Posts filed under 'daily journal'
I just spent Friday night and all day Saturday at the Gateway Conference at our local Waldorf school. It was fabulous. Such an energizing and inspiring weekend.
The keynote speaker was a man by the name of Kim John Payne, an Australian now living in New York. He’s been working on research with two other people, looking into stress as the leading factor in add, adhd and all the ‘d’ disorders as he calls them.
At the start of his career, he worked with youth in Jakarta as well as street gang kids in Australia and found that they all suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Once he became a Waldorf therapist, he found that many of the children brought to him for counselling were coming to him as a last resort. They were typically severe behaviour problems and had been labelled with one of the ‘d’s. What Mr. Payne found was that these children were suffering the same symptoms as the children in severely stressful situations.
What Mr. Payne found was the by simplifying the environment, many of the children improved dramatically.
I urge anyone who has the opportunity to hear Mr. Payne speak on Simplicity Parenting to do so. Alternatively, he has his speech on cd available on his website. Although I found it very inspiring, it’s not anything that those in the Waldorf community don’t already know. He presents it in first a shocking way, and then inspires parents to action. He, talks about ’soul fever’ and likens it to a real fever which was an amazing visual for me.
Saturday morning and afternoon had breakout sessions that were of value. However, I really think that hearing Payne speak was the highlight. Although we don’t have behavioural issues here, we can make these simple changes (simple only because we are already on the path of which he speaks) and have a better rhythm and flow in the house. Colin came as well and I think it really solidified for him what I’ve been saying all along. Particularly about tv being brain poison (Payne’s term). He’s also really keen to get rid of all the toys and get down to bare bones creative toys.
So, with Payne’s humour and awesome insight, I am going to make the changes he recommends and I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
April 20th, 2008
So, its 11:15 and Fuss is still running around the kitchen like a crazy man. I’m trying to clean up and watch a few webisodes of The Scrapbook Lounge. I get to a point where he can be up but I will no longer interact with him. It would not appear that I can be boring enough for him, he continues to want to ‘be with me’.
So tonight, after I’d started my non-interaction technique, he asks me if I’m afraid of the dark. ‘No’ I answered with no small hint of cross-ness.
However, thinking about it, I AM afraid of the dark. I hate it. So does Bug and apparently so does Fuss.
When we were in England for the summer of 06, we stayed at a 400-year-old thatch-roof cottage. It was in a tiny village with neighbours, but it was miles before even a glimpse of a shop or pub. It was very dark at night.
I slept with all the bedroom lights on!
Colin thought I was totally nuts, but I was frightened. Mostly fine with the lights on, not so good in the dark. Okay - even with the lights on I waited for morning with great anticipation!
Even in my own home I either fall asleep with a light or the tv on. If it’s totally dark, my mind starts to wander and I don’t like where it goes. Self doubt, curiosities about my health, etc…all creep in.
So, I lied to my son! However, perhaps this is one area that protecting a child from adult insecurities is not necessarily a bad thing. But, perhaps I wont be so flippant the next time he mentions that monster under his bed, because the monster is under mine as well!
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
January 22nd, 2008
Ah! The holidays are over.
I so look forward to the holidays and they are always nice, particularly on years like this one when my husband has a large chunk of time off. However, by the end of it, I’m looking forward to getting back to the kid’s and my normal routine. Well, whatever that is. But I do find that C being home really affects Fuss’s sleeping - he went to bed, reluctantly at 2am a couple of nights ago.
The holidays were very good for my guys. Bug got a doll she’d been coveting in a baby sort of way. It was hanging out of her stocking and when she woke up, came downstairs and saw it, she yelled ‘baby!’ It was very cute. She carries it all around and if she comes up to me and I’m not looking she calls out ‘I ga [got] baby!’. All my reservations and hesitations I had when considering buying her a doll melt when I see those two together.
And, here’s where the ’some assembly required’ comes in.
Yep - that’s right. All Fuss wanted from Santa was a fish. So, what are you going to do? The only thing Santa can’t bring? I’m not mean enough for that so now we have another pet. His name is George and Fuss loves him. Sweet.
Although, setting up this ****** tank at midnight and then one, and then two on Christmas eve was not sweet. We had no idea what exactly was necessary in setting up a tank, and the Santa logistic made it impossible to do at any other time. Of course, the kids got up earlier than usual, so we were working on only a few hours of sleep for Christmas day which is hosted for the entire family at my house.
I need a vacation from the holidays.
Enjoying the New Year’s journey, Amanda
January 2nd, 2008
While riding to music this morning (which was way too long of a ride), I was bombarded with 1000 unanswerable questions. Of course, we were at Starbucks yesterday and it was all done up for Christmas. I guess that got a tiny 4-year-old brain going. Or, not so tiny.
What was Santa’s name before he became Santa Claus? How does the Easter Bunny get into the house? What if we made a warren in our front tree - would the Easter Bunny come and live with us? If the Easter Bunny is, in fact, a bunny, how does he read the list we make for him? Why don’t we make a list for the Easter Bunny? Since he’s a bunny, how does he know to get out of the house? How does he carry all the baskets? Does he have extra arms? Why does Santa wear a hat? Why the big puffy boots? Does he take his boots and hat off when he goes inside at his own house? Does Santa sleep all year? How do the reindeer fly? Well, they can’t all be magic, so if they are not magic, how do they fly? Not everything is magic, Mum!!! How old was Kris Kringle when he knew he was magic? When did he decide to become Santa Claus? What did he have to do to be Santa? What do the reindeer do all year? I could go on……this was for the entire 35 minute ride. ~sigh~
It’s one thing if the questions are answerable, but another when I have no clue!
It’s Vetran’s Day on Sunday. I don’t think we’ll attend any festivities - the kids are too young to understand, but we’ll be wearing our poppies as we have been all month!
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
November 9th, 2007
For 18 months I have been worried about my daughter. She seemed completely incapable of being interested in books. She would run from the room when I read to her brother, she would shake her head violently when I sat down to read to her and it just didn’t look good. Being a voracious reader myself, I don’t know how to relate to someone in the house who doesn’t read, like, um….my husband? That, plus I also said I would never married someone unless they were also a musician, but it seems to be working despite lacking those two major components.
The Bug has suddenly developed a passion for reading. A passion. She runs to me at full speed (I spend most of my day sitting on the floor) with a book in her hand screaming as loudly as she can - have I ever talked about how noisy The Bug is? She’s just a really loud kid. So screaming is just out of control loud. She is so excited about books that she spends a good part of her day screaming about them. When I’m not reading to her, she flips through them herself and points at things she recognizes, particularly bugs. Again, she does this with a great amount of noise.
So, I’ve got my wish of a tiny reader, however it came with a great deal of cacophony.
And….the pirate lapbook is finished. As soon as I figure out how to put photos on my blog, I’ll have them here for you to see!
Enjoying the noisy journey, Amanda
October 18th, 2007
Yesterday we took advantage of the holiday and went for a nice long walk in one of our local parks. It was a beautiful day, but a bit too hot - in October, imagine! The park’s path runs along the Humber River. We stopped to watch some fly fishermen and Fuss wanted to hop right into the water to help them. We walked a bit further where there is a tiny waterfall. Here the fish make valient attempt to swim upstream. We sat for about 10 mintues, during which time, about 4 of them succeeded, to great cheers from the crowd gathered to watch.
Then, last night as we were all getting ready for bed, I heard water just pouring down. I said to Colin that I was so surpised that it had started raining since I had just been outside and it didn’t seem about to rain. I walked to the back door to have a look, because really it had to be just coming down, but the sound beconed me from the basement! I went a couple of steps and saw water pouring from one of the lights recessed into the ceiling! Similar to the salmon’s waterfall.
We put a bucket underneath, turned off the water at the main and went to bed - hoping for the best. We seemed to make it through the night and the plumber arrived promptly at 9am. He worked until 3! 3!!! Amazing. And spendy. He was here so long, I even served him lunch.
So, Colin’s holiday was full of fun things to do, none of which we actually did. Today took the cake, though. His last day of holidays spent with a plumber.
Luckily he was a very friendly plumber since Fuss had tonnes of questions and advice.
Enjoying the (now dry) journey, Amanda
October 17th, 2007
I’ve just finished cleaning up from Thanksgiving dinner. We always have lots of family and I love seeing my chidren interact with their relatives. We get so mired in the everyday that it’s really nice to step back and see the big picture. There are more people than just me, for my children to learn from.
My cousin is in the military, so he didn’t make it home, but Fuss really loves talking to him about aeroplanes, my cousin’s passion, and all things ’soldier’. My other cousin is a musician, so he now gets out my guitar and plays for a bit. He plays electric at home, so his mother loves to hear him play not quite so loudly. Fuss thinks he’s cool.
Uncle Donny is into motorcycles - so is Fuss, so there is a lot of conversation going on there!
My brother and his wife didn’t make it, and Fuss was so incredibly disappointed. He had a slight meltdown as he watched his father take the places away and rearrange the table. We’ll have to have them over in the next few weeks to make up for it.
So, as much as it’s a day for cooking and cleaning for me, it’s an evening to relax and watch Fuss learn from those around us. Oh, and to watch The Bug EAT!
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
October 8th, 2007
So, I totally fell flat on my face, figuratively late this week. Perhaps it was the lack of caffeine (and yes, I know about all the negatives of the stuff), but Thursday I was hardly even able to read to the kids. They ended up spending most of Wednesday and Thursday running around the house doing their own thing. I would read on occasion, but I just couldn’t deal with them much. ~sigh~ I so wanted to finish that darn pirate lapbook!
Dad is on holidays (it started today), so I’m hoping to get some time with Fuss to finish up a couple of things. We had music today, so Fuss went off to his class and then Dad offered to take the Bug to her class so that I could have a few minutes to myself! Wow! So, I luckily had my book with me. I pulled that out and actually got a few pages read. Close to the end of the class, Bug figured she’d had enough time without ‘MA-MA’, so out she came. Dad stayed in the class until the end - very funny.
We came home after running a couple of errands and picking up sandwiches at the organic butcher. The kids fell asleep in the car, so we added a small glass of wine to each lunch and had a picnic in the front yard so we could be near the car in case the kids woke up, which they did - right as we were finishing up. It was so nice just to have that short time together.
I feel more energized just having an extra set of hands on a weekday. Oh, and a Starbucks to start the day….
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
October 5th, 2007
I got an e-mail today from a woman I met in a baby gym class when Fuss was very small. She had twins at home and an older daughter who was in school. I lost track of her when the gym class ended. We exchanged a couple of e-mails, but it went no further.
I just got an e-mail from her today saying that she ran into a homeschooling friend of mine at the museum today. Funny thing is that she signed off her e-mail by saying ‘hope to see you at some homeschooling events’. I was so excited!! I would have been thrilled to just get an update, how are you sort of e-mail, but one that she is also homeschooling!! Too much! I’ve e-mailed her back because I would like more details and am anxiously awaiting her response. I can imagine there would be challenges homeschooling twins, but some aspects would be easier. She also has an older daughter. I look forward to catching up with her.
On a ‘discovery cottage’ homeschooling note, we use a nature curriuculumthat I just love. (This is only the second month, so I’ll keep you posted.) This week is about kindness to animals which is very needed around here. There is a story about St. Francis that is to be included in circle time. I always turn away from any religious aspects, but this curriculum is not religous and where it might seem so, it’s simple to change it to suit our family. I do have a soft spot for St. Francis, so I included the story. For some (surprising) reason, Fuss is finding it very grounding. He sits silently while I read it (this story is in 4 parts which is perfect as Daddy is home on Friday), and is really responding. We have a squirrel who thinks we are his family. He sit on the windowsill or the door frame and waits for us. He follows us to our car and sits there while we get in. I wonder if he was a pet who was released once he ate a couch leg or some such thing.
Fuss is inclined to chase the squirrel while screaming at the top of his lung, which drives me nuts. Well, we started the story of St. Francis on Monday and today he just walked out to the car with the squirrel. Once we started to back out of the driveway, he said ‘oh, mum - isn’t he just so cute’? Ah….progress.
I should add quickly - we are considered suburban, on the very edge of a major metropolis, so a friendly squirrel is not overly common.
On a separate note, Fuss found a pile of coins while routing around somewhere in the house. He brought them to me and we made an impromptu math lesson out of it. He got to keep the coins he identified properly. Then we added the coins he ‘won’ in various way. It was fun and he feels rich with his 26c.
Bug has developed some new words. ‘Bowl’ and ‘cat’ to be specific. Unfortunately, everyone is now ‘cat’. Oh well.
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
October 2nd, 2007
The group classes that Fuss has been taking since he was 6 weeks old started up again today after a long go with the conservatory while they cancelled classes and moved the kids around.
The way the conservatory works is that the parents go to the half hour class and it’s a mum and baby time from the age of 0 t o3. At the age of 3, they start to go on their own for an hour. So, this is the start of Fuss’ second year on his own. Last year it was hard to keep him in the room. He would run out and want to sit with me (for half of the hour I was down the hall in Bug’s class). I was anticipating the same sort of reaction again. Manifesting good things, of course, but you know…..
Well, we got there and his teacher came out of the room asked him for a big hug and off they went! Wow. I stayed as long as I could before I had to go a couple of doors down for Bug’s class, but not a peep from him. Yay! Although, it does mean he’s growing up which is with mixed emotions for me (and him, I think).
Bug’s class was huge. The conservatory combined two classes and I think that was a mistake. Bug was totally overwhelmed (very small class last year), and nursed for the first bit. Once she was over that she had quite a good time. She immediately recognized the alphabet song - she stood up and danced, so cute! I never have a camera when I need it.
I had a rather ~heated~ discussion with Fuss today. I was not paying attention while reading one of the Magic Treehouse books. At one point Jack tells his sister in frustration “I’m going to kill you.” I know it was totally innocuous, but to a 4 year old who thinks Jack and Annie are superheros, that’s a cool thing to say. So, now, when Fuss gets angry or things just are not generally going his way, he says “I’m going to kill you Mum (or Dad, or whomever is annoying him)”. I finally lost it today. I loudly explained what that means, and that it’s not something you say. So then he asks why Jack and Annie say it. Yes really, why? How does one explain these things???? I really do try to skip over things like that in books, or change the words, but I just missed it.
By the way, the kids are all better - like they were never sick in the first place - yay!!! We unfortunately missed a playdate because of it, but it’s already rescheduled, so that’s good. Fuss loves his playdates!!!
This weekend is the weekend we finish that pirate lapbook, stay tuned…….
Enjoying the journey, Amanda
September 28th, 2007
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