My children are the greatest gift I could ever dream of. When we have our disagreements and struggles, I have only to remember that our time together is limited. Some day they will be grown, or I will be gone. I want to enjoy the time we have together. The dishes can wait. The laundry... Continue Reading →
more play food…
Here are a few more pieces of play food I made for Ostara, including half a kiwi, a piece of pumpkin pie, and a couple of waffles:
actions speak louder than words…
"You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" "Do as I say, not as I do." "Actions speak louder than words." There are multiple variations of phrases behind this meaning. The bottom line is that our children learn more from what they observe us do then they ever could from what we... Continue Reading →
get real…
I often hear parents giving the sage advice that in order to be effective, you must be consistent. When speaking about behavioral training, this is true. Clinical studies show that inconsistency causes anxiety, and in more extreme cases, neurosis. Parents who choose to use behavioral training with their children, also referred to as punishments... Continue Reading →
bloom’s taxonomy…
According to Bloom's Taxonomy, the most basic level of cognition is knowledge. At this level, a person can define, duplicate, label, list, and memorize a concept. At the comprehension level, a person can use that memorized information in order to explain it to another person. Concepts can be illustrated at the application level. Individuals can... Continue Reading →
let your children own their problems…
No one has all of the answers or solutions to all of the problems in the world. In order to deal with our problems, we have the necessary skills in order to solve them. Children develop problem solving skills by practicing problem solving skills, not by having someone else solve the problems for them. When... Continue Reading →
unconditional parenting…
Along the same lines of Haim Ginott's Between Parent and Child, Alfie Kohn's Unconditional Parenting provides an updated version on the same concepts of consensual living while coining the term unconditional parenting. I've long been a fan and advocate of several of his books and his stance on parenting, although we disagree on education. I've... Continue Reading →
ticker tape quilt…
The first time I saw Amanda Jean's ticker tape quilt at Crazy Mom Quilts, I knew I wanted to make one. It appealed to my contemporary quilt loving side while recalling memories of the older quilts I grew up with. The idea stayed on my to-do list until I saw her tutorial on Sew, Mama,... Continue Reading →
happy beltane…
Happy Beltane, aka May Day!
ask why…
A key point I've tried to stress to parents for years is that there is always a reason. There is a reason for everything that every person does. We may not easily recognize it, but it is there somewhere. When faced with a specific behavior from our children, it is important to ask, whether verbally... Continue Reading →
living peacefully with children 