Sunday, May 8, 2016

My Little Artist (Letting Kids Be Themselves)

My son, Bug has never shown much interest in sports, or most group activities. He instead liked to draw, paint, study science and math. I have always just let him find his own path, and trusted that he would follow those activities which made him happy.
Well a few days ago he brought home a letter from his Art Teacher saying his artwork was entered in a small art show. We were invited to attend. I was excited and proud even if it seemed like this was just a cute little grade school art show that probably displayed most if not all the school children's art.
When we arrived at the art show, we were stunned. It was artwork from children between UPK and 8th grade from every school in the County.  Each school district was allowed to submit an art piece from at most 16 students across those 9 grades. From Bug's Elementary school there were only 5 students selected from UPK through 2nd grade. Bug was 1 of those 5. I was so taken aback. I had no clue. When we found his artwork I was even more stunned. It was so beautiful. I was amazed that a first grader, MY first grader could make something that nice.
He found his passion, found something he loves! In an area where sports are pushed on pretty much every kid, especially boys, my kid said, "No, I like to paint". He is really good at it too! I am so beyond proud of him!


Mother's Day

Well I may have had the best of intentions but alas, work, sick kids and life got the better of me again and this blog was left to rot again. It wasn't until this morning that I was inspired to really pick up the torch again. A friend started reading my blog and she was inspired by it. Her sharing that with me meant so much.
Today is Mother's Day. I have spent a lot of years celebrating this day a lot of different ways, pregnant, chasing a toddler, grieving, about to give birth, and now with two kids, not babies, not even really a kid and a baby, but really two full on kids (or at least as much as a 2 yr old is a kid), today my heart is very full.
Yesterday the kids picked dandelions for tea and jelly, while I worked on prepping the garden and planting a little. We danced barefoot in the grass and watched bumblebees fly from flower to flower, their chubby bodies barely able to fly. We watched squirrels and birds chasing through the trees. We mixed the compost in the bin and began prepping it to be taken out for the garden.

Today the kids each gave me their sweet hand made gifts and we walked down to the theater, enjoying a brisk but sunny walk through town. Who needs to drive when you can walk. We passed a lot of litter a long the way, but I had forgotten a garbage bag. My Bug though spent the walk telling me exactly why litter is so bad and why people need to stop doing it. My heart swelled knowing I am raising him right.
All in all I am proud and joyful watching my kids grow on this Mother Day. They will be part of a new hopefully much more Green generation.
 The day ended with my almost 2 yr old nursing in my arms while we cuddled on the couch. That was the best moment of all!



Monday, February 22, 2016

I Am Back!

I took some time off from The Green Mommy because in addition to a new full time job as a teacher, I was raising a Kindergartner and a baby. Well the longer I had nothing to write about the harder it was to come back. The last few months I was writing it was few and far between. I last wrote during World Breastfeeding Week in August.
Well now it is almost March, I am still happily working my dream job teaching toddlers in my own classroom. I am coming up one my one year anniversary with this company. Our son is now 6.5 and happily doing well in 1st Grade. We also are quickly approaching our daughter's 2nd birthday. I can not believe that 2 years ago right now we were entering the 3rd trimester and anxiously awaiting her arrival.
However this time of year also brings sad anniversaries too. In 6 days it will be the anniversary of the day we lost our middle child Asya Rose, and in 11 days, on March 4th, it will be her birthday. On March 1st we also celebrate a sad birthday, one that used to bring us joy but this year will bring only pain. Our first baby, our furbaby Odin "Bobo" would have turned 8. Instead in May it will have been 1 year since we lost him.
March also brings with it starting seeds for the garden. Something that the last 2 years has been pushed to the side. Last year I was starting a new job and 2 years ago I was heavily pregnant and giving birth. I would like this year to return to not only focusing much more on the gardens but on this blog, green living, and education my children about those topics.
Which brings me to another point, in 7 days I will have been breastfeeding my daughter for 21 months. I am endlessly proud to have made it this far. That means that total between the two kids I now say I have breastfed for a total of 30 months. That is something to truly be proud of. It has not been easy, lately it has been actually hard, and I sense the end is coming soon, but I will keep going as long as she needs me to. I just hope her need end before I officially can not take it anymore.
Yet sad or happy I do love this time of year. March always brings with a sense that winter is ending, spring will return, green will come back eventually. I love celebrating St. Patrick's Day for that very reason, even though it has little to do with why people celebrate. I love wearing that much green this time of year. Easter is always not far behind and with it come baby animals, eggs, rebirth. The idea that under all this snow lies green grass and flowers. That new life is coming.
So with that in mind I am going to try to rebirth this blog and also the facebook page. I would like to see new readers find us and old readers find us again. Let's let this spring be a fresh start for Green Living.

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