We’ve been taking a break from life.  Husband-guy has needed some time to reassess his calling and career which has required taking a break from our beloved but small island.  And from the motorhome.  Sure it was small and there’s four of us but it was dry and had all the conveniences of a larger home.  34 feet of 1981 camping luxury has seen many better days than 2 years of constant use by a toddler, a preschooler/kindergartener, a Mom and a Dad.

So we’ve spent some time at a dear friend’s and have not regretted this time, one bit.  What a leap of faith it took to take this time for our family, to commit and go.  But it has been so fruitful.  I had such anxiety and tension living in that motorhome… so much that I didn’t notice it anymore.  After a week being away, I found myself feeling anxious or tense and it reminded me of living in the motorhome.  I decided then and there that I didn’t like that feeling so I made amends and felt better.  Then I realized that there were these long gaps in between feeling tense and not feeling tense.  For two years, I hadn’t had those gaps.  Needless to say that my relationships with my family have not been optimal.  I am so grateful for this time:)

circle of the sun on harvest day.

babies harvest herbs in the circle of the sun,

circle of the sun on harvest day.

clouds to the north, clouds to the south,

wind and rain to the east and the west.

babies harvest herbs in the circle of the sun,

circle of the sun on harvest day.

circle of the sun on the loving day.

babies learn to love in the circle of the sun,

circle of the sun on the loving day.

clouds to the north, clouds to the south,

wind and rain to the east and the west.

babies learn to love in the circle of the sun,

circle of the sun on the loving day.

I started posting these beautiful things in my life to offset the crabby, winter blahs and I felt better almost immediately. We’re having such a lovely spring. Bring on the beach, bring on the sunshine!

When I gave birth to a wee little boy, I knew I had to start researching. To learn how to bring this little boy to the world and how to bring the world to this little boy. I wanted him to be able to express his feelings with all his heart. I wanted him to have what he needed to process his ups and downs without the baggage that so many men grow up with.

Little did we know, on that first day, that he is a very sensitive boy. As in autistic sensitive (not autistic but that sensitive) which we learned through a brief, informal consult with G. Neufeld. Thus making my goals even more important and challenging! Liam, aka Wrinkles, is a beautiful and lovely little soul. The more I get to know him and be his Mom, aka Momony (another Liam-ism), the more I cherish him and learn to help him grow into that big-hearted, open soul.

My little boy led me to look for natural parenting resources because I couldn’t just wing it or ‘get by’ with the mainstream parenting blathering. There is such beauty in finding something that helps me be more truly me AND raise my wee ones to their fullest potential. That deep beauty is on the scale of digging in my own dirt and planting my own garden, building our own wee, snug house, or baking bread and making soup to nourish my family. It’s in my bones, in our evolution and I am relearning to live in that beauty.

When Rory was born we knew that she could help Liam. Help him open up more… or something. But Liam has helped me be a different Mom to Rory in her early years than Liam had, through learning more about attachment and natural parenting. There are some sweet women in my life right now who are pregnant and whom I am living vicariously through. I think back to being pregnant the first time and giving birth, and wishing I had more exposure to natural parenting resources from the beginning. So I’m going to give you my personal list of cherished alternative books. It’s a small list but they could get you started on your own journey.

parenting: Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children’ by Sharifa Oppenheimer

birth: Spiritual Midwifery’ by Ina May Gaskin

birth: Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England CNM MA and Rob Horowitz PhD

parenting: Hold onto your Kids by Gordon Neufeld

baby: Diaper Free!: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer

general: Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around by Raffi Cavoukian (yeah that’s Raffi) and Sharna Olfman.

Vicariously yours,
Nat