Children's Book: The Sea Serpent and Me

When Dashka Slater was ten, she wrote a story and must have tucked it away somewhere. As an adult and accomplished writer, both in children's and adult literature, Dashka decided to pull that story out again and rewrite it; that book is The Sea Serpent and Me.

The Sea Serpent and Me is a heart-touching, tale of a child and a sea serpent becoming friends and letting go. Letting go...if you really love someone or something, you have to let it go when it is time to let go, just like in the Bog Baby, only different. In this book, the letting go is instinctual and patient, gentle and mutual. As I read it to my children for the first time, I teared up. Their response to the book was, "again" and "again" and "again". Again and again and again, I tear up as I read this book, and I know why...just as a certain song or painting can move you and remind you of a deeply powerful feeling, when I read this book, I am immediately reminded of the last time my son nursed; it was the same type of letting go.

I became pregnant with my daughter while my son was still nursing, and it was heart-wrenching when all throughout the first trimester my milk supply would decrease more and more and my son would cry, "mama milk all gone". I tried to keep my supply up as much as possible and gritted my teeth through the bone curdling, sore nipple latch-ons, but I have to admit that I was relieved in the third trimester when my colostrum came in and my son slowly stopped nursing with the promise that after the baby was born the milk would be back and they could share. In a very tender moment, a couple of weeks after his sister was born, I told my son that the milk was back and that he was welcome to nurse if he'd like to. He latched on for about two seconds and then whispered, "all done". I had a very strong urge to beg him to try again, but I knew, deep in my heart, that I had to let go. And I know that I will experience this letting go many, many more times in my lifetime of parenting. One of my wise midwives talked about how parenting is a slow progression of letting go, little by little...

Catia Chien's illustrations in this book are soft and playful with a wet and rainy Loch Ness enchantment to them. Catia captures the emotion and mood climate of the story so well and portrays the characters with adoration and trust in their eyes right from the start.

[And if you really fall in love with sea serpents after reading this book, Dashka has a whole list of sea serpent activities to do with children linked on her webpage as well as a how-to for throwing a sea serpent party...did you know that August 7th is National Sea Serpent Day? I didn't either, but now we all do and should celebrate accordingly. My children and I will be making the sock puppets for sure!]

My son asked for this book again at bedtime, and I wonder if, perhaps on some level, it reminds him of that same moment. Maybe not, but I can tell that something about this book touches something in his sweet heart as it does in mine.

Children's Book: The Bog Baby

Wow, it has been a long time since I have shared a favorite children's book. With the arrival of spring, The Bog Baby has come in quite handy, so I will share my love for it today...

Have you read this book? The Bog Baby is written by creature-loving Jeanne Willis, and illustrated by adorable-creature-creator, Gwen Millward. It is a sweet tale about two children who discover an adorable creature, the Bog Baby, and take it home to make it their pet. But Bog Baby's were not meant to live outside of their natural habitat (bogs); so lessons of the heart and nature (and honesty) are learned.

This is the perfect springtime book, as my children are becoming enamored with worms, grubs, and slugs, and they beg to adopt each one that they discover in the backyard to keep as a pet. But worms, slugs, and grubs are not meant to live in houses, and in houses they do not fare well. The Bog Baby has been a fabulous way to explain to them why worms, slugs, and grubs are best left in the backyard where they will thrive (or become chicken food, but that is another book).

I have to admit, I adopted many a frog, salamander, and firefly when I was a child. I want my children to experience a love for all creatures big and small, and respect for the impact that they can have with their actions. Not that I expect them to get that at 4 and 2 years old, but it is a starting point. In the back of the book there is a place to write down information about your Bog Baby finding experience, which has prompted several drawings and lists of details over here.

Have you read any of the many books that Jeanne Willis has written? She has written many, and I have loved all of the ones I have read. All of my Jeanne Willis favorites have lovely life lessons told in kind and gentle ways, just like in The Bog Baby. Draft Bat is another important life lesson in a sweet story book example.

I am also in love with Gwen Millward's illustrations; she brings sweetness and magic (two things I am very attracted to in books, obviously) to life. She also illustrated Guess What I Found in Dragonwood, by Timothy Knapman--and er illustrations make me want to live in Dragonwood. The Jeanne Willis and Gwen Millward team have a new love-all-creepy-crawlies book, The King of Tiny Things, which I hope to get my hands on soon...

Upcoming Coolness at Green Bean Books

Our fabulous neighbors, Green Bean Books, has some wonderful events coming up (including a visit from a favorite author/artist of ours, Johanna Wright)! Check it out (you can click on the graphic below for more information)...

Movies for Children with Sensory Issues

Thank you to Urban Mamas on Facebook for sharing this information.

Canby Cinema 8 (in Canby, WA) has been hosting once a month movies for children with sensory issues. The movies are current movies, but shown with the lights partially on, the sound turned down, a 10 minute break in the middle, snacks, and the welcome of getting up and doing your thing during the movie. These movies, shown once a month on a Saturday morning, are not open to the general public. All families (and friends) with children who experience sensory issues are welcome. Robin Cottengim, mother of a child with autism-related sensory issues, discovered the idea on the Autism Society of America's website, searched for a theater to host, and helped coordinate Sensory Saturday Movies. In November 2009, Robin's dream of being able to take her son to movies without upsetting the crowd came true. Although the Canby Cinema 8 Sensory Saturday Movies are not officially a part of the Autism Society of America's Sensory Friendly Films, they have followed the arrangement closely.

I would love to see more theaters and other venues offering sensory-friendly activities, and I hope this event inspires Portland to create more events like this. Spread the word and support a great opportunity.

Here is a description of the movie events written by Robin Cottengim:

...For the ones that can not sit still or does not like loud noises then this is the place to watch your movies.We hope that families around the Portland Vancouver area will bring their special kids to enjoy a movie 2nd Saturday of every Month.

I know how hard it is to have your child sit for an hour in a half to 2 hours for a movie, it is pretty much impossible, right? We have the solution! Our kids will be able to get up and walk and dance as they watch the movie. The lights will also be turned up as well as the sound of the movie turned down. Wow that is going to be nice!!! Half way into the movie we are also going to turn the movie off for about 10 minutes so parents and kids can take a restroom break or just go get a snack from the snack bar (which there is a kids tray you can purchase). Then back to the movie for more dancing, walking and stretching as you watch the movie. Another great thing is that the movies will be on Saturdays at 10:00am. What makes that so nice is that it will not be open to the general public, so we don't have to worry about others. The kids will be safe and can not get out of the theater, NOW IS THAT GREAT!!!

Bringing in the New Year (& decade): The Giving Tree

I love this story and was so excited to find this video! I hope you enjoy it and cheers to a 2010 that is filled with love, joy, and lots of other goodies!

Mustache Therapy (and more) at Green Bean Books

My children and I popped over to Green Bean Books (Nurture's neighbor!) to indulge in a bit of book buying, but we also got in a bit of therapy while we were there. You see, Portland book lovers have been sprouting facial hair and belly laughs (=good therapy), thanks to Jennifer's magnificent Instant Disguise Machine ("Facial Hair in a Flash!"), and we joined in the fun. Okay, so my youngest was a bit freaked out by the idea, but her brother happily added her mustache to his $.25-incognito-mug. Look for us (see picture above) on the mustache montage wall...aren't I looking wise with that white stache??

There is so much to discover over there, little nooks, crannies, and creatures tucked away all over the store; my children love it there! You can also buy, trade, or sell books over there: they offer 25% of our selling price in cash or 30% of our selling price in trade credit (for your used children’s books and adult best sellers that are in good condition. They reserve the right to reject any book that they feel they cannot sell, of course).

Yay, Green Bean Books! Thank you for widening our smiles!

Walkabouts 3rd walk

Join us for our third meet-up to walk along the east bank esplanade. We are meeting on Friday, 12/4 at 10:30am at the parking lot at Hawthorne and Water St.

Join the Walkabouts Group forum for more information.

You Who: A Monthly Children's Rock Variety Show

Do your kids like to rock? Check out the new children's rock variety show, You Who, each month at the Kennedy School.

You Who features a half hour of variety entertainment including DJs, interactive dance get downs, comedians, cartoons, musical guests, and ? and more ?! The second half brings live rock, hip hop or dance band. A portion of all proceeds will go to p: ear.

Children's Book: The Apple Pie that Papa Baked

Apple season is just about here, reminding me of a most fabulous book: The Apple Pie that Papa Baked written by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Jonathan Bean.

This delicious book (I had to say it) brings me so much joy. A couple of years ago, I gave it to a dear friend for her second birthday, and I have been meaning to get a copy for my children ever since.

Written in a spirally-this-is-the-House-that-Jack-Built fashion, with humor and warmth, this book celebrates the earthy, worldly elements in a sweet (again) story of an apple pie from roots to table. The father-daughter love and sharing within this book makes me long for my childhood yearly apple orchard trips complete with cider, apples, and of course, apple pie.

In my head, it goes without saying that the illustrations are perfectly matched to this story. I like to believe that if I had heard the story before seeing the artwork, I would have imagined the very same pictures, or very close. Simple yet intricate, nostalgic yet fresh, raw yet gentle, scruffy yet whimsical, and so much subtle beauty to warm your heart.

And here is a (because it's another pie themed book) recipe for you!

Good Old Apple Pie
Crust
1-1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoons Salt
1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/8 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cups Shortening or butter
Ice Cold Water

Find your children. Ask them to help you measure and then sift flour and salt. Work in the shortening or butter with a fork. Add enough ice cold water to make a stiff dough (the dough should be soft but not sticky). Roll out on a floured counter top until about 1/8 inch thick. Place the rolled out dough in a 9-inch pie plate and trim the edge to fit. Save the trimmed dough for the top.

Filling
6 cups sliced, peeled cooking apples
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 TB lemon juice

In a small bowl mix the cinnamon, cloves, ginger, flour, and sugar together. Mix in apples and lemon juice. Fill pie crust with the apple mixture. Using the remaining dough roll out the top, place on pie, and pinch all the way around the edge. Poke holes (or a pretty design) and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 55 minutes. The top crust should be golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Welcome with Love and Another Book Recommendation

Here is a follow-up on the previous post about book recommendations: My friends Kimberly and Jessi noted, on Facebook, that Welcome With Love is out of print and can be pricey on Amazon, but can be found in other countries with a different title: "Hello Baby". I have also found it with the Welcome With Love title used on Amazon, and new at Childrensneeds.com and Bestwebbuys.com.


Jennifer Fuentes from Milagros also recommended another lovely homebirth, co-sleeping, cloth diaper book called My Brother Jimi Jazz. Read her post about this book on the Milagros blog.

Bubbles: Teaching Children Breathwork

Yesterday, in the hot July sunshine, my children chased glossy bubbles throughout the garden. It reminded me of the work I used to do with young children who had experienced violence in their lives. Bubbles, as I discovered while working with these dear children, are quite therapeutic in many ways. They are fun, freeing, beautiful, and mysterious, but they also lend nicely to teaching children gentle breathwork. The gentle blowing that is required to form nice bubbles is similar to the slower gentle breaths one can use to relax. Bubbles are a portable relaxation tool!

First, I talk to children about noticing how they breathe. Then, I show them how to blow bubbles using a gentle inhale and a gentle exhale using their diaphragm. I also talk to children about noticing how their body feels when they breathe gently to blow bubbles; this promotes body awareness. I also want to be sure they do not hyperventilate or get dizzy from over-doing it.

Who says therapy is no fun?!

Children's Book: The Blueberry Pie Elf

The Blueberry Pie Elf, written by Jane Thayer and illustrated by Seymour Fleishman, is another oldie but goodie. We have renewed our checkout of this book so many times, I think the library just might give it to us. It has certainly led to an increase in our pie baking activities in this house.


Sweet little Elmer, the elf, desperately tries to find a way to let the family, who unknowingly hosts him, know that he wants more rich, melting, juicy, delicious, fruity blueberry pie. This is not an easy task for an elf that no one can see, hear, or feel. No other pie will do, and I have to agree with Elmer on that; I also think blueberry pie is the sweetest, fruitiest, most delicious of the fruit pies.


After you read this delightful book, you can make a blueberry pie with your little elves. Here is my favorite blueberry pie filling recipe:

3 1/2-4 c blueberries (fresh!)
3/4 c agave syrup
~1/2 TB lemon juice
5 TB corn starch


Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into pie crust. Create lattice top for pie by weaving long thin slices of pie crust on top. Place pie on a pizza pan in case of bubbling over. Bake at 350' until crust is lightly browned. I always cover the edges until the pie filling has cooked a bit (about 30 minutes) and then remove the cover and let the crust brown.

Children's Book: Welcome, Brown Bird

Marking the change in seasons with a fondness for the thrush, two boys are unknowingly connected by a Wood Thrush, on opposite sides of its migration path. In the spring, a boy in North America waits for the thrush by a hemlock forest. In the fall, a boy waits for the thrush by a rain forest in Central America. In a paralleling story of reverence and protection, both boys convince their fathers not to cut down the trees where the thrush lives during their respective seasons.

Author, Mary Lyn Ray, was inspired by declining yearly visits by Wood Thrushes to her farm in New England. She has created a story that teaches and inspires while touching the heart. The words, together with Peter Sylvada's rich golden, earthy toned paintings, has captured the birds' subtle beauty and the heartfelt awe of the wonder of nature.

A preview of the book can be found here.

Although the Wood Thrush is not common in the Willamette Valley, Swainson Thrushes and Hermit Thrushes can be found in the region. Each species of thrush has a different song. For fun, you can listen to the songs of four species of thrushes and take a quiz to see if you remember which is which.

crafty/creative family: make edible peanut butter play dough

After seeing the crafty family: make play dough post, my friend Rochelle clued me in to the fact that some play doughs are edible. How have I made it this far without knowing about these recipes? Fun! Thank you, Rochelle!

Peanut Butter Play dough (Edible)
• 1 jar (18 oz. ) peanut butter

• 6 tsp honey

• non-fat dry milk or milk plus flour to make desired consistency

Mix all together.

Alternative to Peanut Butter Play dough (Edible)
This is good for kids who want the peanut butter play dough but are allergic/intolerant to milk found in other peanut butter play dough recipes.

• ½ cup peanut butter

• 2 Tbsp honey

• ½ cup flour

Mix all together.

crafty/creative family: make play dough

One of my favorite recipes is for a product that is not for eating--play dough. Okay, it gets eaten a bit sometimes, but only little nibbles when the kids are curious. I would rather my children nibble on this homemade play dough than the commercially made doughs.

Both of my children are now able to help make this recipe. They love to measure the ingredients, and it is okay if the measurements are slightly off because it is not for eating (except for the above mentioned nibbles).

This play dough will last for several months if it is stored in an air-tight container.

1 c water
1 TB oil
1/2 c salt
3-4 drops food coloring or 1/2 pack or so Kool Aid
1-4 c flour

Mix all ingredients except flour in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir until the salt is dissolved. Remove from heat and add flour, starting with one cup and increasing by TB, until the dough is the right consistency (doughy, not sticky, slightly powdery).

crafty/creative family: make a terra cotta bell

My son came home from his playgroup this week with a nifty wind chime made from terra cotta pots. I immediately wanted to make more to hang from our tree branches to fill our garden with more beautiful music. And so we are making more.

You will need:

• terra cotta pots
• 4 nuts (not the kind you eat) for each bell, larger than the drainage holes on the bottom of your pots
• twine or strong ribbon, rope, string
• water resistant paint (I used acrylic) or colored pencil (this is what my son used), crayon, marker
• and, of course, the usual added decor: beads, ribbons, bits, scraps, etc.

There are several ways these bells can be made. We followed our playgroup's lovely design (thank you Elizabeth!).

• Decorate 2 pots of different sizes, remember they will hang upside-down.
• When the paint is dry, tie the nuts to the twine about an inch from the bottom of the twine and then again at the top of the length you would need to allow the first nut to act as a clapper.
• Then string the twine through the drainage hole of the smaller pot first so that the pot rests on the nut.
• Tie another nut at the place on the twine that will create the desired distance between the two pots.
• String the twine through the drainage hole of the larger pot so that this pot rests on the nut.
• Tie another nut on the other side of the drainage hole (top of the bell) and create a loop with the twine for hanging.
• Further embellish as desired

My son made his bells with tiny pots and I used 3.5" and slightly larger pots for mine. The larger the pot, the deeper the pitch of the ring. I like the larger pots for the ease of embellishing, but the tiny pots have such a magical, pleasing tinkle; I think they are my favorite.

Mama Mantras

Tornadoes happen in our house, on a regular basis. These swirly, high energy twisters are typically amidst the fantastic chaos of learning, growing, playing, exploring, and creating; all activities that I welcome in my home. Sometimes, during these heavy weather growing events, I experience a physical and emotional reaction commonly known as stress. As I feel my shoulders pinch and my jaw clamp, in response to the feeling of my personal world spinning with objects flying by me in directions I could never have imagined, I find that it is helpful to turn inward and find a little message for myself that provides reassurance, calm, and grounding. This message becomes a temporary mantra, if you will, that I repeat softly or in my head until I feel my feet firmly replanted on the ground.

One of my favorite, or rather, most often used mantra is, "It is just a mess, we can clean it up." I have found this simple phrase immensely helpful, especially when I am trying to stay out of the way of my children's exploring and playing. I try to keep the messages short and easy, yet specific to the need at hand.

If you have a favorite mantra you have created in the midst of fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, or parenting challenges and would like to share, send it my way and I will post it. I also, be assured, have many more to share.

Life is messy, messy can be beautiful, and all messes can be cleaned up, if needed.

It is just a mess, we can clean it up.

crafty/creative family: make a garden guardian

Meet Zopanoni, so named by my 3 1/2 year old, she is the guardian of our little sprouts, tender buds, and hopeful harvest. Inspired by scarecrows, fairies, and strong women, she has yet to be fully adorned with all of her sparkles and bells; she is a work-in-progress achieving her regalia and ephemera as the garden waxes then wanes. But she has enough right now to make beautiful music and a loving presence in our sweet little garden.


To create her, we used:

• bamboo for the vertical pole
• grape vine for the horizontal (arms)
• straw and grape vines bundled with twine for the head and wild hair
• fabric, bells, sparkles, mirror bits, ribbon, beads, etc. from SCRAP and around the house

Use what you have available in your yard and house! On a Nurture-neighborhood garden-ogling tour, my daughter and I met a woman who made her scarecrows with old brooms. We didn't have any old brooms, but we were very inspired, so we basically made one out of straw. The more bells, chimes, and shiny things you add, the more your garden will sparkle and sing and the safer from the birdies it will be.

Children's Book: Blue Bowl Down

I love the soft rocking chair rhythms of Blue Bowl Down: An Appalachian Rhyme by C.M. Millen, illustrated by Holly Meade. Tender are the collage illustrations and mothering-sweet are the words. Mother and child prepare bread as a bedtime ritual, just as Millen's family did generations ago, leaving it on top of the wood stove to rise while the family sleeps.

My son loves this book so much that he asks me to read it five or six times in a row. I think the rhythms are soothing to him. He has also taken an interest in making bread, by hand, rather than our usual bread machine treats, which is okay by me. Cooking with him is a creative way to connect and engage with him. It is also a good exercise in going with the flow for me; sometimes I just have to breathe and remind myself that, "It is just a mess, I can clean it up."

crafty/creative family: make garden markers

As spring begins (happy spring to all), we have been finding ourselves drawn to the garden more and more despite the crazy Portland spring weather. Every bit of shining without clouds and every cloudy-yet-dryish chance we get we grab our seeds, boots, and shovels and get out. Playing in the dirt feels so good. I have saved seeds from years past to give my son something to plant when we have run out of seeds that are ready to be planted. He has gardens all over our yard and who knows, maybe we will have an extra bounty this year.

But Portland is Portland, the weather is fickle, and some days we just don't want to tough it out through a hail storm. While we are indoors, art projects are the next best thing to freely being messy in the dirt. Making garden markers is an activity that ties together two of our favorite activities!

What you will need:

• tongue depressors or Popsicle sticks or something similar (the wider the better)
• medium sized smooth rocks also make cool markers
• paint/water proof markers
• sealant that can withstand the elements

optional:

• ribbon, yarn, etc.
• beads
• glue that can withstand the elements
• pictures from magazines, etc.
• bendable wire
• bits, scraps, toys, etc.

Decorate the garden markers anyway that you would like. Write the name of the plant, paint a picture of the plant, decoupage a picture of the plant, create symbols of the plant, write a poem, blessing, quote, or thought about the plant...the possibilities are endless.

If you do not have sealant on-hand, you can create plant markers for the indoor starts or houseplants. Other favorite garden markers are random toys/parts of toys and plastic animal figurines to "keep watch" over the plants.

(pictures coming soon!)