by paige hilfer on February 9, 2010
Yes, I know it’s quite a ways into the new year, and I’m just getting back into the “business” swing of things. Believe me, this blog was a hard one to write. It’s been on my mind for a long while and, as with many things on one’s “to do” list, the longer I put it off, the harder it was to sit down and get it done.
My focus this year will continue to be on helping to lead children on the journey to self-expression through writing. I am hoping to really focus on helping parents and teachers learn how to use a child’s natural environment to help create inspiration for their writing.
I would love to introduce to you a fabulous organization called GREEN HEARTS. Their website is http://www.greenheartsinc.org/ . They have a really great resource called ”A Parents’ Guide to Nature Play” . This is free for you to download (please consider donating to this wonderful organization). The following excerpt is from their website:
Green Hearts is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to restoring and strengthening the bonds between children and nature. We believe that frequent, unstructured childhood play in natural settings is a crucial stage in the development of life-long conservation values – and thus helps lead to adult conservation behaviors. This kind of “nature play” is now an endangered part of American childhood. Green Hearts’ mission is to help bring it back.
Thanks to The Motherhood Muse - http://www.themotherhoodmuse.com/ - for turning me on to this great site.
by paige hilfer on November 24, 2009
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!
I am happy to say that this holiday season has snuck up on me. I’m usually the one who is making lists for Christmas gifts in October, buying holiday decorations the day after Halloween, and stressing over which Santa (or how many) to take the kids to see. I fill my holiday calendar early so that I don’t miss out on that perfect cookie decorating party or ornament making event with the kids. My intentions are always good. I just want to create memories of the holidays like I had growing up.
I did say that “I am happy to say that the holiday season has snuck up on me” didn’t I? Yes, by that I mean that, instead of feeling stressed about being behind on my planning this season, I sort of feel a sense of relief that nothing is planned. I’m not going to over plan this year. In reality, when I think of my own Christmas memories, it’s about the peace I felt in my house around the holidays. The sense of family, the time for gratitude and love to be the center of attention, not the decorations or gifts or multiple Santa sitings. I remember the same decorations that my Mom put out in the same places year after year, not the newest talking, singing, noisy rockin’ Santa doll. I remember my Mom baking cookies and my sister and I joining in when we wanted to lick the bowl or spread some frosting on a sugar cookie snowman. We didn’t need to go to a special cookie making event.
I think some years I still may go “all out” with gifts, events, and such, but this year I will take just a little more time each day to tell my children what Christmas is really about. I will tell them how much I love them and why each of them is special to me. I will focus on the joy of living each day with the crying, laughing, screaming, hitting, hugging, loving, napping, and sparkle in their eyes. For those who can do all of this AND all of the other “things” too, I’m a little jealous. Maybe next year I’ll be there!
