Kids Yoga Activities: Calming Body Breath Meditation

A few weeks before Kellan was born I began doing this meditation with Everett to help him relax at quiet time. That first time I just made it up as I said it. It worked so well he asked me to do it again and then fell asleep as I was saying it that second time.  I would have considered it a fluke, or at best a novelty, if that would have been the only time.  Much to my amazement, however, he has now fallen asleep many times during or shortly after the meditation.

I believe this meditation has worked so well to induce such a sleepy state because it helps Everett to turn his focus inward, to his body, allowing him to relax and feel his sleepiness/tiredness instead of fight it. I imagine this could have the same promising effects on a child with good body awareness; and for one that has not developed body awareness this may be an effective tool for doing so.

Getting Started

Lie beside your child in a comfortable, quiet setting. You can choose to put on some quiet music, for some children it may be too much stimulation.  Dim the lights and begin by closing eyes and taking a few slow, full-belly breaths together.

The Meditation

Throughout the meditation, encourage you child to breathe into a body part while you hold on to or touch that body part.  Start at the feet and move up to end at the head, using a soft, calming voice. Change your phrasing a little as you go so that you don't sound like a broken record player inducing boredom instead of rest. Here is what it sounds like:

Take his foot into your hand, "Let's close our eyes. Now picture your feet in your head and think about how they feel. Take a deep breath as you picture your feet and relax.  Breathe into your ankles, allowing them to be soft and relax.  And now your lower legs..." As you talk about each body part touch that body part to help your child bring his focus there.

I include several body parts, knowing that Everett will relax throughout. As you say the meditation and pay attention to how your child is doing, you'll know how many or few body parts to include. Also, if your child becomes disinterested, end the meditation and try again another day. If you are going to use the meditation as quite time, nap time or bed time, they key is not to force it, but to allow it to become part of a comfortable routine.

Here are the body parts that I include:

• feet
• ankles
• lower legs
• knees
• thighs/upper legs
• hips
• pelvis
• tailbone
• spine
• upper back
• stomach
• chest
• shoulders
• upper arms
• elbows
• lower arms
• wrists
• hands and fingers
• neck
• jaw
• face muscles- cheeks/mouth/eyebrows,etc
• whole head

I will not necessarily have him breathe into one body part at a time, but group a couple together like feet and ankles, or cheeks and mouth. 

After moving through all the body to end at the head, take a few last breaths focusing on the whole body.  Encourage your child to feel how relaxed and calm his body feels and to continue lying there to rest. 

Women's Main Sexual Organ? The Brain!

Countless women I know, along with countless women around the world, harbor feelings of a low libido. I know because I was one of them :) If you're like me, you've had it good with your partner before (hell, we've all had that joyous time of having at it like rabbits) so chances are its not about the two of you.  I knew it had to be me.

Once I entered mommy-hood, it only got worse. Suddenly, I realized I wasn't having sex anymore! And I don't mean that I wasn't physically having sex, I just wasn't there for most of it because my head was elsewhere. Soon enough, I just didn't mind it when we got so busy we physically weren't having it much anymore. My appetite was dwindling.

Luckily, I figured out how to get it back. And this weekend, I got a brush up on how to stay with it when I read an article in Body & Soul.

According to the article, large-scale surveys conducted world wide found that 30% of respondents (all women, including those in their teens & twenties) reported a lack of interest in sex. Women, as the article puts it, "feel utterly disconnected from their sexuality, as if it were a limb that had been amputated."

Put aside the severely patriarchal cultures in which women are victims of sexual abuse in one or more forms. That's another article all together. Most often we, women, assume that we need more testosterone. I've had that exact thought. While it is an integral part of the balance of hormones that creates a healthy libido, research shows no difference in testosterone levels between women with a low sex drive and women with a healthy one. The problem goes beyond the physical functions of our bodies to the thoughts in our heads.

Renowned sex therapist Laura Berman calls the brain "the main sexual organ for women." And she's right.  I've caught myself on a number of occasions right as things start to heat up- "Where did I leave my phone? Is that the baby? I have to remember to pick up more dog food tomorrow..." On and on. My body was in bed with a man currently very attentive to my needs and my brain was where? Every where else.

Herein lies the problem. While we're busy mentally thumbing through our to-do lists while our partners are trying to get hot and heavy, the brain doesn't release pleasure-related neurotransmitters such as oxytocin. The oxytocin, as us breastfeeding mommies know, is what produces our feelings of intimacy. We also miss out on the release of dopamine. This neurotransmitter lights up the reward center of our brains equating sex as something we want again.

So how do we get ourselves back in bed with that big and tasty treat of a partner? Mindfulness. In other words, practicing awareness of the present moment without passing judgement on it. That means you're not thinking about your left over baby weight, or worrying about what groceries you need to buy tomorrow. That means you notice the sensations of sex. The gentle touch of your partner's skin, the heat of his breath on your neck, the suppleness of his lips.

You gain this ability by practicing it throughout your day. It's not like a switch you can flip, it takes practice. Just like a yoga class or meditation practice, you have to make the time to do it and do it. The article suggests taking 10-20 minutes a day of to practice in a nonsexual way. Realistically, that may be closer to five. But you can fit it in to what you already do. That cup of coffee you always make sure to get in the morning? Sit with it for five minutes. Allow it to totally consume your senses- the delicious aroma, the hints of chocolate or nuts in its flavor, the heat on your tongue and down your throat.

Once you can do it with your morning cup of coffee or breakfast, bring it into the rest of your day. After a few months of practice, you may find yourself being more present to not just the sun on your face as you take an afternoon walk, but the taste of your lovers lips as good night turns into a little bit more.

** Hanley, Kate. "Lost Your Appetite for Sex?" Body and Soul Magazine, May 2010.

Treating Thrush Naturally

Just when I thought we had mastered breastfeeding, Kellan and I got thrush! My right nipple had become very red, dry and cracked. Nursing on it was painful, but I thought it was just not healed entirely from a few cuts. I realized what was going on last Monday after my left nipple started becoming sore and red, too. Kellan didn't have white spots in his mouth until Tuesday so I had not considered it previously.

I did not want to go to the doctor for many reasons, especially to go home only to smother my breasts and my son's mouth with chemically-laden creams and medicines. I knew there had to be an alternative, considering how many plant based oils are anti-fungal, I just didn't know what would be safe for Kellan. My good friend, Morgan, suggested looking on Kellymom. There I found a great article by Cheryl Taylor about treating thrush with grapefruit seed extract.

The article states:

"Grapefruit Seed Extract is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound synthesized from the seeds and pulp of grapefruit. It is an extremely potent and effective broad-spectrum bactericide, fungicide, antiviral and antiparasitic compound. Tests have shown that GSE is dramatically more effective than Colloidal Silver, Iodine, Tea Tree Oil and Clorox bleach against five common microorganisms. In studies performed by Dr. John Mainarich of Bio-Research Laboratories in Redmond, WA, samples of each of the common antimicrobials or sanitizing agents were evaluated for effectiveness against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus faecium and E. coli. The other antimicrobials tested were considerably less effective than the GSE."

She explains that it is extremely effective in treating thrush and usually her suggested first line of defense. Her instructions were to mix 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract with 1 oz of distilled water.  I had to swab Kellan's mouth prior ot nursing and my nipples after nursing, every waking hour of the day. Also, because Kellan had a yeast rash on his diaper area, I had to swab it with each change, allowing him to air dry before putting on a diaper or spend as much time out of a diaper as possible.

 This seemed a bit intense, but it really was pretty easy. It only takes a few minutes to apply and since he has been nursing about every hour anyway right now, it was easy to remember.  I used Q-tips to apply it to his mouth and cotton balls for his diaper area and my nipples.  He had no problems with the taste of it in his mouth so swabbing his mouth was easy. I even kept it in a jar and the applicators in a plastic bag so I could take it with us when we left the house.

My right nipple had cracked so I simultaneously treated it with Neosporin. I began taking acidophilus pills and drinking kombucha to re-balance the growth of bacteria within my body, and taking echinacea to put pump up my immune system a bit.

After the first day, there was a remarkable decrease in the symptoms, especially on my left nipple. The right nipple was still very sore because of the cuts, but by the end of the second day, my left seemed completely symptom free and the right was well on its way to healing. By Friday, I was only applying the extract solution every couple hours or so and continued to see progress.

 This weekend, everything feels completely normal. The yeast still shows in Kellan's mouth, but I am seeing smaller patches collect, and his diaper rash disappears when I get to change his wet diapers fast enough (we've had him in disposable for now to help with that). I will continue to treat with the extract solution and take the extra probiotics until we have been symptom free for a few days.

The grapefruit seed extract cost me $25 for a bottle large enough I see no end in sight to its use. The acidophilus was $10 for 100 tabs, the 3 bottles of kombucha were $3 a piece, and the echinacea I already had in my refrigerator. So for less than $50 I have effectively and quickly treated our thrush in a way that would have cost us a lot more had I chosen to visit the doctor.

Had I chosen that route, I would have at least spent that much monetarily. I would have had the hassle and stress of doctor's appointments, the possible problems with getting Kellan to take his medicine, the possibility of a longer treatment (since I would not be taking probiotics to treat my whole system as opposed to just the symptoms), and worries about what was going into mine and my baby's bodies.

My nipples are happier and Kellan is happily gobbling away at them. I have a few more dollars in my pocket and a wonderful peace of mind about how I treated our first (and, hopefully, only) bout of thrush.

Kids in the Kitchen: Wholesome Blueberry Crisp

Wednesday morning was spent in the bright shining sun with blue mouths and eager, busy hands.  We went blueberry picking! This is one of the greatest joys of summer to me, and I do believe Everett will agree. It was his third summer picking, and Kellan's first.

Bringing home pounds and pounds of blueberries gets my mind bubbling over with ideas of what to bake and cook with these scrumptious summer treats. Beyond blueberry pancakes and muffins, I thought about more healthful fair: tossing them in salads, creating sauces or dressings, and baking blueberry crisp. So we set to work yesterday afternoon. I hope you enjoy this wholesome treat!

Blueberry Crisp


4 cups blueberries
2 Tbsp. Sucanat or brown sugar
OR 1/4 cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp lemon zest

1 cup rolled oats
2 Tbsp ground flax seed
2 Tbsp whole wheat flour
1/4 cup Sucanat or brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp canola oil/butter
1/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans/walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Everett and I rinse the berries and pick through for stems, allowing some water to cling to them. We pour the blueberries into a 9" pie plate and Everett sprinkles them with the 2 Tbsp Sucanat and cinnamon,  We stir the berries until the sugar melts into the water that was left on them from rinsing.

Someone got a little excited about the cinnamon shaker and had to break to clean up...

In a medium bowl, we combine all the dry ingredients except the nuts, and mix by hand. Next, we sprinkle the topping onto the blueberries in the pie plate. Then I drizzle on the oil and we sprinkle with nuts.

It bakes for about 30-35 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Serve it with vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt or plain yogurt and dig in!

Beyond the super-food's antioxidant punch...


According to Ayurveda, blueberries are an astringent food. Astringent foods are dry, light and cooling; some other examples are cranberries, pomegranate, quinoa, lentils and beans. They purify the blood and dry up excess liquids, such as in fat, diarrhea, etc. In excess, though, astringent foods can cause constipation and gas.  They are an integral part of balancing the diet and your doshic energy, especially pitta and kapha doshas.  To learn more about the tastes of Ayurveda or doshas, click here. 

Guided Play: Does it take into account children's interests and needs?

Many of us are big fans of free, or unstructured play. We see the value in a child leading his own explorations and play experiences. I consider it a privilege of staying at home to witness Everett in the midst of free play. I learn so much about him in observing his playtime and then talking to him about it later.

I am also a big proponent of guided play.  

Guided play, also called structured play, refers to play experiences in which adults either initiate, limit resources, intervene or participate in some way. I see the value in guided play being that when I participate with Everett in play we work as a team to create our experience. I can talk to him as we play to learn more about his interests, needs or ideas.  Sometimes I guide him to resources, solutions, or possibilities he didn't consider, and sometimes he guides me towards the same. Some "play experts" (aka child development experts) don't actually consider this play at all, because of the adult intervention and claim that it does not take adequate account of children's interests and needs. 

This Monday, expecting a day full of rain, Everett and I started in his bedroom playing with his tinker toys. Everett constructs a golf club and starts hitting the little wooden caps like golf balls (I'm telling you, this child has a one track mind for sports).  This gave me the idea to construct a mini golf course in our living/dining room. I proposed it to Everett and was met with a joyous, "Awesome!"

We started just with the tinker toys but working with ideas from both of us, ended with multiple toys and materials involved by the end. We both gave our input, brainstormed and tried out different set ups. Once it was complete, he spent the large part of the day hitting his "golf balls" and altering the course while I watched, played with Kellan, and took pictures.

I had a great time getting on the floor, listening to and trying Everett's ideas, and interacting with him to create an experience in which he was exploring his world. Had I not initiated this idea in hesitancy at guided play, we would have missed- if not some play time- a lot of fun!

Obviously, I disagree with the experts because, after all, can't an adult play, too? But I want to know what you think.  

Do you agree with these experts? Why or why not? 

What value do you see in guided play?

Kid’s Yoga Activities: Duo Balancing Act

One of the trickiest skills to acquire is balance. It’s one of the last for young children to master and it seems to be one of the first we lose as we get older.  So, what better way to practice our balance than to practice it with our kids?

Try these poses in tandem…

To start with a strong foundation, begin like this:

Stand with a tall spine and imagine four corners on each of your feet, balancing your weight evenly among them.  Spread toes wide but don’t grip the floor. Focus your energy in your feet and legs to root to the earth.  When you are ready to begin, shift your weight over to the right and lift your left foot, then proceed with the pose.  Repeat for the left side.

Tree Pose

Stand side by side. Place left foot on calf and inhale tall spine with shoulders back. Bring hands out to your sides or up above your head and clasp hands with your child.

Hanging Knee Balance

Stand side by side. Bend your left knee and lift it up to hip level, grasping the outside of it with your left hand.  Bring your right arm out or over your head and clasp hands with your child.

Warrior III

Face your child, standing far enough apart to be able to reach out and clasp hands if you bend forward. Lift left leg extending it out behind you as you tilt forward reaching both hands out over your head to clasp hands with your child.

Eagle Pose

Stand side by side. Lift left leg while bending the right leg. Cross legs with left on top.  Sit deeply, raise both arms out or over head and clasp hands OR entwine arms and elbows with your child.

A Naturopathic Calling

Having my first son, Everett, really inspired me to learn more about natural medicine. Previous to his birth, I leaned more towards avoiding conventional medications and doctor visits. I developed a healthy lifestyle full of wholesome food, exercise, stress relief and body awareness in order to prevent illness and be in charge of my own health. I began learning about naturopathic remedies and using them whenever I could.

After Everett was born, however, I really desired to expand my knowledge base and the contents of my “medicine cabinet.” I didn’t have the time or money to take classes, so I slowly began filling my bookshelf, reading magazines and checking out reliable websites to learn what I could.

Naturopathic medicine is an alternative to conventional medicine that focuses on natural based remedies, prevention, and the body’s ability to heal and maintain itself. It uses a holistic approach that considers the mind, body and spirit, and tries to make minimal use of surgery and drugs. It comprises of various modalities of treatment to get to the root of the problem instead of just suppress the symptoms.

I personally use methods including herbal and homeopathic medicine, reflexology, sports medicine, hydrotherapy, nutrition (including whole and organic foods), color therapy, meditation and yoga. Some people would consider chiropractic work an alternative or natural medicine though it is more accepted in the mainstream community.

I have also employed several of these methods with Everett.  To treat colds and fevers, I’ve used herbal remedies. I feed him wholesome organic foods, take him to the chiropractor, and teach him meditation and yoga. Homeopathic medicine has been my latest addition. I have been most happy with this, as it has been the most effective in treating Everett’s last two illnesses.

Recently, I’ve felt rejuvenation in my desire for schooling, but, still, money and time stand in my way. Instead, I’ve invested in some new books and now I am also turning to you. I am going to start posting about naturopathic and homeopathic medicine to share what I have learned and to seek stories and information from you all, my readers.

What natural remedies do you use and consider time-tested and fail-safe?

What resources do you turn to when you have questions about your health or illnesses?

Think Outside the Easel for Summertime Fun

Welcome to the June Carnival of Natural Parenting: Outdoor fun
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared their stories and tips for playing outside with kids. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
***

The shining sun, beauty of nature and warm weather are beckoning us outside as soon as we rise each morning. We find ourselves in the backyard, taking walks, having picnics and visiting the park for the bulk of our days.  With Everett, most of that time is spent playing sports or digging in the dirt. The rest of that time is spent answering the endless questions he has about the world he is exploring. 

I love these days. They feel carefree and endless as they run into each other.  There are some things I would miss, though, if we spent all of our days like this. One of those things is art. Creating art is one of our very favorite activities to do together and I would hate to let it fall by the wayside during the next few months as we spend more time outside than inside. In lieu of the crayon and marker drawings, play-dough sculptures, and fabric collages, I have compiled a list of outdoor art activities for us to engage in I'd like to share with you...

Bodies in Motion

Materials: sidewalk chalk

Have your child lay down on the sidewalk or driveway while assuming the position of someone playing sports or another activity.  For example, she could bend her knees like she's jumping and put hands above her head like shooting a basketball. Use sidewalk chalk to trace around her body.  Have her fill in the drawing with designs and color.

Sheet Painting

Materials: old light or white colored sheet, spray bottles, water, liquid or powdered tempera paints

Hang old sheet on a fence or clothesline, tying down the corners, or lay on the ground, weighing corners down with rocks. If using liquid temperas, fill spray bottles half with water and half with paint. If using powdered temperas, mix according to directions but double the amount of water called for and fill bottles with mixed paint. Allow kids to go crazy Jackson-Pollock style with the spray bottles!

Nature Walk and Collage

Materials: basket or other container for collecting, paper, glue, crayons/markers

Take a walk in an area rich with nature and wildlife collecting evidence of nature along the way: leaves, twigs, seeds, bark, etc.  Bring them back to a table and use your evidence of nature to glue together a collage. Embellish with crayons, markers, etc.

Body Painting

Materials: body/face paint, paint brushes

Body Paint: Mix liquid or powdered tempera paints with baby shampoo into as many jars as needed for colors wanted.

Face Paint recipe: Mix 6 Tbsp. cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. flour together in a bowl. Gradually stir in 3/4 cup light corn syrup and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Divide mixture into separate containers as needed for different colors. Mix food coloring into each jar until desired color is achieved.

The body paint works best, but the face paint will work fine if you don't have temperas or don't want to use them. The face paint recipe is a little more transparent and quite sticky but cleans up easily.
Add a paintbrush to each color, take your kiddos outside in a swimsuit and let them have at it! Just turn on the hose, maybe add a little soap if you use the face paint, and let the kids run wild again to get it all cleaned up. 

Nature Rubbing Book

Materials: Several small pieces of thin paper all the same size, crayons without wrappers

Take a walk around the neighborhood or park with your supplies.  Encourage your child to place a paper over objects/surfaces and rub with a crayon to pick up the texture. Label with the source. Take home to describe the textures, compare and/or organize then bind to make a book. 

***
Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• Garden Treats — Asha at Mom Costume has once again been bitten by the gardening bug — and this time her baby's tagging along for some fresh air and dirt exploration. (@titbagsandsnoot)
• Outdoor Free Roam — Mamapoekie at Authentic Parenting follows her daughter's lead whenever they go outside. (@mamapoekie)
• Summer fun in Austin with a toddler — Jessica at This Is Worthwhile is brainstorming ways to beat the heat in Texas. (@tisworthwhile)
• summer fun… — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children is looking forward to spending the summer outside with her children the way she used to spend summers with her mother.
• Outdoor Fun for Pre-Walkers — Maman A Droit has figured out ways to let her pre-walker enjoy the outdoors. (@MamanADroit)
• Summer Homeschool Fun at Camp Review — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now discusses how Camp Review motivated and captivated her homeschooling family. (@DebChitwood)
• Digging, Tree Climbing and Puddle Jumping — Laura at Laura's Blog bemoans the loss of her girls' climbing tree but knows they'll find something else just as naturally tempting.
• The Sweet Smells of Summer — Erin at A Beatnik's Beat on Life is looking forward to the many smells of summer she and her daughters enjoy and identify. (@babybeatnik)
• June Carnival of Natural Parenting: Outdoor Fun — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker is a confirmed couch potato who can't help but be inspired by the outdoor opportunities Seattle offers her family. (@sybilryan)
• Take a Hike — Michelle at The Parent Vortex connects with her family and the Earth on frequent hikes in their Pacific wilderness. (@TheParentVortex)
• Following Paul — Julie at Simple Life gives her kids unstructured time to dig in the dirt and pick mulberries. (@homemakerjulie)
• Instilling a Love of the Outdoors in Your Baby/Toddler — Tessasdad at Stay At Home Dad in Lansing offers a photo book of tips for helping your little ones enjoy the outdoors. (@tessasdad)
• Camping, baby! — Jen at Grow With Graces has easy tips for tent camping with a little one. (@growwithgraces)
• Think Outside the Easel for Summertime Fun — Acacia at Be Present Mama finds several ways to bring art fun to the outdoors.
• Outdoor Learning in our Urban Environment — Andrea at Ella-Bean & Co. has found ways to get grass between her daughter's toes, even in the city.
• Outdoor Education — Alison at BluebirdMama offers parents tips and resources for making each outdoor excursion a learning experience. (@childbearing)
• Turning Inside Out — Christie of Childhood 101 finds kids get a kick out of taking indoor toys outside. (@Childhood101)
• Watching Peas Sprout — Deb at Science@home combines fun with purpose in this educational outdoor activity. (@ScienceMum)
• How To Create a Pirate Treasure Hunt & Other Easy Outdoor Pirate Activities (June Carnival of Natural Parenting) — Dionna at Code Name: Mama has pirate-themed play ideas for ye scurvy landlubbers. (@CodeNameMama)
• What We Do — Luschka at Diary of a First Child has managed to expose her 8-month-old to a wide variety of outdoor fun, even with the notoriously dreary UK weather. (@diaryfirstchild)
• Summer Fun — Darcel at The Mahogany Way finds her family's visits to the beach refreshing in so many ways. (@MahoganyWayMama)
• Playing outside without a backyard — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes doesn't let the lack of a backyard stop her family from enjoying the outdoors. There are plenty of things to do outside of your yard! (@sheryljesin)
• Having Fun Outdoors, Playset Free — Guavalicious at They Are So Cute When They Are Sleeping has resisted a backyard playset in favor of the regular backyard. (@guavalicious)
• Moon Gazing with your Toddler — Paige at Baby Dust Diaries is keeping her toddler up at night, but it's for a good reason: to share the wonders of the night sky! (@babydust)
• the great outdoors — The grumbles at grumbles and grunts wonders whether her urban child can experience the same free-range childhood she enjoyed. (@thegrumbles)
• Let's Take It Outside! — NavelgazingBajan at Navelgazing is looking for ideas: how can she spend time with her pre-walker outside this summer? (@BlkWmnDoBF)
• A home by the sea: June Carnival of Natural Parenting: Outdoor fun — Lauren at Hobo Mama is living her dream of a home near the beach, and taking full advantage of it. (@Hobo_Mama)
• An Outside Girl — Zoey at Good Goog moved her family to (almost) the middle of nowhere so that her outdoor-loving girl could have more grass and less concrete. (@zoeyspeak)
• Neighborhood Nature — Kelly at Kelly Naturally has learned to connect with the nature she has instead of mourning the nature she misses. (@kellynaturally)
• Building Lovely Memories of Swimming, Spiders and Gravestones — Joni Rae at Tales of a Kitchen Witch and her family are simply outdoorsy people. (@kitchenwitch)
• "Buh-Bye" Season — Danielle at born.in.japan must leave laundry behind and follow her son's call to the outdoors. (@borninjp)
• Backyard Camping — Becoming Mamas took her family camping very close to home! (@becomingmamas)
• The Color of Dreams — Seeking Mother at Woman Seeking Mother makes gardening magical by teaching her son that each flower is a faery. (@seekingmother)

Kids in the Kitchen: Frozen Chocolate Bananas

Anybody else have these as a kid? Such a scrumptious treat for the summer time and it can be made (almost) completely by your child, depending on his age.

Frozen Chocolate Bananas

Ingredients:  1/2 bag of chocolate chips, milk, 4 ripe bananas

Materials: toothpicks, waxed paper or a plastic bag from cereal box cut to lay flat, cookie sheet


Peel and cut the bananas into large chunks. Kids can do this easily with a butter knife.

Place chunks on waxed paper on cookie sheet, stick a toothpick in each piece.  Freeze for one hour.

Place chocolate chips and a couple splashes of milk in a microwaveable bowl.. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between intervals until chocolate is melted. You can add a little more milk to thin out if necessary and mix in well.

Dip bananas into chocolate and place back onto waxed paper and cookie sheet. Freeze until hardened and enjoy!

What You Get From This Yummy Treat...


Bananas are packed full of nutrients including B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, manganese, and magnesium. Vitamins B6, B12 and folate work together to keep down levels of homocysteine, an amino acid which in high levels is linked to heart attacks. Bananas are also a source of prebiotics that feed the good bacteria, aka probiotics, that keep your digestive tract in good health, and contain protease inhibitors that help to eliminate harmful bacteria there.

A High Score in the Game of Parenting

For April's Carnival of Natural Parenting, I wrote a Dear Abby type letter asking for reader's advice on how to help my son's hitting habit. I was met with lots of advice from the wonderful group of mommies involved in the carnival and beyond. I evaluated the advice, set my game plan and brought my game on.

For those of you just tuning in here's the low down on the game...

Everett is pretty articulate about his feelings, desires, and needs for his age but struggles with bursts of anger or frustration. His outbursts come quick and intense, but subside as fast as they come. The goal has been to replace hitting me with something more appropriate.

I try to prevent these situations by paying attention to when he becomes more volatile. With the onset of warmer days, he has had more time to play outside and been more cooperative with quiet time.  As a result, he is calmer. He needs a high dose of activity to spend all his energy and a little bit of rest to prevent him from getting too tired.

Here's the game plan and how I scored...

Among the suggestions, there was a few I knew wouldn't work for us. For example, Everett is very physically active and athletically capable so hitting something "safe" didn't feel like a good alternative, but jumping up and down seemed just right.  Also, the length of his outbursts being so short overruled anything that would take longer than the outburst itself. That included redirecting to hit something else, using a stress ball (my idea), or changing scenery (i.e. plopping him mid-tantrum into the bathtub).

I loved the suggestion of creating a special place for Everett to retreat to when he's mad but after setting it up with a cozy blanket, his favorite animals and some books, he never wanted to go there. Even when he was mad at me, he was over it as soon as it happened and then just wanted some love. That was when I really put energy into the suggestion to hold his hand when he was angry or to say, "You seem like you are frustrate/angry/upset. Can I give you a hug:?"  Score one!!

Sometimes I can't get to his hand fast enough, but whether or not he hits me, I offer that hug. Sometimes I'm able to say it before he hits me and it prevents it. And if he hits me, then we hug, it really calms him down and we're able to talk about it and he apologizes (all on his own). Either way, I consider it great progress.

When he seems to be in an especially fiery mood, on those days when he hasn't had enough time to run around, I've used a couple other techniques. His outbursts will be just as quick but a little more intense. I've encouraged him to call out "I feel like hitting you!" or jumping up and down instead of hitting. This, too, is beginning to work. Score again!!

The Wrap Up

These techniques have been very helpful in guiding Everett to recognize his emotions and begin controlling his impulses with an appropriate replacement. His impulses are subsiding and I'm feeling a little relief from the hitting. We're spending less time talking about what to do instead of hitting and more time scoring on the basketball court!

Breastfeeding on a Bumper

Dropping off some things at the DAV on Sunday, my husband noticed this on the car parked next to us. I squealed with delight, demanded his phone and hopped out right away to snap a couple pictures so I could share it with you all and (fingers crossed) hopefully find out where I can get my own.

Library Love: May 2010

We got back to the library rather late in the month since Kellan's arrival and April's list was somehow not saved to the computer after I typed it up so this month's list is pretty short.  To lengthen it a bit, the last three I included we actually did not get at the library but loved very much just the same. 

  The Lion & the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney

I loved it because the words are left out of this version of the classic tale of the lion and the mouse who comes to his rescue. You can share in the learning, telling or recreating the story with your little one while enjoying the artist's beautiful watercolor illustrations. 

Everett says he loved it because of the lion and because the mouse helped the lion. 

The Duchess of Whimsy

by Randall de Seve

This fancy, frilly duchess loves everything fun and fabulous from friends to food. The Duke of Norm is anything but fun and fabulous but adores the Duchess. She ignores him until one day while hosting a party a turn of events leads her to find how extraordinary the ordinary (and the Duke) can be. 

I loved it for the fun illustrations and sweet simple message.  Everett says he liked it because he likes the colors.  the feathers in the Duchesses hair, and he loves grilled cheese. 

Tickle Monster

by Josie Bissett

This lovable monster flies in from Planet Tickle to have his way with you from your ticklish toes to your ticklish top!

Everett and I both love this book because of it's silliness and fun. Laughter is contagious when you are reading this because as you read you get to do the tickling and as you listen you get to be tickled

Welcome With Love

by Jenni Overend

A beautiful home birth is told through the eyes of a little boy. 

I love this book because the author captures this child's voice perfectly in the simple explanations of what is happening during labor and birth. One of my very favorite illustrators, Julie Vivas, brings this sweet story to life by capturing the intimacy and expressions of human emotion and mannerisms in the characters. 

Everett asked to read this story over and over before Kellan was born and seemed to like best the picture of the baby with his umbilical cord (hee, hee).  

Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day

by Richard Scarry

Shows and tells what people do all day including farming, building house, making paper and going to the hospital. 

I love it because it is a classic I grew up with that Everett is adoring equally as much as I did. It sparks curiosity about the world around that leads to questions and interests, conversations and activities.  Everett just loves the whole darned thing and wants to read it every night because he is so fascinated by how the world around him works.