Turn off the TV week

Okay, so we don't actually have TV, but I can still participate in this wonderful week of creativity right? We watch videos. My kids were talking about this in the car yesterday afternoon,
'Turn off your TV week'.
"Just one week Mom" Middle Man said, "Not years and years and years. Did you misunderstand?"
Ha-Ha
(How clever, a nine year old's sarcasm, does it get any better?....*note: I'm being sarcastic)
I try and explain that I really believe that we are better off without being inundated with flashing images and sound bites, advertisements and violence. But I can tell my words fall on deaf ears.
"Did you see American Idol? Can you believe what Sawyer did last night on LOST? I am soooo smarter than a fifth grader, where do they get these people?"
My 15 year old chimes in, "This is what it's like Mom, this is my bus ride to school. Do you really think I'm going to join the conversation with, 'Who is Sawyer again? The doctor or the conman?' or 'I hope you are smarter than a 5th grader you're in 9th grade.' or 'American Idol, yes I know that show, my Grandmother tapes it for us and mails it to us. We're a week behind so don't tell me who got eliminated okay.' NO, no I'm not."

He has a point.

I guess I never gave much thought to the social implications. Hearing him say this I was reminded of my reaction, of complete and utter horror by the way, to a classmate of mine in the 5th grade when she shared that she didn't know who Cindy Brady was (GASP!). I regret my reaction now. I was/am a tad dramatic at times.
Here is what I know:
There have been more than 4,000 studies about TV's effects on children. While definitive conclusions are difficult to arrive at, most studies suggest that excessive TV-watching correlates with:

• aggressive behavior
• lower academic performance
• a child's belief that he/she will be the victim of a crime
• diminished attention spans
• stereotyped gender role attitudes, images of older people and racial perceptions.

Over 1000 separate studies and reviews attest that exposure to heavy doses of television violence increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior.
*Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8000

I'll get down from my soap box now, I don't like preachy. And honestly, I am NOT passing judgment on any parents who do have TV. I was raised in front of that glowing box. I loved TV until I realized I could live without it. My husband and I came to the conclusion that we could not afford the bill each month. It wasn't worth it and money (which we have little of) was being wasted. And so the TV service was turned off. I was absolutely grumpy for honestly about 1/2 a year.
I missed ER, PBS on while I prepared dinner, I missed the morning weather report and home improvement shows. I did not like this major change in our lives. Even if it was for the best. But now seven years later, I don't miss it, well maybe PBS and home improvement shows...
We use the Internet to stay "connected" 'Taller Than Me' looks up the scores to big sporting events and yes, who was kicked off American Idol, so he can stay in the ninth grade social loop.
And I obviously I am very thankful for our computer connecting me to all of you.

So what did we do without TV on Tuesday?
TV free activity#1: Making Mosaics:

Not much involvement from 'Taller than Me' (which was expected, although he did comment that they would make good coasters and suggested we use them [when they dry] on the dinner table) but Middle Man and Little One enjoyed it. 'Middle Man' sat high up at the counter stool because he used the small round (choke-able) tiles and 'Little One' sat at his small table with cut felt and tissue paper squares...both LOVED using school glue. It was messy but tons of fun.
Enjoy your TV free day, week, month, year~whatever. Enjoy your time with your kiddos.
In PEACE
~~MM

Color Sorting and Spinning

Little One enjoys matching things. I brought out this box of wooden shapes expecting he would enjoy matching the shapes to create an image. I went to get the camera and returned to find him sorting by color groups! I was surprised and I interrupted him. The color sorting stopped and spinning around in the colors began. You'd think I'd know by now NOT to interrupt a child while they are concentrating. Sometimes we forget what we know when we are excited. I am a life long learner, Little One is my teacher and well, spinning IS fun.
Enjoy your children. Allow them to 'be'.
Follow their lead and they will teach you.
~~MM

Ways to Celebrate May Day!

May Day is May 1st and people all over our Earth celebrate it.
I've put together a collection of ways to celebrate with your children:

• Lie in the grass under a flowering tree and look up at the sky through the blossoms
• Dress all in green
• Braid your hair and your daughters hair, weaving flowers into it, or make a wreath of flowers for your head.
• Make a lei to were around your neck. Then make another to give away.
• Take an early morning nature walk and collect dew from plants (ask a 3rd grader the way to do this, they are very inventive)
• Dance with family/friends around a Maypole!
• Take turns reading poems about Spring before each meal on this special day.
• Have lunch outdoors, picnic style!
• Make offerings to the garden animals (birds, rabbits, squirrels) quietly sit together and enjoy watching the animals take part in your gifts.
• If possible take your child outside, sit quietly together and listen to the birds.
  
• Involve your children in the 'Spring Cleaning' of your home! Remember even small hands can contribute to caring for the home.
• Join hands and walk the perimeter around your home, giving thanks for the yard, the trees, or even a tiny bit of grass.
• Understand and express to your children that no piece of Earth can really belong to you. You belong to the Earth.
• Weed, mulch, mow. Admire
• Plant a hawthorn or May bush.
• Create a wreath of greenery for the door.
• Read a book about caring for our Earth.
  
• Plant flowers in a window box for someone who can't get outside to enjoy them.
• Prepare May baskets for friends and relatives or even a stranger! Fill it with special treats. Hang it on the doorknob, ring the bell, then run away! Better still, deliver it in person and stay for a visit.
• Press flowers onto cards and send them in the mail to friends.
• Read the biography of Rachel Carson.
  
• Face paint your children as the animals the enjoy most.
• Learn a new song together and sing, sing, sing!

*some ideas inspired by Patricia Montley's In Nature's Honor
~~Happy soon-to-be MAY DAY to all!
*MM's notes: It's important to remember when hiking or walking in nature with young children that the child is not trying to 'get there'. All he or she wants to do is to walk, to stop and pick dandelions or to splash in a puddle.
PEACE
~~MM

Middle Man's Mandala

I forgot to post our mandalas! Here is Middle Man's. The ovals remind me of kidney beans. PEACE to you and yours,
~~MM

Making Mandalas

Inspired by this PEACE Mandala, 'Middle Man' and I decided to create our own!
Using a throw-away DVD some company sent me in the mail, we traced the circle and planned our designs. (in the Montessori classroom the circle metal inset could be used)
'Middle Man' wanted to make "a hoop that weaves over and under the spokes".
I kept mine more traditional. 'Little One' got in on the action by coloring his own mandala from a Mandala coloring book we have. Later we water color painted the pre-made mandalas and hung them in the window. *MM note: Working with mandalas is an artist way to practice fractions.
Enjoy
PEACE
~~MM

The Special Slotted Spoon

When presenting this work, I emphasize the special slotted spoon. 'Slotted' is not a word most young children are familiar with. Leading up to this work they have become familiar with pasta strainers and sand sifters, and so the concept has been introduced. It has been my observation that when using this new and interesting spooning work, the children light up at the realization that the tool they are now using is the same as the bigger tools they have used in the sand box or water table.

Here plastic ice cubes float in colored water, waiting to be transferred from one bowl to the other and back again. The special child sized slotted spoon works it's magic and children get lost in the novelty of it. This is a favorite work in the 3-6 classrooms at Cornerspring. Easy to recreate at home too.
Materials needed:
plastic ice cubes ($store)
two small bowls
a sponge
a child sized slotted spoon
*I have never used the plastic ice cubes in a cold drink but I have enjoyed them in many spooning/water works.
Have fun and enjoy one another.
PEACE
~~MM

Oink Oink, Buzz Buzz

Happy Earth Day!

This weekend we celebrated Earth Day by taking in the final performance of 'Middle Man's' play Winnie the Pooh...we're sad it's over, but it was fun while it lasted. He was a terrific Piglet. For his last performance I made a chocolate cake shaped like Pooh Bear for the cast party. The next day Middle Man and I made these Bee Hive Cookies (his idea) they turned out very tasty.


For our church's Earth Day Celebration the children acted out the Universe story. 'Taller Than Me' was asked to portray The Grim Reaper! He was allowed to fashion his own costume and made many people laugh when he entered dressed as Dick Cheney! (I apologize for offending anyone, I usually try to refrain from posting anything political) 'Middle Man' was a beaver, and 'Little One' a Yellow Jacket. Although 'Little One' refused to participate in the Earth Day play, he was cute in his Bee costume.


Today was a tea party (my favorite kind)! As a member of the Membership Development Committee, I helped to host the event and honestly, enjoyed every minute of it. There is just something about TEA that brings out the lovely in people, no matter what the age. This was a TEA for the Elders in our church community. To honor them and to get to know them better.
I especially enjoyed when one of the ladies told me,
"I haven't had this much fun in years!" and then added,
"I hope one day someone will make you tea and cookies for no reason at all."
This comment of course made me smile and think of Mother's Day Tea (a tradition in most Montessori classrooms). I will be posting some ideas about Mother's Day Tea soon!
So it was a busy weekend (and Monday) I look forward to slowing things down a bit.
I really appreciate all the lovely comments I've been getting. You all warm my heart so much, thank you! I try and answer them, but usually fail miserably.
I hope your Earth Day was spent enjoying the beauty of nature and your children.
In PEACE
~~MM

Spring Has Sprung!

Finally Winter has passed and Spring has sprung! Little One, like the Spring lamb he is, trotted here there and every where yesterday. He LOVED being in the wide open space and feeling the sun on his face.
Little One is almost two years old, born Mother's Day weekend, he is a Spring baby. I remember my Mother-in-law and husband taking Little One's big brothers to see the baby lambs (born the same day) while our new born and I lay snuggled up in our bed, exhausted from the work of being born and birthing. 'Middle Man' returned with more images of birth and stories to tell about lambs walking moments after they were born and Mama sheep licking their babies clean of the birthing fluids.
"Aren't you glad YOU didn't have to do THAT?!" he asked me.
And well, Yes, of course I was glad.
Little One was born at home in a birthing pool. It was a long labor with starts and stops over the course of three days. My water broke on Friday morning and he was born Monday morning. Many people (mostly my Mom and Dad who worried for me) thought I should be taken to a hospital, it was going on too long...but I knew at the hospital a C-section would take place and after going through that with 'Middle Man', I didn't want to go through it again.
I spent the weekend walking through Spring grass wearing a long loose dress, I walked the fields near our home with my husband and let the water flow from me, pausing to have a contraction or to rest leaning on my husband's body. Close friends visited, in hopes of being present for the big event, and were asked to leave kindly by my mid-wives. My two older boys were off at friends' homes waiting to be called home to meet their new sibling...Mother's Day came and my boys returned home to celebrate with me (and my still big belly). Monday morning they woke up to me in the birthing pool crying and swearing through the pain. 'Middle Man' sprung into action,
"What can I do?" he asked my mid-wives.
"You're job is to hold this glass of water and every time your Mama stops...well, swearing, offer her the straw so she can take a drink." Donna lovingly instructed.
"Okay!" he said with enthusiasm and excitement, un-phased by my swearing and ready for action with a purpose. 'Taller Than Me' entered the living room with less enthusiasm and heavy with fear. It felt it like a wave, hitting me in the chest, startling me into recognition that now my boys were watching. I felt powerless but soon realized that I was in fact more powerful than I had ever been in my life. I focused on my husband's shoulders and once again leaned on him for support. My Mother-in-law (a Mom to only one, born of c-section) watched with admiration she later told me. My mid-wives were silently supportive, knowing instinctually what I needed and when to speak to me.
We were a team the eight of us, and finally Little One was born into the water like a river otter, my husband caught him and brought him to me. He didn't cry, he stretched and blinked and floated with me in the water cradled in my arms, voicing only sweet whimpers until we left the birthing pool. (Here is a drawing I made from a photo of the moment.)
Now he runs here there and every where and soon he will be two. Time has gone by so quickly these past two years. I know everyone says that and these early years can be like a blur. But honestly looking at this drawing, it feels like only moments have passed.
'Taller Than Me' wants to start Drivers Ed! Almost 16 years ago he was just born during a thunder and lightening storm to teenage parents. Becoming his mother defined me.
Becoming 'Middle Man's' mother showed me just how strong I could be, after weeks in the ICU, he came home and taught me what parenting really meant.
'Little One' came when I thought my pregnancy days were long gone, when I had surrendered to the idea of being a mother of two. Now three seems like the number that was meant to be.

I'm not sure where any of this deeply personal sharing is coming from this morning, I just started typing and this is what was born.
Peace to you and your beautiful children. Enjoy all the moments.
~~MM

Swirly, that's the best word to discribe it.

Some times this is how I feel. Tonight watching Middle Man's performance as Piglet in Winnie the Pooh made be feel swirly inside. So proud and in awe of him at the same moment. Nervous with him and therefore delighted for him when it was all over. Swirly.
I love being a Mom. As hard as some days can be, I wouldn't trade a second of it for any other job. Not trying to be mushy, maybe just a bit swirly, thanks for reading.
PEACE to you and your little ones.
~~MM

Twinkle Toes: Art + Play

Today's Art+Play Activity: Painting with your feet or what some might call...
Messy Creative Chaos!
Either way it was lots of fun!

I shared Dr. S's Foot Book at Circle and sung "Everybody Knows I Love My Toes"
The look on the parent's faces when I said we would be painting with our feet was priceless!
Some looked excited and others...ah... not so much...it was messy and for toddlers a bit slippery but there were no injuries and some fancy foot work created some very beautiful art!
I know I've said it before but it bares repeating, I LOVE Thursdays!
~~MM