Archive for October, 2009
Kahlil Gibran about Parents and Children
October 7th, 2009 | Author: Shannon
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they do not belong to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
From The Prophet by Gahlil Gibran
Natural Play Areas
October 6th, 2009 | Author: Shannon
Okay, nature mama, geologist, outside enthusiast- I’ll admit, sometimes I don’t take my kids outside to enjoy the cold, wet, fall weather of Rhode Island. Frankly, I don’t like it. I still want the children to have natural experiences. So, I bring some of the outdoors inside!
Here’s a picture of a shelf in our play area. I like these toys because they are wooden, the colors are subdued and blend in with nature, and they can be used in a variety of ways depending on the children’s ideas and creativity.
Rocks, pine cones, acorns, flowers, pumpkins and squash are also available as “toys”. Some newcomers to daycare have a difficult time adjusting to toys that don’t “do” anything; others are mesmerized by the colors, shapes, textures, and spontaneous adventures available to the creative mind. It is a pleasure to observe the discovery.
Many of our toys we have collected together on nature walks. The three-year-olds I care for can easily identify maple, pine, and oak trees, find pine cones, acorns, red, yellow, and orange leaves. We are learning preschool skills using nature as the tool. And when they actually helped gather the toys in their playroom the excitement and joy of playing grows!
Compost Pails That Look Nice and Don't Smell
October 4th, 2009 | Author: Shannon
Fruit flies abound in my kitchen this morning- why? I have not committed to an in house compost bucket and so I have scraps of compost in bowls and plastic containers. Once I get tired of fruit flies in the house, I put the containers on the back porch- where my little problem becomes a big hassle.
Dreaming the perfect counter- top compost pail:
The copper compost bucket with biobags for easy removal is my top pick. It’s available from the Gardener’s Supply Company and I like it because it looks nice.
I am torn though, I also like this white plastic compost pail and my friends who have similar ones rave about how odor free it really is.
Today I am deciding between compost buckets and getting rid of fruit flies. I’d also like to take a walk in the woods and maybe I’ll pick some fall flowers or bring in some colorful leaves for our season table.
What are you doing to solve the simple problems in your life? What do you recommend for a compost bucket?
Thankful Thursday
October 1st, 2009 | Author: Shannon
Jeremiah was due on Thanksgiving and although he came a few days late, every six years {I think} his birthday falls on Thanksgiving. Today I have him featured here as the first entry of Thankful Thursday.
Creator, thank you for the gift of my son, for his health, happiness, strength, kindness and goodness. Thank you for showering him with abundance. Thank you for sharing him with me.
What are you grateful for today?
