One of my resolutions this year is to more effectively & consistently use peaceful, positive discipline with my children.  I strive to connect with them, and teach (the right message) with every interaction; even if that interaction is one of a corrective/disciplinary nature.  Teaching children a certain behavior is undesirable doesn’t have to include anger, punishment, shame, or isolation. And it should include empathy, kindness, and natural consequences. I don’t achieve perfection every time, and do make mistakes. But I strive to learn from my parenting mistakes, to forgive myself for those I make, and move on with better tools in my toolbox (and leave the ones that don’t work in the garbage).

 

Positive discipline is so important to fostering not just good behavior in children, but more importantly, in developing a fully functional internal guidance system. What distresses me, is that for the overwhelming attitude of adults, “well behaved” is the penultimate goal for children. And because of this belief, any and every method should be used to achieve this in your children.  Punitive or not. Logical or not. I believe it’s a misguided objective, and leads ultimately to frustration. Unfortunately, it begins in babyhood with most - with the unreasonable expectation of producing a “good” baby: one who doesn’t fuss, and who sleeps through the night – and continues on through childhood with the “good” child who doesn’t talk back or tantrum or rebel. It’s as though people have forgotten that when babies cry, and children test limits, they do so from a natural, normal place of need: needing to be held, needing attention, needing to be gently guided. They are asking to be taught, not punished. They don’t come into this world knowing anything. And so, every interaction we have with them teaches them something.  Don’t we want to make sure that what we’re teaching is what we actually want them to learn? 

 

I fear that in an effort to make children more convenient, parents are resorting punishments and techniques aimed at quieting instead of actually parenting, and teaching: getting to the root of what the baby is trying to say or what the child is trying to learn or express.  Take “cry it out” for example, used rampantly by parents as a means of “teaching” babies to sleep.  While it may work in the short term – and achieve (at least temporarily) the goal of the quiet sleeping baby, it hasn’t actually taught the baby the intended lesson. Baby didn’t learn that sleep is a peaceful state, or to willingly go to bed.  Instead, baby has learned that no one comes when they cry, so stop crying.  That nighttime is a time of loneliness and discomfort.  What this translates to in the long term is a sense of defeatism, lowered self worth, and detachment from parents.  It may achieve a quiet “good” baby, but at what cost?

 

The same goes for the typical punishments of childhood: spanking, parent-determined consequences, and coerced/enforced/isolation timeouts. Don’t hit, or I’ll spank you.  Don’t talk back or I’ll put you in a time out & I’ll tell you when to get out.  Certainly, the hypocrisy of hitting as a punishment for hitting is obvious. But what about the less obvious parent-determined punishments like timeouts?  I say that punitive discipline (as opposed to natural/logical consequences) only serve to teach children this: Don’t do what parents don’t want you to do; with one big caveat: while they’re watching.  You see, unless you teach children WHY hitting isn’t an acceptable form of expressing frustration – and unless you give them alternative methods of expression, they WILL continue to hit, they’ll just do it when mom isn’t looking.  Kids may appear to behave, but unless they have an understanding of why, and how, the “good behavior” is in appearance only.  Wouldn’t you rather a child have the ability to self-control, instead of behaving only due to external control? A kid who can understand that we don’t hit because it hurts another person, and hurting another person feels awful to me, and to them, and instead I should walk away before I hit, or use my words to express my frustration, is SO MUCH better prepared for life than the child who doesn’t hit because Mom is in the room & doesn’t want to get in trouble. 

 

To this effort, I strive for more thoughtfulness, and less reactivity in my responses to my childrens’ unwanted behaviors. I keep a keen eye on my own actions and responses, as children learn most from what they see & do than from what they hear.  I DO tolerate more that perhaps is typically expected, because I don’t think just “being good” is good enough for my kids, or for me as a parent.  I expect my children to learn from their behavior as I learn from mine. In my previous post, I mentioned the Positive Discipline parenting cards.  The one I chose for this week seems appropriate to this post:

 

If you're interested in positive discipline, and getting away from punishment, you may find these articles & sites helpful:

Positive Discipline Methods
What is Discipline?
How Children Really React to Control
The Case Against Time-Out

 

When the Plasma Car arrived here at Serious Shops, we felt the need to actively test it out before offering it for sale.

 

This was of course, solely to be certain our customers would be happy with their purchase.  Okay, who am I kidding? We couldn’t resist racing a futuristic looking muscle-powered scootmobile around the warehouse!  We don’t think you’ll be able to resist either… one ride on the Plasma Car, and you’ll be hooked!

 

We all gave it a good number of tries out in the warehouse – from the smallest weighing in around 40 lbs to the biggest weighing in around 180 lbs. Adam currently holds the record for fastest trip around the warehouse at 26.2 seconds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best part of the Plasma Car is the adaptability to different riders.  Little to big can ride; no matter how short (or long!) your legs are – with no adjustment required.  The Plasma Car holds up to 200 lbs; so Mom, Dad, and kids can enjoy – you just need to be able to turn the wheel! The ride is smooth and super-easy to control – just lean to turn & put your feet down to stop!  Exercise has never been this fun!

 

It’s cooler than a big wheel, safer than a scooter, and more fun than both combined! We’re sure you’ll love it as much as we do!

We love the Montessori method, and while we don’t use Montessori materials in our home, I have strived, since they’ve been enrolled in school, to structure our house in a more Montessori-friendly fashion.  Both to ease the transition between home & school – AND because I believe that good organization of your environment leads to good organization of your mind!

 

Below, I’ve taken several before & after photos of the last few months of rearrangement/organization in our livingspace to help my children do their work (play) in an organized way.  The most important things for me were that they know where things belong (so they know where to get whatever toy or craft or game they want and where put them away) AND that they’re able to get their materials & complete the tasks they want to complete as independently as possible.

 

Enjoy! Note: these photos were taken over a few month time span, so you may see similar items in different locations – i.e. the globe! We’re always working towards the BEST arrangement! :)

 

First, our entry way before (left) and after (right):

 

Their coats were previously hung on adult-height hooks, so they couldn’t hang them themselves. Shoes were just in a line, and helmets, mittens, etc. were in a basket – so it wasn’t obvious where to put things, and stacks of shoes/gloves, etc. often developed.  I installed a rack w/hooks & baskets at their height. Baskets are used for mittens & hats.  And the shoe shelf was built for shoes & helmets.

 

Next, our toy/game area before (top left & right) and after (below):

 

 

 

Previous to the renovation, games were stacked and piled in bins and on the shelf – things that were under other things weren’t often played with – and how to get items back on the shelf, or to which shelf things belonged was not easy to figure out. I ended up putting things away/straightening a lot in the evening. Afterwards, I strived for a more Montessori-esque one item per shelf (NO STACKING!) and clear & accessible places to put items.  In one photo below, you’ll see the rolled up “work mats” – and then at the bottom, the children using them while doing their work!

   

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

I’m also including a few spaces where I didn’t take before photos – just wanted to share with you!  I picked a few of our house plants to arrange in a child-accessible plant area with spray bottle & watering can (which can be filled at the fridge by them).  The reading area has a child-sized couch & natural light by the window.  And finally, the craft area with a distinct drawer or container for each material gives the children the opportunity to be more creative when they can find just what they’re looking for!

 

  

 

 

At dinner last night, the subject of our recently passed dog, Haley came up.  I said that I missed her.  My children echoed that sentiment.  My 2 yo then asked, "Where is Haley?" to which I replied that she died; her body was very sick, and died (we had previously discussed this at length when she was sick with cancer, and at her passing).  He said, "but where IS she?"  To which my 5 yo replied, "Well, she’s probably another person by now".

 

It was just then, that I saw that my spiritual “beliefs”, as much as I’ve tried not to foist them on my children, are developing in my childrens’ minds.  I’ve talked to my daughter about my thoughts about death & “reincarnation” of sorts… in that I believe when a body dies, there is an energy, a spirit, life force, soul, whathaveyou, that continues on.  The body is just a container for that energy. The energy is what makes you, YOU. Maybe this energy goes back into the earth – to help the trees grow stronger, maybe it finds its way into another animal, or newborn baby. And thus the life cycle & energy cycle continues.  The more positive we are in life, the more energy we have, the more we have to give & share with others on our life path.  I don’t have any proof of this.  I don’t have any documentation or books or doctrine.  I just feel it.  I feel we’re connected with everything & everyone living.  I feel it when we take walks in nature.  I felt it supremely with my dog, when she was living… if my energy was low, sad, angry… just being close to her filled me up.  My children are the same way – full of energy & light.  I want to pass this along to them – this feeling of connectedness with the earth & people around them.  That if they’re feeling low, a hug from a friend, a walk in the woods, a pat of a dog can help you feel more positive, and when you're positive you're more creative, and more intelligent, and able to pass positive energy on to others through the things that you say & do in life.

 

It made me feel good to hear her say what she did.  Yet, there was a bit of discomfort there as well, since, I’m just not SURE about these things.  My feelings about spirituality are just how I FEEL, and am continually adjusting & growing in my thoughts about life, as I move through it.  Yet, so many things in life I tell them, I’m SURE about: running into the street without looking is dangerous, going out in the winter without a coat will make you cold. But death? Or the reason for life? The bigger meaning? I haven’t figured that out; so it’s a bit disconcerting, when they’re looking to me for certainties, to say, “Well, this is what I THINK…”. But for now, that’s where I am.  And they seem okay with that. I think I’ll go take a walk.

But I  -
I love it when you sing to me
And you -
You can sing me anything

~Peter Gabriel

 

And to my children, I have sung pretty much anything & everything to help them to sleep.  As a teen & 20-something, I sang in several choirs.  Many of those songs stayed with me; so naturally, when I became a lullaby-singing parent (to a colicky infant who required constant motion & song) my favorite English Madrigals, Sacred Songs, and Spirituals came right to mind. I admit, to not only not knowing (or bothering to learn) many “lullabies”, but to preferring interesting lyric & melody over repetitive humdrum (think Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – ack!). As a result most of what I’ve sung as stand-ins are neither particularly light nor baby-related.  Not that rock-a-bye baby is light of lyric. Baby falling from a tree – sheesh.

 

Yet, certain songs I love to sing, and as a bonus, over the years I’ve found really work well to help baby (or toddler, or child) sleep. (Babies don’t care one lick what the words are; just keep singing.  And toddlers think my Latin is hilarious).

 

I’ll share with you some of my most beloved bedtime songs (random choirs on you tube just so you can get the tune – I do not vouch for the quality!):

 

Ride The Chariot (my son’s favorite)

I'm gonna ride the chariot
In the morning Lord
I'm gonna ride

Ride the chariot
In the morning Lord

I’m getting ready for the judgment day

My Lord, My Lord

 

Are you ready my brother/sister?

Oh yes

Are you ready for the journey

Oh yes

Do you want to see your Jesus

Oh yes, I’m waiting for the chariot ‘cause I’m ready to go

 

I never will forget that day
When all my sins were taken away
My feet were snatched from the miry clay

 

 

Blow The Candles Out  (my daughter’s favorite)

When I was ‘prenticed in Plymouth

I went to see my dear

The candles they were a-burning, the moon shone bright and clear

I knocked upon her window to ease her of her pain

She rose to let me in, then she barred the door again.

 

I like your good behavior darling, thus I often say

That I cannot rest contented while you are far away.

The winds they are so cold, that we cannot stay there out

So roll me in your arms, love, and blow the candles out.

 

Now Father & Mother in yonder room do lie

A-hugging one another, so why not you & I

A-hugging one another without a fear or doubt

So roll me in your arms, love, and blow the candles out.

 

Psallite! 

Psallite unigenito
Christo, Dei Filio,
Psallite Redemptori,
Domino, puerulo
jacenti in praesepio.
Ein kleines Kindelein liegt in dem Krippelein.
Alle lieben Engelein dienen dem Kindelein
und singen ihm fein.
Psallite unigenito...

 

(English Translation: Sing Your Psalms!

Sing your psalms to Christ,
the begotten Son of God,
sing your psalms to the Redeemer,
to the Lord, the little Child
lying in a manger bed.
A small Child lies in the manger.
All the blessed angels fall before Him
and sing.
Sing...)

 

The Silver Swan

The silver swan who living had no note
When death approached unlocked her silent throat
Leaning her breast against the reedy shore
Thus sung her first and last and sung no more:
Farewell all joys oh death come close my eyes
More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise

 

 

If Ye Love Me

If ye love me,
keep my commandments,
and I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may abide with you forever,
e'en the spirit of truth.

 

Please share with me YOUR favorite bedtime songs!

Last night, my 2 yo had his first night terror. My 5 yo has not had them.  She’s awoken scared, had nightmares before, but last night was something different.  My son came running down the hall, screaming.  Blood curdling scream, like the kind that rips you out of a deep sleep in a sense of complete panic. I didn’t know where I was, where he was, I just knew he was terrified and I needed to save him – NOW. He was silhouetted in my bedroom doorway – the hallway nightlight illuminated behind him – he was rigid in fear – looking behind him and I ran to him & picked him up.  He was so terrified, gripped my neck in a panic & didn’t even cry for a couple of minutes – I believe he was still sleeping.  I just held him & let him know it was okay.  In a few minutes, I could tell he’d fully awoken and I helped him back to bed.  I told him he’d had a scary dream.  I asked him if he remembered it. He said yes.  I asked what it was about & he said: “Something was coming.  Something scary.”  My heart ached for him. I laid next to him while he settled back into sleep – and thankfully he slept peacefully the remainder of the night.

 

I have had night terrors my whole life.  My father had night terrors. I’d always assumed my children would.  Yet, when my daughter had not, I thought: hey, maybe we lucked out!  Maybe this peaceful, attachment parenting thing really works!  You’d think I’d have been ready for this.  Yet, when it happened last night, I didn’t feel ready.  I empathized with his terror, yet I felt so helpless.  I don’t want my children to have night terrors yet I can do nothing to stop it. Its not a good feeling to have.

 

I’ve posted on message boards & on twitter, sympathizing with & trying to reassure mothers who have experienced night terrors in their children; thinking somehow that my own personal experience would offer some help to them.  However, I’m not sure, now, having experienced one with my son, that anything really helps you get comfortable with being awoken by the panicked scream of your child. Experiencing it makes you want to know why & what. All those things that I’ve just gotten used to in myself, and dismissed as just part of my life, now I want to FIX for my baby. Yet, I know this isn’t something to be fixed.  It just is what it is. Its not damaging, and its not indicative of anything other a hereditary propensity towards an overactive mind in sleep. There’s some comfort in that.

 

Over the years, I’ve done some research into night terrors.  I’ve wanted to know why I have them, or at least know if other people have had them & what they are like for others. 

Unfortunately, the “why’s” of what really causes night terrors are still mostly unknown. Here’s what I do know about night terrors:

 

They are most common in young children, and usually go away on their own with time (typically by age 12, though many adults have them as well).

There is a hereditary component:  Parents who have/had night terrors often have children who experience night terrors.

They occur only in stage 4 (non-REM) sleep (which makes them different from nightmares which happen in any stage of sleep)

They don’t signify an underlying psychological problem.

Some people remember their night terrors after waking, some do not.

People having a night terror are typically not aware of what’s going on around them, and may not be able to be awakened.  They may appear awake, breathing quickly, high heart rate, but are still sleeping.

Many people see animals or people threatening them; but the things they see (spiders, etc.) are not the things they are typically afraid of during waking hours.

They tend to happen more often when a person is overtired or over stimulated.

Night terrors on their own are not harmful though they can occur with sleepwalking – so room should be safe from objects on which children could hurt themselves; top-of-stairs gates should be closed.

There is some evidence of a link to hypoglycemia.

 

Some tips from my own experience:

Comfort & hug the person having the night terror – speak & move gently.

Gently waking is okay, though never force a waking – its sometimes even more frightening to be woken during/after a night terror, because at least in my experience, it takes me time to reacclimatize to “reality” vs. dream state, I’m very agitated (heart rate can get up between 160 – 170 in studies done on night terrors) and I can’t fall back to sleep easily.

Sleeping with an air purifier (for white noise), and no nightlight helps me immensely because my stage 4 sleep is not interrupted by sudden noises or light (these are both triggers for me).

Unfamiliar places tend to trigger my night terrors (say, on vacation). Before sleep in these instances, I make sure to familiarize myself with the room. 

I try to eat something small before bed – some yogurt, a banana, etc.

 

I do hope that my son will outgrow night terrors – he’s only had one so far.  And maybe it will be the only one! In the meantime, I feel comfortable that they aren’t damaging, and from my experience, as annoying as they may be long-term, there are certainly worse things someone could live with.

 

A few sites about night terrors that may be helpful:

Night Terrors Resource Center

Dr. Sears – Night Terrors

Wikipedia: Night Terror/Pavor Nocturnus

National Institute of Health

 

 

With cold weather fast approaching, and the children back in school, the thoughts of staying healthy, avoiding the dreaded flu, and keeping our immune systems at their highest level have been forefront in my mind!

So I’ve been mulling over all the things we’ve done in the past, the things we are planning to do this year, and have been soliciting ideas from my irl, facebook, & twitter friends.  All this adds up to a pretty darned good list, if I do say so myself. Though, I’m sure there are plenty more things I could do better!  Here it is (not really in any order other than how they came to my mind):

(and this photo isn't me - just looked like how I'd like to feel all year 'round!)

Fresh Air & Sunshine – Getting outside every day, even when it’s really cold, if just for a few minutes, is so important.  Not only do our bodies need the sunlight so they can make vitamin D (which is VITAL to staying healthy – please read what Dr. Mercola has to say about vitamin D & sun exposure – it may change your perspective on the sun; it did mine!), but we also need fresh air to clear out our lungs from being cooped up indoors all winter day.  Most of our indoor air contains pollutants – carpet fibers, paint offgassing, cleaning products, etc. So, in addition to getting outside, periodically opening the windows throughout the winter to get some “new” air in, I recommend switching all cleaning products used indoors to natural products – castille soap, vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil for example, or safer chemical cleaners – like 7^th Generation.

 

Fruits, veggies, and berries – particularly berries -  We try to eat organic as much as possible to avoid chemical exposure, and to boost antioxidants (organic produce has been found to have higher levels of antioxidants than conventional food)! We also are fortunate to have a juicer  – and try to use it often in the winter to get the most out of our veggies in particular.  I believe that food is better for you when it is raw & unpasturized; though the thought of raw veggies isn’t that appealing to most – particularly kids, so juicing makes eating your veggies easy!  It also helps cut down on the amt. of food wasted – when your strawberries start to get soft, or your apples bruised, for example, I just throw them in the juicer – and no one’s the wiser – but they sure still taste great!  When we can’t get to the juicer, or don’t have fresh fruits/veggies on hand, the next best thing we’ve found is Nuriche LiVE.  And we like it so much, that we decided to start selling it!  It’s a super-easy way to make sure we’re still getting the benefits of fresh fruits + probiotics… and it tastes good too.

 

 

Water -  Water, of course, is important to keep everything working in our bodies & I always feel it just flushes out the toxins… the more water you take in, the more bad stuff it takes out.  We have a water filter, and I’m trying to wean myself off of bottled spring water.  However, while rated highly “clean”, our township water is fluoridated, so its been a mental battle for me to switch completely off of bottled spring.  But I am trying!  For my birthday, my good friend got for me 5 reusable BPA-free plastic water bottles: one for each day of the work week. And I plan to get the children each a Kleen Kanteen for Christmas.  So this should help!  

 

Washing Hands – We use herbal antibacterial soap by Cleanwell at our sinks, and just regular old olive oil soap in the bath. We wash before meals, after going outside, and after getting back from school/work.  When we’re in the car, and can’t get to a sink, my favorite antibacterial spray is Burt’s Bees Aloe & Witch Hazel Hand Sanitizer. I don’t consider myself too much of a germaphobe, and don’t chase the kids around with antibacterial spray (oh wait, maybe I do), but these two things are free from toxic chemicals like triclosan & SLS, so I feel comfortable using them.

 

 

Exercise – Okay.  I’ll admit, I do not exercise enough.  Or, well, at all. Sometimes we’ll get on an exercise kick where we’ll get on our running machine & elliptical every evening once the kids are in bed but we’ve never been able to get into a real routine!  The kids, on the otherhand, always get plenty of exercise – of course, they always have boundless energy too.  :) Its so important to long-term health, and its important for the children to see US placing a priority on exercise.  This is something we ALL need to work on. 

 

Supplements – Aside from the healthy foods, getting outside, and drinking lots of fluids, we also supplement our diets with the following things; most vigilantly in the Winter:

• Probiotic – I use Jarro brand because its what I started with when my youngest was an infant & had thrush. Comes chewable for the kids, capsulated for me, and powdered which I use to mix into smoothies, sprinkle on oatmeal, etc.
• Elderberry concentrate – we take this daily because it is so tasty, easy to mix into the kid’s water, and packed full of natural nutrients! Additionally, it has been shown to have anti-viral properties.
• Garlic – Adam & I take garlic in capsule form, and we make homemade garlicky hummus & soups for ourselves & the kids.   
• Echinacea – We all take this two weeks on, two weeks off throughout cold season
• Astragalus – We all take this daily throughout cold season
• Vitamin C – We all take this daily in the form of chewable tablets, but also unpasteurized orange juice.  We boost our daily intake during cold season.
• Vitamin D – we get out in the sun every day when its possible, but even when it is, we all also take vitamin D – in the form of cod liver oil for us, and Carlsons Baby D drops for the kids. With all I’ve been reading about vitamin D lately, I’m even considering  starting to regularly visit a tanning salon in the winter months.  Yes, crazy, right? And I’ve never in my life tanned, and do use California Baby sunscreen in the middle of summer when we're going to be out all day in the sun, yet the more I read, the more I’m convinced vitamin D deficiencies are the link to so many health problems… and that dramatically increasing vitamin D would be the link to much better health! 

 

Chiropractor – We try to visit the chiropractor once a month.  Its been a while because our  favorite chiropractor has relocated to a not-so-convenient location, but we really need to go back, particularly through the winter! I believe that having our bodies aligned improves circulation, posture, and communication of the brain with the body.  Basically, if our body is comfortable it can heal itself. So I’m working on finding a new chiropractor.

 

Sleep - With young children I know this can be a tough one.  And even WITHOUT young children, with so much to do in the evenings - internet, movies, games, blogging, reading, cleaning, working... well, getting enough sleep is just not easy.  But as adults we're supposed to get 8 hours of sleep per night.  EIGHT!  Even with both of our children now finally "sleeping through the night", I often find myself averaging closer to 5 or 6 hours per night during the week, rather than 8 (when's the last time I got 8?!).  But our bodies do much of thier healing while we're sleeping.  So its another thing, like exercise, that really needs focus.

 

Air Purifier

– We've always slept with a HEPA air purifier at night.  Mostly for that lovely white noise sound which is so helpful in keeping little ones asleep. But also because it removes any allergenic or irritating particles in the air while we're sleeping - and we do spend a large portion of our day in one place - our bedroom - so best to make the air we're breathing (and rebreathing) as clean as possible.

Flu shots – I think I’m back on the fence with this one.  Last year, we all got the flu shot. I had to switch doctors in order to make sure everyone got the mercury-free dose, and no, we didn’t get the flu last year.  But we never got the flu any other year either, and had never gotten the flu vaccine.  This year, I’ll have to special order the mercury-free one (Sanofi Pasteur makes the pre-filled vials this year) – my doctor is willing to write a script for it – because neither of the practices we visit received the themerisol-free version this year.  Which is another topic for another day.  So, I’m still not sure about it, or the H1N1 vaccine.  I’m considering getting it for myself, but since my understanding is that they haven’t produced a mercury-free version, I just don’t know that I can feel comfortable giving this to the kids.  Particularly in light of my understanding of H1N1 as not being that severe in most cases of healthy children who contract it.  And because I believe that things like the flu are probably GOOD for your body in the long run, because they make your immune system stronger over time, where as vaccines only boost your immunities for a brief window.  But really, I’m still just not sure.

 

 

**Update: We've decided a definitive NO on both the seasonal flu shot & the H1N1 vaccine this year; opting instead for more vigilant adherance to the above vitamin & sleep & exercise regimens to boost our immune systems naturally!**

 

In spite of all of this prevention (flu shot or no), we still do get sick.  So, we take: 

Umcka – It works so well (and is all natural)… it’s eerie.  Of course, it could just be power of suggestion.  But even still….  You start taking it 4 – 5 times per day, AS SOON AS you start feeling even a little bit ill.  And then for 2 days after you’re well.  I am convinced it has reduced the length of my colds, and made them easier to weather. I give it to the kids as well (just at half/quarter dose).  It IS expensive, but when you’re in the midst of a cold/flu, you do what you can to feel better. And this really does help me feel better.

Elderberry Concentrate - Yes, I listed this above.  However, when we do get sick, we take this 4x per day (1 tsp at a time for adults, 1/2 tsp at a time for kids) because of its antiviral properties.

What I don't yet do, but would like to do: 

Find an ayurvedic doctor for all of us.  Its difficult finding a regular old doctor here in Southern NJ that is even willing to honor requests like special order vaccines or understands the value of extended breastfeeding, let alone being able to find a more holistic practice. I've been looking, and am still looking.  I hate feeling like we're settling for second best (or third, or...) when it comes to health practitioner, but my inquiries IRL & online for a more holistic doc in this area have so far been fruitless.  I'm certainly open to referrals! I think a less traditional-medicine doctor who looks at the whole person, not just treats the symptoms, would be really beneficial to us all.

 

 

So that’s it (just a couple things, right?)! I encourage you to add to the list anything you do that isn’t mentioned, or to tell me what I’m doing doesn’t work!  I’m open to new ideas, and to improving what we already do.  Here’s to a healthy Winter ahead!

 

I spent a quite a bit of time rearranging & reorganizing my childrens’ play area yesterday. In the process, I realized that my children have, in their combined not quite 5 years, managed to amass a LOT of toys.  The reason for the reorganization was my intent to move towards a more Montessori approach at home, to more closely follow what they encounter at school (more to come on this, in a future post), which will facilitate more independent choosing of work (play).  Perhaps put more simply: to make sure they can see & reach everything they do want to play with; and to get rid of things that don’t get played with.

 

The process of slimming down the toy area got me thinking about how the simplest things usually make the best toys. For example, today, we spent the better part of an hour with handmade-by-grandpa blocks, a dozen matchbox cars, and a handful of various miniature animals & little people gotten at a garage sale.  We built block roads with block traffic lights that underwent matchbox traffic jams and road construction, and a block & mini animal zoo with a little people picnic area & monorail. Go, imagination!

 

In straightening, I realized that some of the most-used toys we have also happen to be the least-expensive, and most-versatile toys (aside from books or arts & crafts – but those are different animals altogether): blocks, Legos (easily purchased used), matchbox cars, and decks of cards.  I discovered several underused decks of cards at the bottom of a box, and it brought back good memories. As a kid, we loved card games. My mom would teach us the rules, give us a deck, and we’d all play for hours. As an adult, Adam & I have played with our friends throughout the years – everyone knows how to play at least ONE card game, right?

 

This all got me thinking about how with one simple deck of 52 cards, you can really do so much: Go Fish, Memory, Crazy 8s, Old Maid, War, Rummy, Solitaire, Hearts, Poker, Back Alley (Bloopers), and the list goes on…   not to mention 52 card pick-up (haha), 3 card monte, magic tricks, or building houses out of cards. 

 

Since cards are so inexpensive, versatile, and ubiquitous, it really makes me wonder why these decks have been buried at the bottom of a bin, instead of front & center on our toy shelf!  So, I’ve decided to brush up on my kids’ card game skills with a deck of cards, and start playing more often with the children. My favorite card game has to be one called Bloopers (which, as a complete aside, I looked up online is most closely related to a game called Back Alley Bridge [traced back to WWII].  Here’s an outline of the rules & variations, if you’re interested – GREAT game: Back Alley), and I want my children to develop their own favorite card games.  Its a great skill to have, to be able to pull out a deck of cards, in whatever situation you’re in, and start playing with someone – cards can transcend age, gender, language… and teach turn taking, patience, forethought, strategy, and non-violent competition (alright, Rounders aside).

 

I’ve always brought along a deck of cards whenever we travel, but I’ve now decided to start carrying a deck of cards in my purse for everyday boring & quiet-situation use (i.e. waiting rooms, brother sleeping in car).  Here’s the deck I’ve chosen for the kids, because once you’re finished whatever card game you’re playing, the pictures open up fun discussions & imagination play: Animals of the World 

 

So what are your favorite card games? I’d love to hear – please leave a comment.  Thanks for reading!

 

I’m an avid reader, a bookworm, a bibliophile.  I try to have at least 2 books going at once.  That’s not precisely a goal, its just that with children, I’ve found I really have to do it that way; one for the car (when they fall asleep), one next to the bed (before I fall asleep), and one just lying conveniently around the house for when I am feeling like I might fall asleep, yet children are requiring my presence, and I need to rejuvenate, just for a moment.  Do you catch a theme, here?  I’ve worked in libraries (though I’m not actually a librarian, perhaps in another life I was, or will be).  I can specifically recall how old I was & even where I was while reading certain books (i.e. fourth grade library circle time, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis). I have a really hard time throwing an old book away, and would definitely count reading in my top 5 things to do.  Maybe even top 3: One being family time. Two being reading. Three being eating a quality piece of dark chocolate. Of course, you can read while eating chocolate, so maybe that really needs to share spot number two. :)

 

So it comes as no surprise that our 4 yo is fast becoming a big reader, too. We’ve read to our children since they each were in utero. I vividly remember  5 years ago, going out with Adam, picking out Dr. Seuss’ ABC book & taking turns reading aloud to my growing belly. Our children have far more books than toys. Or clothes. Actually, more books than both combined; and I’m even counting individual socks. I can stop a tantrum dead in its tracks just by saying, “Would you like me to read a book?”  We just have this thing for books, you know?  Maybe it’s that I really can’t find a single thing wrong with a book.  Too expensive?  Well, you really can’t quantify the properties of a good book.  And besides, I’m not one to turn up my nose to a used book store or yard ($.25 copy of Go Dog Go? Could a person POSSIBLY say no to that?)  Okay, so how about too sedentary? Well, I’ve been known to (try to, anyhow) read on the treadmill. Or while doing dishes.  Or cooking. So that’s a nonstarter. Too… I dunno?  I really can’t think of anything else that could possibly be listed as a detriment of a book. They make great gifts, are portable, interesting, exciting, the list goes on. Assuredly, there are less-than-riveting stories, and less-than-eloquent authors, but I just can’t fathom not reading just to avoid potential literary disappointment. We love books. Anyhow, I digress…

 

When I say our 4 yo is becoming a big reader, I mean, she reads anything & everything she can get her eyes on and wants to know exactly what everything means in the words, not just what they say: signs “Mom, but why can’t you turn on red?”, magazines, mail, books – mine & hers. She writes letters to me & her brother. She plays Boggle. (Even by herself, if I’m not readily available). And when all other word options have been exhausted, she waits ever so patiently for her brother to guess the right letter when quizzing him on the alphabet (totally unprompted by me, I really must add), and does quite a good job at hiding her astonishment in the realization that her 2yo cohort can’t yet read.

 

So it was when she was reading my book over my shoulder, trying to piece together context from difficult words she was mostly correctly sounding out, that I came to the realization that she truly has a passion for words. In most things, I’m a “prepare the environment & let the child explore” type of parent. But in this case, maybe because her enthusiasm for books is so close to my own heart, I’m willing to take a bit more active role in fostering this passion.  

 

With that in mind, I decided to sit down & think of my most beloved early books; both ones read to me, and ones I read on my own.  I’ve compiled a list, for your enjoyment, and my reference; as I plan to work my way through these books, reading to her & with her, topic-appropriately (meaning, while I can’t wait to share 1984 with my children, I’m not sure they’re quite ready for Big Brother & Newspeak).

 

I hope that in reviewing the list, some titles will bring back memories, as they have for me! And if there’s something missing, please feel free to comment & share your own most treasured childhood books.

 

Happy reading.

 

Kelly’s Most Favorite Books (pre-adolescence):

 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

 

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

 

Bridge to Terabithia  by Katherine Paterson

 

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory  by Roald Dahl

 

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

 

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

 

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

 

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

 

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

 

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald 

 

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

 

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

 

Watership Down by Richard Adams

 

Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle