a backwards slide and gratitude

Nothing like sliding backwards down a snowy hill in a minivan to make a person grateful to be safe and warm.  Perhaps it's foolhardy to live in a rural, hilly area in the midwest without a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but we don't have the funds for one right now, and we always have the option of not venturing out if we know the weather is going to be rough.

Last night during a girl scout meeting it was gently snowing and beautiful.  There wasn't a lot of snow accumulation, but at 10 degrees (F) it was powdery, sparkly, and soft.  Not great for traction on the road, but I didn't realize it yet.

After singing carols and making ornaments with the girl scouts, I took the least steep route to get us home.  It was still too much for our van.   After fishtailing slowly up the hill, the wheels locked up and we started a slow slide backwards.  As we gained momentum towards the highway below, instead of screaming and swearing (which I rather felt like doing), I calmly said, "We're fine girls, just pray," and I slowly turned the wheel which eventually skidded us horizontal to the hill, kept us out of the ditch, and stopped our descent.  Heart thumping madly, I focused on helping and calming Ayla, Sylvia, and Camille and looked around.  It was gorgeous.

We were stuck in front of the historic church and graveyard that is about 5 miles from our home.  The same church where Camille and Sylvia had rehearsed for a Christmas play that same morning.  The snow sparkled like tinsel dust and was falling so gently it barely kissed our cold cheeks as it landed.  After calling Papa for a rescue, we hopped out and walked up the hill, scared, exhilarated, and so grateful.  Sylvia's sense of panic gradually turned into a sense of adventure as I carefully reassured and encouraged her. Ayla was fine as long as we were tightly holding hands. Camille was a help in keeping the general mood calm and peaceful. Never so happy to see car headlights as we were the moment the little purple station wagon stopped way up the hill from us.  Never so happy to have warm hats, coats, mittens, and boots.  Never so happy to see the moonlight on new-fallen snow.

Papa got the van safely out of the road while we waited and we all made it home, sat in front of the woodstove, and ate soup and hashbrowns.  After staying calm in the moment last night, I keep having bouts of heart-racing, tear-inducing gratitude today.  It reminded me again why I snuggle my girls extra long, play with them extra silly, tell them (and more importantly, show them) an abundance of love every day.  It reminded me why I'm so grateful to have a strong, loving relationship with a strong, loving husband that I take for granted every day.

I am grateful for the little moments and the difficult ones. I am grateful for health and warmth and the ability to thoughtfully create a life that we can be proud of. I am grateful to be able to share our lives with friends, family, and community. I am grateful for snow pants and a snow-covered hill in the yard for sledding with my kids, and the bald eagle that soared over our sledding hill and our heads. I am grateful for a safe-enough backwards slide down a steep hill to remind me to be grateful.  I am reminded to check the weather report and stay home when in doubt!

Be safe out there and give your loved ones an extra squeeze!



a challenge of a day

Some days flow beautifully.  Kids are engaged and playful.  Meals are healthy and delicious and there are clean, matching socks to be found for everyone.  

Most days have some bumps and stutters that can be worked through with a minimum of upheaval and overwhelm, and an abundance of humor and (sometimes) grace.  Some days only one child at a time needs intense attention and comforting and there are enough Mama-arms to go around.  

Some days are so much more challenging than this.  Some days grace is difficult to find and so are all of the clean socks.  Some days it's hard to keep perspective.  Some days a child with a high level of emotional sensitivity clashes with a child with abundant energy.  Usually-peaceful playmates can get hung up on imaginary details and differences of opinion that cannot be easily smoothed over.

 Some days there just isn't enough quiet space or playmates or sunlight to soothe the needs and wants of Every Body.

Some cold and dreary days need an abundance of wheels and loud music in the driveway to shake things up.

 Roller skates, a tricycle, bicycles, scooters, and a crazy Mama dancing and singing along with random radio songs.  Apparently, that's what this challenge of a day needed!

Watch out chickens!

 A game of Hide, Tag, and Tickle pulled giant gulps of fresh air into our lungs that seemed to expel the last of the bad moods and personality clashes of the earlier part of the day.  Not sure of the rules, we made it up as we went along, but it was just the sort of healing, giggling play that we needed.

Plus, it would totally count as homeschool physical education if we kept track of such things.

Not all challenges can be successfully met with silliness, but they can all be bettered by an attitude of respect toward our children.

Some days a young, naked witch can be convinced to put on a warm Muggle disguise when it's about 0 degrees outside and it's time to get in the car.  The right amount of gentle humor can go along way towards peace and connection.  Putting the parental foot down might get a reluctant young one dressed, but at what loss of joy?  It might not always go well, but the challenging moments can be met with calmness and creativity and can show our children what cooperation looks like, what respect feels like, and can turn a challenge of a day into a way of strengthening our relationships.

Muggle disguise

imaginings and snippets

Ayla woke up and started yelling very loudly from bed instead of getting up like she usually does. When I rushed in and asked her what's wrong she calmly said, "I'm a baby kangaroo and I haven't learned how to hop yet."

"OK, did you yell for me so that I can carry you in my pouch out to the livingroom?"

"Actually, I'm a baby puppy and I yelled for you because you didn't give me enough kissies once,"  and she proceeded to kiss me about twenty times in a row, then she cheerfully got up and got dressed.  Good morning, three year old.

Ayla:  "Mama loves imaginary...(I was waiting to hear what kind of imaginary thing I loved)...and real.  She loves imaginary and real, too."

My kids have always had big imaginations and I usually play along with their ever-evolving storylines.  I remember when Camille was about 5 years old and she told me that she couldn't always hear me because her fairies were too loud, and something clicked for me.  Of course!  I used to feel the same way.  

Adults need not impose their more "rational", stolid version of reality on children  We can relish in their delight and rich imaginings.  Storytelling at its most instinctual is a natural state for children. From my experience, they can tell the difference between real and imaginary, but they don't always want to.

 

Camille has a bestest, most special-est dollie that I made her when she was three years old.  I don't think that Camille has slept a night without Ella since the night of her third birthday.  Sometimes when her younger sisters are driving her crazy as younger sisters sometimes do, she  puts Ella in a carrier and takes off on a grand adventure, out past the solar panels and into the great beyond.  She's 10.  She likes learning how to write code and play guitar, and wants a skateboard for Christmas, but she's not too grown for her Ella.  I love that.

A couple of weeks ago our main computer died, so I've naturally been spending a lot less time online.  My sewing machine took over its spot on the desk, which is great timing for working on Christmas presents.  Ayla is due for a Mama-made dollie, methinks.

The inner head on this Waldorf-y style of doll always reminds me of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

in progress

random sunset pic :)

We're still working on finishing the house and I'm excited that we can see the end in sight on this playroom / homeschooling room / rumpus room. It will give everyone more space to spread out, especially in the winter.   *pics by Camille

Papa made gluten-free chocolate cupcakes with the girls while I worked on painting the ceiling.  Sweet!

rehearsing Peace Like a River

At six years old, Sylvia loves computer games almost as much as she loves to play dress-up.  Whether she's being a princess ballerina or a doctor-dragon-pirate she throws herself fully into each role.  I love her enthusiasm, even though I can't always keep up with it.

body art and a sister portrait

In the night, as Ayla lay sleeping in my bed, she smiled in her dream and shouted, "ta-da!" I quietly applauded her dream-accomplishment, "yay, Ayla!"  Without opening her eyes, she smiled broader and drifted back into her dream.  

Rather than thinking that their imaginary play is nonsense, I'm honored that they feel comfortable sharing it with me!

Friday

Posts about earlier this week:

Monday, Tuesday

Wednesday, Thursday

Our last Friday at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve homeschool classes was on a beautiful, cold, sunny day.

Camille with her finished watershed project

 Ayla and I headed out on a leisurely hike down to the pond on the snow-dusted paths.

I enjoy a good hike in late November after all of the leaves have fallen.  A wide variety of seed heads make themselves known.

cat tails fluffing to release their seeds

 beauty in the details

Ayla loves tromping up and down this rustic bridge.  We watched the flowing water, admired our shadows, and played with the light snow.

Camille and Sylvia hiked and crafted with friends.  They made fish prints and did watershed experiments, collected nature treasures, and spent time learning about tracking.

Even though they have enjoyed this round of homeschool nature classes and the time spent with friends, they have opted not to sign up for the winter session.  I'm good with it either way.

It has been such a fabulous week in this unschooling life, and I'm grateful to my supportive husband for taking the kids out of the house this afternoon so that I could have some quiet time to unwind and refresh before jumping back into it!  Tomorrow we have friends visiting us, and so it goes on.... :)

Yup, I love this life.