~Oranges (no, not octopus!)~
Boring, eh? Well, I love oranges (and all citrus fruit really). My glass of orange juice in the morning is a little bit of sunshine to start my day! I’m grateful for citrus fruit because clementines were the only thing I could stomach for nearly 20 weeks at the beginning of my pregnancy with Morgaine. They are nutritious and delicious (or is that a cereal commercial or something?).
~Mentors~
I think that having lost my Mum at such a pivotal time in my life (I was twelve) I’ve clung on to strong female role models to help guide me through life. I am so fortunate to have at least three women who’ve nurtured me and helped me grow in different areas of my life.
In high school I was fortunate to have a teacher that helped keep me afloat when I was facing some challenges. She was there to listen to me. She was supportive. She went far beyond the call of duty. She’d write me sayings/quotes to carry with me and I still have a little bag with all the slips of papers that she’d given to me my last year ofhighschool. On of the most influential poems being Portia Nelson autobiography in 5 short chapters….
I
“I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes me a long time to get out.
III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in. It’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault. I get out immediately.
IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
V
I walk down another street.”
This teacher helped me start on the journey down another street but it wasn’t easy and I fought it, and sometimes her hand, tooth and nail. We lost touch after I graduated but I will forever be grateful for the care that she showed to me.
I’m also grateful to a colleague and friend of mine. She helped me find my voice. She got me interested in helping the community. She taught me (and many others) a new way of thinking. She lit the fire of activism in my heart. I talked to people I never thought I’d talk to and took part in activities that I never would have seen my meek little self taking part in. I thank her for showing me the bigger picture and helping me be a part of it for change and for others.
Finally, I have to give thanks to a friend and colleague of mine who was nurturing in the way of a mother and gave me the gentle touch (as a professional body work therapist) that I was so craving in my life. With this work I feel like I was finally able to heal the part of me that was crying out for a mother to love me. While she helped me see how I was clinging to mother figures she was also aware enough to kick me out of the nest so to speak and to my surprise I landed on my own two feet so much better than I thought I would. There’s no way I’ll forget some of the e-mails she’s sent me and I’d sent her (I swear she’s so cool that she was totally down with me talking BIG to her in one memorable e-mail that made me grow up about 5 years in 10 minutes….man, it felt good!) Thank you, my friend.
I hope that all girls (and boys, too) out there have a couple people in their lives that will be willing to stand by them through good and bad and ugly. Mentors can make such a difference in someone’s lives. I also hope that I have the opportunity to reach out and touch another as these three phenomenal ladies have touch me.
~Letters~
I don’t know if I am grateful for letters but I know I LOVE them. I don’t receive near as many asI wish I did but that’s alright. A nice e-mail is good but there is something special about a handwritten note or card, too.
I also like the other kind of letters….you know, the ones you join together to form words, so that you can join the words together to make stories (and blog posts). Oh yes, letters are good!
~Kindness~
I’ve had a few people drastically change the course of my life with just a little kindness. I also really appreciate all the little acts of kindness that happen each and every day in my house. It is heartwarming to see my little ones treat each other with kindness and respect and I hope that these are qualities that will follow them through their lives. I think that if everyone tried just a little harder to say or do something kind, instead of criticizing or judging, that the world would be a different place. Just a little smile can make a world of difference!
~Jolly Jumper~
For those moments when I just can’t keep up with my inquisitive one-year-old. Ruadhán will soon be too big for it but I say that we got our 30 dollars worth out of it.
~Jigsaw Puzzles~
I remember doing jigsaw puzzles with my parents by the fire on cold winter evenings. It always makes me smile to remember those times. We’d have on some good ol’ country western or Newfie songs and would just enjoy each others company. Maybe a tradition worth starting with my own children.
~Inquisitive Kids~
From Ruadhán needing to put everything in his mouth to Morgaine’s desire to mix, stir, move, and grove and Liam’s endless stream of questions, I am grateful to have children that always keep me on my toes! They keep me thinking about things and learning new stuff. They keep me moving and out and about. They are a joy to teach and watch grow and I am so happy to be a part of their life!
~Homeschooling~
I’ve met so many wonderful people because of our decision to homeschool. I’ve had the opportunity to become involved in things that I normally wouldn’t have been able to do. I get to cuddle on the couch and read books to my kiddies in the middle of the day. I don’t have to worry about packing lunches or getting kids on the school bus. My kids are learning about things that interest them and are working at their own pace without pressure. We read under the trees in the summer and take pyjama days in the winter. I really, REALLY love homeschooling.
~Ho Mamas~
Without this group of brutally honest women I don’t know if I would have had the courage to make the changes in my family that we’ve made over the years. They’ve questioned, they’ve brought up wonderful points and they’ve shared stories and love (to me and to each other). They taught me to question society and make our own path. I parent differently with their knowledge then I may have if we hadn’t met six years ago (or rather, it probably would have taken me a lot longer to come to the same conclusions on my own). The group has quieted down quite a bit over the years but I am thankful for my crunchy Mama friends! You’ve taught me so much!
~Google~
As a homeschooling family, I admit that we use Google A LOT. I like that the searches seem to be relevant to what I’m looking for and that I don’t have to go through a million and one links to find something worthwhile. The kids often ask to Google things (since when did Google become a verb?) We are very much fans of Google Earth and quite enjoy that as a family activity. I, personally, enjoy Google Analytics. Yes, we love Google.
~Fresh Food~
We love to eat in this house and we try to prepare almost everything from scratch so I am very thankful for fresh food. I’m shocked at the cost of our food here in Nova Scotia but the alternative of feeding the kids junk food isn’t at all appealing. For a couple of weeks we’ve been eating less on the healthful side. Not garbage, but lots of bread and pasta and finally yesterday we made it to the store for fruits and meats So yummy and good, I have to say. I cannot wait until I can get into the garden to start growing my own veggies again soon. You cannot beat fresh and local!
I am grateful that my children always have enough to eat and that we can provide nourishing meals for them on a daily basis. I hope that when they grow up they will remember the care and love that went into the meals that were prepared for them. It is one of my gifts to my sweet children and I’m happy to have quality ingredients to use when so much of the world (and even local families) go without….
~Ergo Baby Carrier~
I am so VERY grateful for my baby carriers, especially my Ergo. If I did not have my Ergo then I would miss out on doing a lot of things with my older children. I would also have a significantly messier house. I am so glad that with the help of the Ergo I can be the attachment parent that I’ve always been but still remain active enough to do most everything that I want to do with my older children as well. I cannot imagine trying to get the kids to and from activities and working on projects with them while having to balance the baby as well. He is totally content to hang out on my back for hours at a time (and I am grateful for that, too!). This carrier has really been a sanity saver for this family.
~Wee boy resting on my back as I prepared this post earlier this morning~