which closes the documentary in a most wonderful and inspiring way.
However, I experienced something the other evening that stayed in my mind, and not in a good way. I decided it would be good to share it with you, dear Readers, as a cautionary tale.
Our local Waldorf school was showing the second half of the Jonathan Stedall documentary 'The Challenge of Rudolf Steiner'. Having already watched the first half on youtube, I decided it would be nicer to see the second on a proper screen. When I arrived at the school I found I had a few minutes to waste. The whole day had been steamy hot, and I'd been dying to try the new, homemade ice-cream store nearby. So off I went.
Families were sitting outside, enjoying the treats. Except for one little boy, who was perhaps seven or eight years old. His dad emerged, having bought him a large sugar cone, loaded with two ginormous scoops of ice-cream. He handed it to his son.
"But I said I just wanted a taste," the little chap moaned.
Then I realized that the father had done this as a joke. That might have been okay for an adult, but his kid was truly upset, and close to tears.
"I hate it," he wailed.
So, as I said, a cautionary tale. 'Tricks' that might be fun for the grown-ups aren't necessarily so for little ones.
p.s. If you happen to watch the film, make sure you click on the 10 minute postscript, which closes the documentary in a most wonderful and inspiring way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)