[Warning: This is graphic. If you don’t like a little potty humor, do not read on!]
I am now, after two years, almost used to poop. I am used to spit-up. These rarely phase me. I am not, however, used to chocolate throw-up in a car seat. (more…)
I’ve been thinking a lot about food lately. I like to spend time in the kitchen, making good food from scratch (or close to it). Unfortunately, that often means something else in the never-ending list of house and school chores is being neglected. As much as I know I would miss all my kitchen comforts, some days I envy women whose work for the day is almost exclusively involved in preparing food for their families.
We’ve spent Mardi Gras at my parents’ house, away from all the festivities (and traffic) in New Orleans. My dad grew up on a farm in Mustang, Oklahoma, which is now practically a suburb of Oklahoma City. We were talking with him the other day about how his mother would provide a hearty, hot breakfast, a full lunch (fried chicken, potatoes, vegetable, etc.), and then a large dinner as well. The men would come in from the fields to eat lunch during the harvest. She got up before everyone else and started the stove on winter mornings. She butchered the chickens. I don’t envy some of the hard work she had to do, but I do envy having work with such a clear purpose.
We’re working our way, very slowly, closer to the land. Our little garden has produced well considering the neglect it has suffered. We’re looking at joining a CSA (community supported agriculture) group out of Baton Rouge, so we will pay a fee for the year and get fresh, organic produce every week in April through August. (This takes out the middleman and supports a small farm which doesn’t destroy the land, not to mention cutting down on the effects of transportation.)
In many places just getting food on the table (if there is a table!) is an all-consuming daily project. Where our food comes so easily to our tables, it is less appreciated. One of our plans for Lent is to eat more simply, and hopefully more healthily, and stick to a tighter food budget. Hopefully along the way, we can learn to be a little more careful in our eating, and a little more thankful for our bounty.
Allow me a lenghty quote, and a few (less lenghty) comments. ? Is it me, or does anyone else wonder why it is taking so many Americans so long to realize some of the things Montessori mentions below? ? (More on this later – I think I can combine some of my readings!)
“But let us think, for a moment, of the many peoples of the world who live at different cultural levels from our own. ? In the matter of child rearing, almost all of these seem to be more enlightened than ourselves–with all our Western ultramodern ideals. ? (more…)
This great post was on Veronica’s blog about their baby (which could be here any day now!) ? It’s the second one up at the moment, called “Vulnerability: open self to suffering and to joy.”? ? I thought it was beautiful, and applies amazingly well to two-year-olds. : ) ? The link is below. ? Enjoy!
I was on my way to pick up Lucy and go home from work today, when I wandered by the chapel at school. ? (How great is it that I work at a school with a chapel and on-site daycare in the building!) ? I glanced into the chapel and there were four seniors sitting/kneeling there, and one of them had a guitar. ? I started toward the daycare, then turned around and went to the chapel and sat in the back row. ? Not only were they singing praise and worship, but songs that I knew! ? Samantha was sleeping in the wrap (after a fussy spell) and I got to spend fifteen minutes reliving those days at Tulane when we would stay up to all hours singing in the TCC chapel. ? It was so refreshing, and to hear those beautiful female voices was truly holy. ? In fact, it was one of the holiest moments I have experienced in some time. ? I came out of it so calm. ? These girls always manage to be an inspiration to me when I least expect it.
On that note, I turned in my notice at the end of last week. ? I’ll be staying home with my girls next year, and I am very excited. ? There are a lot of things I will miss (and some – cellphones, dress codes – which I won’t), and I’m sure it won’t help my Latin any, but I can’t wait to get my house in order and start homeschooling in earnest. ? The countdown has begun – four more months!