Nurturing Spirit

It has been a while since I have written a blog post, as it happens.  I wondered if I would ever write again!  With a new baby, well he’s almost 2, and with two big boys in all kinds of activities, the time just flies by.  Not long after I wrote my last post I also took a Facebook break till just a few days ago.  So all summer things were a bit quieter, focused, hot, full of movement and stillness all at the same time, and full of listening, deep spiritual listening.

The spiritual mundane had us waking, getting our chores done and schooling. Norse Myths for 4th grade, and Saints/Fables for 2nd.  We did tons of math review from last year in Circle time, helping the boys get a more solid foundation before we set forth diving deeper into the four processes for 2nd, and fractions and long division in 4th.  Grammar has strengthened as we summarize our stories, so I am pretty happy about that as a mama-teacher. Currently, we are on a two week break. I need to recalibrate.  Process.  Digest.  Breathe.  Plan.

Most of the summer we went to the pool at least once a week and also had swim lessons, where my middle child, very cautious, has made a leap forward finally. He’s always been cautious and it was important for me to gain his trust and not just toss him in the pool.  That technique works for some people, but not for us. Little Wolf has also been improving his swimming skills with side stroke, and backstroke and is quickly becoming Big Wolf, but he teeters between a young kid and a teen.  So we try to support his growth while he’s in-between.  Even though he is showing his autonomy, he still needs us to stay strong for him, to hold boundaries and to give him lots of hugs.  Swimming has been wonderful medicine. Water allows our bodies to relax and stretch.  Papa meets us there after work and shows us how much of an otter he Really is, which is good bonding with the boys. We will continue to go to the pool once a week through the rest of our school cycle, which is around 52 weeks, ending and beginning around Vernal Equinox and Easter.  We school year round with proper breaks.

Little Fox, my middle guy started violin in February and has had two recitals already.  So not only is he growing himself in the pool, but he is also learning a stringed instrument, which delights me.  And he has been learning to read fluently, so mama is quite proud.  We’ve all really grown this year.

Little Baby Bear has been running and playing with his big brothers and we have started him on a daily rhythm.  He wakes and has his breakfast, plays and then Little Fox walks him to feed the rabbit.  I love how he carries the basket with hay and sunflower seeds and any leftover food from the house that is appropriate to gift our French Angora rabbit.  After all that, we have snacks and Little Bear plays or nurses while I teach the big boys.  Then, we all have lunch and take an afternoon break.  Little Bear has usually worn himself out and begs to nap, which is when I try to rest as well.  He has his four canine teeth coming in right now, so he has been worn out by 10 or 11am for the last week or two.  Little Bear has his amber necklace and we’ve used the homepathic teething gel a few times to help him out. I like to give him foods like apples to eat on, which probably helps massage his erupting gums.

Our family business has been busy and we have basically kept our heads down, so to speak to work-work-work.  It was not an easy move to the new location last fall, but we made it happen.  Since then we have been catching up and getting even. Now we are building forth on a strong foundation.  Papa Bear is going to have a piece in a show in October, so we are spending extra nights each week preparing for that to happen.  Currently, he is trying to be open for the 4th Friday Art Hop series.

We went to Anna Maria Island in May with my dad and had such a great time. The boys went to a music camp for a few days this summer as well , so Little Bear and I got to go on some field trips alone.  Also, we went up north to visit Papa Bear’s mama, and his sister flew in from Germany, so all the cousins had a blast playing in the water and mud.  Mighty fine it was and very precious memories I will have of this summer.

I will leave you with a few pictures and will hopefully get in the swing of writing again.  I miss it.