Inspiration

  • The Best Parts of Aging…

    Hours

    I’ve tried to age gracefully and elegantly, but it turns out I’m aging wildly and eccentrically. My entire life I have been attracted to evocative clothing and I named my own personal fashion eras things like: wildly romantic (Betsey Johnson or “old west” style dresses with cowboy boots); Hippy Grateful Dead (Corn Rows, Birkenstocks with long skirts and knitted Rastafarian berets); Bohemian Belly Dancer (Belly Baring Velvet Half tops, flowing skirts); Glamourpuss (silky gowns I called “Marilyn Monroe after drinking…

  • Separation Anxiety

    Hours

    Separation Anxiety is common in children of all ages–from young children left in childcare to 10-year-olds to grown-up “children”. (Even I, at 44 years old, will occasionally really miss my Mom–especially when there are dirty socks on the floor and I wonder why my mom hasn’t picked them up–then I realize–I AM THE MOM!) It can be really agonizing for parents when their child screams not to leave and hangs onto them. A dear friend of mine was having separation…

  • Nighty Night Baby!

    Hours

    Today I read this article today, talking about research findings that state children with irregular bedtimes had more behavior issues than children with the same bedtime every night. When Annabelle was a baby, we would take two long naps a day so she could be awake to see Daddy when he came home from work at 9pm. Her normal bedtime was 11pm! When I finally decided to move her bedtime to a normal time for a young child, I cut…

  • “A Feminist’s Daughter Finds Love in the Kitchen”…and so do I!

    Hours

    I read many different articles on motherhood with many different points of view, but I found “A Feminist’s Daughter Finds Love in the Kitchen” by Janet Benton to be unique, insightful,and beautifully written. Benton writes “I know how much the mundane care of children matters. That is why I stop work when the school day ends and greet my daughter with a hug. I may be tired, stressed out or grumpy; I may bemoan the confinement, the repetition, the career…

  • Rose Hip Ladybugs!

    Hours

    One of my favorite simple crafts to do with the kids is making ladybugs out of rose hips! I had all sorts of rose hips hanging over my fence today in all their spunky glory. We pulled one off and cut it in half with a pair of scissors–very easy. Then we took a black sharpie and drew spots on it and voila–our very own pet ladybugs! They are adorable!! P.S. They make great tea too!!

  • The Hurried Child is a Harried Child…An Excellent Reason to Slow Down!

    Hours

    This article from Aha Parenting is a lovely reminder to take things slow with our children. You don’t have to tell me twice! My favorite days are our slow days…a long slow luxurious hot breakfast by candlelight with a story; a walk in the woods with nowhere to be, just exploring and finding treasures and sitting on fallen trees and talking; riding our bikes with no destination, or if we have a destination, being de-railed from our plans by running…

  • Are the Common Core State Standards Helping or Hurting?

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    I have mixed feelings on the government’s attempts to make education better and stronger in the United States. The latest attempt, the Common Core State Standards, is another attempt to make sure children do not fall through the cracks in the system. Too many children are passed from grade to grade without mastering the previous grade’s basics. Most states have adopted the Common Core Standards for their schools. The problem is, it’s extremely difficult to create “tests” that measure what…

  • Ahhh, Nothin like that New Baby Smell…

    Hours

    There’s nothing like the smell of a new baby. I have many photos of my newborns with my parents noses buried in their newborn hair. Nearly every person who held my newborn babies immediately bent and inhaled deeply, smiling blissfully afterwards. It’s calming to hold a newborn in your arms–you are forced to slow down, to talk softer, to walk slower. Add in the smell, and well, it seems holding babies is a sensory feast! I enjoyed reading this article…