Make Family Prayer Flags for 2014

 Try this easy family craft to get your family creating, thinking positively and connected. It's a positive twist on new year's resolutions.

Ask your family what good things they would like in their life in 2014. It's a great way to hear what your children value, as well as find out more their inside world.

My three year old would like: more snowman making and lots of animals in her life, especially cats.

My six-year-old thought it would be great to have buckets and bucket loads of money. As well wanted to have good times at school, including good friendships, and lots of fun and laughing. He'd also like a real-live cat.

For me, I want more yoga in my life in 2014. For me this means, a stronger commitment to self-practice to grow, learn and discover. As well as sustaining the connections and students I have already made, whilel finding more families, adults and children to teach.

To round out the flags we have "lots of happiness, joy and laughing" and " family time".

May your 2014 be full of connection, discovery, joy and spirit.

Namaste

Holiday Parenting: It's the Overall that Matters, Not the Everything

Temptation at three

This morning I noticed my six-year-old son eating his cereal two inches away from two sprinkle contains left over from cookie decorating last night. He didn't notice them, or if he did, he didn't care. I told him, "boy you sure are growing up. Do you remember three years ago when you stole the red sprinkle bottle off the counter and hid behind the couch eating it?" "Oh yes," he said fondly. He would of been three when I found him there all red faced and hands. I think there is still a hint of a red stain on the carpet.

Tonight, I was eating out by myself with my kids. And I was asking my boy about school. He doesn't usually say much. I ask a lot of questions. Today, because my husband wasn't there I pried a little more. He said, "I wanted to tell you something. Someone was teasing me today." He looked a little hurt. We talked about it. It didn't seem like a big deal to me, just someone at school saying his name silly all day. But he did seemed quite bothered.

I loved that he shared this with me. I remember always bottling up things and not being able to talk to adults and probably making things into a bigger deal than it was.

I try my hardest at this parenting thing, but its a tough job. I lose my cool. I called my son "difficult" twice or maybe three times the other day between after school and bedtime. (But man, sometimes he is just so so so difficult for the sake of being difficult!) It was the way I said it. And I hate that I did. I mean, I barely saw him yesterday. I'm the jerk.

When I feel like my son and I are getting into a rough patch, I make a point to do something special with him where we can have great together moments. Even if its just going out to eat. That helps. And at the end of the day, maintaining an overall positive loving connection I think is what matter. Its the overall, not the everything that matters. Or at least that is how I maintain my sanity!

Eating out having fun with jello

Namaste and may you find grace and peace admits a stressful time of year!

Gift Ideas For the Kind-Hearted

I am caught smack-dab in this whole commercial holiday rat-race this holiday season. I am someone who loves to give, and loves to make people feel loved and appreciated. So looking for the most perfect gift or way of sending my love weighs heavily on my mind.

I do like having some presents to open, who doesn't. But, by golly the amount of money that the Western world alone is spending for this holiday season on presents to open has got to be approximately a ga-zillion, or something sickening like that.

And I have a WHOLE LOT of people in my life I need to thank and appreciate. (And that is a good thing). Not to mention, special people in my kid's life that appreciate them and, like my son's bus driver, keep him safe and happy. So, I have a lot of spending to do.

Which got me thinking. What if I spend a fraction of our holiday card/gift money on something that is truly helpful and meaningful to those that are not as fortunate.

I've traveled to poor countries and seen desperation in the eyes of mothers. Heck, I drive to our local co-op and see the desperation in the eyes of men and women holding a sign up on the street corner. I've seen desperate times of my own.

So this year, as part of my gift-giving, I will be donating to Heifer International and YoKid  in honor of a few of my special kind-hearted people in my life. The Heifer donation will help bring a gift of rabbits and a starter flock of chickens to a family in need to help them provide more of sustainable food source and income.

The YoKid donation will help fund a program that helps give children, particularly those living in poverty, with regular access to yoga that can equip them with techniques that can help them better cope with stress, decrease their likelihood of obesity, and improve their general understanding of how to care for themselves both mentally and physically throughout childhood and into adulthood.

For an Animal Lover:
I love Heifer International because you get to give a sheep, a goat, or a flock of chickens, a camel (!) or a bio-fuel stove to a family or various other practical options that will provide a more sustainable way for a family them to feed, earn money, or cook. Plus, you get a nice little donation card to give to your gift recipient. 

For a Yoga-Lover:

Check out this website Off The Mat and Into the World for a whole host of amazing yoga-related charities/ NGOs. I choose to give to YoKid because it seems like all the big youth-based yoga NGO's are all out on the west coast, and I wanted to give our east coast some lovin'. YoKid provides instruction in yoga for kids and teens mostly in the D.C area. They provide affordable on-site instruction for kids, as well, they have a big network of teachers who provide outreach for any school or organization who need it. They also launching a Kids Yoga Conference in 2014! Donate here

For a Teacher or Coach: 

You could make a donation to a great international NGO called Right To Play, who provides regular access to sport and play activities that help them to develop self-esteem, a sense of belonging and become role models for other children. (I am a bit biased because I used to work here! But I have visited their programs in Africa and the kids are super happy and thankful.)

For a Food or Cheese Lover:

Give the gift of four cheese producing animals. The C

heeses of the World Gift Basket is made up of four milk-producing animals: a goat, a sheep, a water buffalo and a heifer. Families will also receive training on the animals' care. This gift provides an abundance of milk to make cheese, butter and yogurt. It increases wealth by providing dairy products that can be sold.

For the Feminist or Scholar:
Send a girl to school for a year, for $56.  In places like Afghanistan, Congo or Ethiopia, girls’ schooling is critical: educated girls become smart, strong women committed to leading their communities toward stability. In Ethiopia alone, The International Resue Committee helped educate nearly 4,500 girls in 2012. Your donation can supply the tuition, books and other supplies a girl needs to attend school for a year.

This holiday season, consider giving a gift that is truly needed. 

Namaste!

Sick of All Those Media-Based Books?

I just got back from my son's school book fair fundraiser and was quite disappointed and turned off by all the obnoxious media-based books, loud and cheesy cartoonish artwork, and general lack of substance. Not to mention the lack of culture and diversity. I mean, this is what the public schools are feeding our kids! Now, some of their books are grounding and classic, and some are very affordable which is great for some families, but it really affirmed to me why I am such a big supporter Barefoot Books. Kids need to a better alternative!

I know you mamas/parents will *get* Barefoot Books. They are so much more nurturing, beautiful and inspiring. Without being cheesy, their stories have characters who model the values I want my kids to strive for, like generosity, kindness, bravery, appreciating the earth. They are books kids want to read again and again.

There is Herb the Vegetarian Dragon (who refuses to fight and kill), Ruby's Baby Brother (featuring a breastfeeding mom), The Girl with a Brave Heart (who shows kindess to an elderly lady) and my family favorite Earth Tales. They are multicultural and diverse - even the Pirate short story collection features a story about a female pirate from Ireland. Their best selling books Animal Boogie has a little guy in a wheelchair, and different races amongst the kids.

      

So if you are looking for great books for your kids or as gifts this holiday season, check out my webpage. You can use the coupon code "TWENTY13" on my site and get 20% off your order. Or if you are local, and don't have much of a budge, or if you just want more books, you could host a Barefoot Books party and earn money towards books!

Making Learning Easy With Great Books

The other night at bedtime, my 5-year-old son and I were nestled in his bed as usual reading books. But this time I found myself rambling on about plate tectonics, the titanic, deserts in Africa where there once was arable land, and answering such questions as what one can do to combat the horrors of rain forest deforestation.

All this from one colorful and beautifully illustrated page in a kids world atlas. One page.

Not usual bedtime conversation for us, but this kids' world atlas we recently got from Barefoot Books has really made it easy for both of us to connect and be engaged with our mutual love of maps and geography.

And don't even get me started about the corresponding World Atlas app for iPads. Oh my.

There is just something to be said about a good quality book, and one with great kid-friendly (but not cheesy) illustrations and made in a way that draws you in. This book nails it.

By the way, did you know I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador now? I just love these books and wanted to share them with families in my community. Check out my site here. Order online through my site and you can use coupon code TWENTY13 to get 20% off your first online order. 

On Letting Go

First time on the bus

These days I am not-so-peacefully practicing letting go of those tendrils twisting around my oldest child who is off to school full time now. It's healthy for both of us I keep reminding myself. But in those long long hours when he is no longer here, I feel lost and ungrounded.

I've become so accustomed to constantly checking in on him to make sure he is safe and well and happy as he could be. Not only that, but that he is operating in the most balanced way. You see, there is this particular combination of "external criteria" that is needed in order to keep my boy in tip top operating shape. I have refined and tweaked and tested and proved this specific recipe over the last 5.75 years. I know what makes him happiest. I know exactly how much sitting, and electronics, and sugar, and creative play, and interaction, and encouragement, and mental stimuli, and food timing is needed in order to make his spirit shine!

Not only that, but I know how he learns best. I know how to make him laugh and what sorts of stories he likes best, and how to get him out of a grumpy mood the quickest.

I keep choking on the feelings of wanting to "rescue" him from the ultra-serious-table-sitting-practicing-proper-behavior-all-day-public-school-prison. How much more fun and wonderful and nourishing homeschooling would be! But then I remember the bills racking up.

And darn him, he keeps getting up in the morning all excited about riding the bus to school. Not only that but be has best friends already whom he is excited to see. Come on kid, its only been two weeks. How could you possibly have best friends already. But he insists. The one who he giggles about and chums the most with happens to be a girl. A girl. What, a girlfriend already! Pfft. What's she got on me. I grew you in my belly for goodness sake!

Yes, he is doing just fine. He seems excited and enchanted by all the wonders a big American elementary school has to offer.   

Me, not so much. I am disenchanted. Mostly unenthused  by the learning methods of most public schools (sit here and absorb this information, do some work sheets, be quiet and behave). Seemingly they don't seemed to have evolved much since I went to school. Actually, his school seems so focused on academia. It's kindergarten for petes sake! I'm also disenchanted by how long the school day is in our district.

But I dare say I am so very impressed by how confidently and securely my son went off to school. For example, the first time on the bus. He had been going to school for a week already (not on the bus) and knew how to get into the school from two different directions. When the bus let him off at another end of the school, instead of following everyone in through the doors and down the hall, he decided to walk around the front of the school to go in the main entrance. It was locked, so he went in another way and eventually found his way to his classroom just before the bell.

Weren't you scared or nervous not knowing where you were? I asked him.

He claims he wasn't at all.

Me you ask, wasn't I such a confident, making best friends in the first week and loving the big school sort of kindergartner?

Um. Well, pretty much the opposite.

Yep. That's me rockin the 70'ies look in KG.

So if I did anything right as a parent, it was that I did not pass on my extremely shy and introverted as a child genes. (That and my ridiculous overbite). You are welcome kid.

Now if you will excuse me, I must go off and plan a wedding ;)

Namaste
The Domestic Yogi

Change, Change and I am Okay

It seems like yesterday that I was at the berry farm with my 2-year-old son, pregnant, enjoying all the raspberry sweetness. My son back then so tentative and small and cheeky. Both of us fading quickly in the hot summer heat. My son overwhelmed by the stinky smell wafting over from the petting farm. We picked maybe 3 quarts. Maybe. Totaling $4 or so in raspberries. 

Berry farm summer 2010

Upon returning home, my husband declares, "that's it?" "Yep, 1.5 hrs of driving for $4 in raspberries." But it was an adventure. We sight saw along the way and we stopped for ice cream. Oh the days of having one little buddy around.

This summer, we found ourselves going back to the same country berry farm. Three years later, my daughter is now the same age as my son was, and wore the same shirt. (Oh how she loves that shirt.) We had a rough start to the picking again this time, "too stinky!" "too much walking!" "ahhh! My hat fell off!" but we persevered. Eventually my son locked into his task (berries on middle branches), which brought  my daughter in line to follow us picking her low-lying berries. Next thing we knew, we had two full baskets! (Racked up $16 worth) 

Berry farm 2013

I was a shock to go back and look at that picture of my little son at the berry farm. It seems like so long ago because so much has evolved since then. But, it also seems like he couldn't possibly have grown that much, in body and mind, in just three years! 

Looking back at the time when my son was two going on three and I was pregnant for nine very long months, I can't remember my son at that age as much as I'd like to. Pregnancy is hard, and even more hard to be fully present in the moment, open to what is.

It makes me even more conscious that I need to save mental "images" each and every day. Even just for a moment, stop, be fully present absorbing the moment with my kids. Maybe I am just watching them engrossed in their moment, or maybe I am engrossed in the moment with them. Store that moment in my memory.  

Being a stay-at-home mom (mostly) I always felt a little like, "this shit is never going to end!" But I suppose that usually was on the long boring, kids are misbehaving or being super needy sort-of days. It is so cliche to say that kids grow up so fast. But they do.

Times are changing. No longer is there one older kid and a baby. Now my children have reached the age where they truly enjoy playing with each other. This summer we had a blast enjoying lazy fun days inside and out. So it came as quite a shock to all three of us to have my oldest off to school full-time kindergarten last week. Our hearts were all a little swollen with sadness from missing our third team member. 

First day kindergarten with sister

First day pose

Many of the kids I teach yoga to on a weekly basis are moving on to different schools. This also makes my heart ache as I will miss seeing these kids so much. I love watching them grow and their spirits shine. 

Yes, my heart has been aching with all this change, but I keep reciting the chant/song I always sing to my wee students in class. Change, change and I am okay. Change, change and I am okay. Close my eyes and I am okay. (View the video for the tune)

It's okay to feel sad with change. It's okay to feel whatever you feel in times of loss or change. 

Sometimes its hard, but I always try to honor those feelings when my heart hurts because it means I care deeply. Feeling deeply is human blessing. It can bring profound gifts.

Feeling grounded through change is important. Breathing deep, saying a mantra or reciting positive affirmations, taking more quiet reflective time, being in nature, eating some good soul nourishing food, these things will all help get you through. 

Binging on a whole chocolate cake then finishing off the tub of ice cream. Um. Not so much. That will not help you stay centered through the change. It will just send you on a roller coaster.

Reaching out to friends, calling your mom, extra hugs and kisses from your loved ones. These are also super sweet. This is all how I got through. A big thanks to my friends, my mom and my family for all the love to get me through this week!

Same holds true for helping your kids through change. Lots of hugs and kisses. Quiet times. Time in nature. Allowing them to express themselves unconditionally. Take things slower. Make sure the day isn't stressed (or at least the morning if you are going to school).

What helps you get through? What helps you get your kids through?

Now, I better go off to spend some quality time with my daughter while her brother is at school, because next thing I know, three years from now, she will be dressing up for her first day of school! 

Namaste

The Domestic Yogi