Grocery Store Meltdown


Catch and Store Energy, Choose Small and Slow Solutions, From Pattern to Details, Inner Permaculture, Make No Waste, Obtain a Yield, Parenting, People Care, Permaculture Ethics, Permaculture Principles, Self-Regulate and Accept Feedback

Today is birthday week at our house.  My daughter, now 2, was born on April 6th.  Today is my eldest son’s birthday, he is now 6 and tomorrow, April 9th my second son turns 4.  Needless to say, birthday week is a crazy one around here.  I try to make each child’s birthday special for […]

April 8, 2016

Setting Limits with Children Effectively


Choose Small and Slow Solutions, Create Vision and Respond to Change, Cultivate Diversity, Make No Waste, Maximize the Edges, Observe and Interact, Obtain a Yield, Parenting, People Care, Permaculture Ethics, Permaculture Principles, Self-Regulate and Accept Feedback

When I read about respectful parenting or mindful parenting I was always confused about setting limits.  There are very few examples in the literature, which makes it hard to figure it out.  Once we did away with punishments, I found myself at a loss for what to do.  When I was no longer relying on […]

March 31, 2016

First Steps


Catch and Store Energy, Choose Small and Slow Solutions, Create Vision and Respond to Change, Inner Permaculture, Integrate, Maximize the Edges, Observe and Interact, Obtain a Yield, People Care, Permaculture Ethics, Permaculture for Children, Permaculture Principles, Self-Regulate and Accept Feedback, Use and Value Gifts from Nature

My littlest has started walking.  Gone are the days where she must be carried, but then again, gone are the days that she must be carried!  Change always means I am leaving something behind.  Sometimes I am happy to move on and release what no longer serves me.  But at other times, change leaves me […]

July 30, 2015

Defining Character


Choose Small and Slow Solutions, Create Vision and Respond to Change, From Pattern to Details, Inner Permaculture, Observe and Interact, Parenting, People Care, Permaculture Ethics, Permaculture Principles, Self-Regulate and Accept Feedback

There have been several occasions when people have made comments to me about how the personalities of my children are related to the order in which they were born into our family.  I resisted this idea, thinking that the stereotypes and reductionism of this approach are not helpful.  Not only that but I have a […]

July 14, 2015

Unfixing Fixing


Forest Gardening, Inner Permaculture, Integrate, Don't Segregate, Life Choices, Observe and Interact, Obtain a Yield, Parenting, People Care, Permaculture Ethics, Permaculture Principles, Self-Regulate and Accept Feedback, Use and Value Gifts from Nature

It is my tendency to want to fix things.  Broken things.  But also things which cannot be broken, like uncomfortable situations, heavy emotions and people.  My two year old tests me on this issue multiple times a day.  He is a sensitive soul, feeling everything to its deepest possible level.  I have the deepest admirations for […]

February 26, 2015