too much good....

Every now and then a parent from our Steiner playgroup will ring me and say:

We aren't going to come today as my child is / children are vomiting/snotty/leaking from random orifice/etc.

And every now and then a parent from our Steiner playgroup will ring me and say:

We aren't going to come today as our family / I / my child / my children just need to have a day at home being quiet.

Have a think. Which one is the hard decision? Which one is the easy one. Which one gets made more often?

Which one is needed more often?

That decision - the one where instead of doing that really GOOD THING, or instead of doing the RIGHT THING, you instead stay home and do home life. 

That decision is the one that makes contented children. Sane parents. 

It builds children that can play alone and disappear off into their world of dreams. 

Children lying on the floor with a bit of something telling story after story to themselves. 

Children sat in the dirt digging and creating.

Holiday time is upon us people...

Go on, make the hard decision that becomes the easiest one you ever make...

Make it as often as you can.

And remember. It is easier to forget how to play than to remember - children don't disappear into a dreamy state in one day at home - especially if they have had a whizzy stimulated time of it lately - it takes a serious commitment to nothing - to home and home business.

Oh but it is worth it. Children who just disappear and do good self motivated wonderful things...

Say no. Stay home. Children, dirt, blocks, sticks, water, baskets of stuff and most importantly - time and space.
Set up little surprises. A few cups and a tea pot in an unexpected corner with a few bears and dolls waiting to be served tea. A little story scene set up in another corner - enough to tip a little someone off into play.

Go on - be one of those rebel parents - ignore them as much as you can and give them permission to just be.

Breath out.......

Aaaah.

oh, and a note. 

It is very easy to reach a state of great peace in the company of a chook - but don't despair, for those who do not have chooks, whilst noting that if at all possible a life with chooks is indeed a good life, you can still reach this state of peace without chooks.

Aaah. Child/chook meditation - one of my favourites.

Happy holidays for those entering that kind of country...

Say no these holidays.

Go slow these holidays.

Just be.

Raise children, who, with luck, in this fast and crazy world, might just have a chance of knowing how to slow down and just be.

Go well.

x

.