Comments for Planting Dandelions http://www.plantingdandelions.com More Field Notes from a Semi-Domesticated Life Thu, 17 May 2012 14:17:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Motherhood isn’t a desk job. It’s vaudeville. by Jen http://www.plantingdandelions.com/motherhood-isnt-a-desk-job/#comment-4441 Jen Thu, 17 May 2012 14:17:27 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3530#comment-4441 I have to admit to almost always doing the whole birthday extravaganza at the latest place - but honestly, it's for basically the opposite reason than what you described. I get completely stressed out about having groups of kids and parents to our house. That feels a lot more ... vulnerable isn't the word but something like that. Like you're putting yourself out there more in a world where you're exactly right, it often feels like a competition. If I have it elsewhere, then you don't have that element. But one of my best friends always has the home party and the kids love it. She also hosts parties and get togethers of the adult kind quite frequently. I don't have a phobia about having people to my house, but a true social gathering sends me into obsessive worry about how it will go and if everyone will enjoy it. And I should get over that, for some of the same reasons you described. I love "We should applaud each other. Not for best in show, or showing off, but just for showing up." When we make it through another year mostly unscathed and with a healthy, happy child(ren), then we do deserve the applause. ; ) I have to admit to almost always doing the whole birthday extravaganza at the latest place – but honestly, it’s for basically the opposite reason than what you described.

I get completely stressed out about having groups of kids and parents to our house. That feels a lot more … vulnerable isn’t the word but something like that. Like you’re putting yourself out there more in a world where you’re exactly right, it often feels like a competition. If I have it elsewhere, then you don’t have that element. But one of my best friends always has the home party and the kids love it. She also hosts parties and get togethers of the adult kind quite frequently. I don’t have a phobia about having people to my house, but a true social gathering sends me into obsessive worry about how it will go and if everyone will enjoy it. And I should get over that, for some of the same reasons you described.

I love “We should applaud each other. Not for best in show, or showing off, but just for showing up.” When we make it through another year mostly unscathed and with a healthy, happy child(ren), then we do deserve the applause. ; )

]]> Comment on The Champ. by Sheila@Chinaberry http://www.plantingdandelions.com/mindfulness-with-children/#comment-4429 Sheila@Chinaberry Tue, 15 May 2012 18:51:12 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3496#comment-4429 What a good job you did starting again after a little mis-step, which we all have by the way. And those encouraging words you said ended up having you little one singing We are the Champions, my, how wonderful! Good for you! What a good job you did starting again after a little mis-step, which we all have by the way. And those encouraging words you said ended up having you little one singing We are the Champions, my, how wonderful! Good for you!

]]> Comment on Motherhood isn’t a desk job. It’s vaudeville. by Ann http://www.plantingdandelions.com/motherhood-isnt-a-desk-job/#comment-4422 Ann Tue, 15 May 2012 00:32:15 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3530#comment-4422 BRA.VO. Love the message. Thank you for lending LTYM your story and your beautiful spark, Kyran! Honored, Ann BRA.VO.

Love the message. Thank you for lending LTYM your story and your beautiful spark, Kyran!

Honored,

Ann

]]> Comment on Motherhood isn’t a desk job. It’s vaudeville. by donna http://www.plantingdandelions.com/motherhood-isnt-a-desk-job/#comment-4389 donna Sat, 12 May 2012 00:47:46 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3530#comment-4389 Authenticity. There are soooo many ways we run from it.. Fashion. Electronics. Vacations. What 'real' interest/love/engagement could we swap our attention for other than...keeping up or competing. If we mom's are worn down/out, it's because our attention is in something artificial that is not nourishing us. Our favorite simple home birthday party activity is the butter game: each pair of kids gets a clear jar with cream in it. The contest is to see which team makes butter first. This takes lots of movement and jumping up and down. They figure out their favorite methods. Authenticity. There are soooo many ways we run from it.. Fashion. Electronics. Vacations.

What ‘real’ interest/love/engagement could we swap our attention for other than…keeping up or competing. If we mom’s are worn down/out, it’s because our attention is in something artificial that is not nourishing us.
Our favorite simple home birthday party activity is the butter game: each pair of kids gets a clear jar with cream in it. The contest is to see which team makes butter first. This takes lots of movement and jumping up and down. They figure out their favorite methods.

]]> Comment on Motherhood isn’t a desk job. It’s vaudeville. by Alexandra http://www.plantingdandelions.com/motherhood-isnt-a-desk-job/#comment-4384 Alexandra Fri, 11 May 2012 20:54:29 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3530#comment-4384 Beautiful cast, even more beautiful words. Congrats to all, and thank you, for sharing your wisdom and love. Also: lovin' the cherries in the snow lips. xo Beautiful cast, even more beautiful words.

Congrats to all, and thank you, for sharing your wisdom and love.

Also: lovin’ the cherries in the snow lips.

xo

]]> Comment on The Champ. by Margot http://www.plantingdandelions.com/mindfulness-with-children/#comment-4368 Margot Thu, 10 May 2012 14:35:31 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3496#comment-4368 I love this story! Re-entry at our house is always difficult. I have a 20 minute commute to decompress and leave my work day behind me. That is critical for me. On days when I work from home, I still take 20 minutes to make my own transition first. Then I pick the kids up and we talk about how their day was and what we are going to do/eat/enjoy that night. My three year old already knows that's the time where she gets to make requests for the evening and we'll usually work them in. The biggest part for me is to have a plan. I don't always follow the plan, but without it I feel frenzied and lost. Never a good combo for enjoying my family in the evening. I love this story! Re-entry at our house is always difficult. I have a 20 minute commute to decompress and leave my work day behind me. That is critical for me. On days when I work from home, I still take 20 minutes to make my own transition first. Then I pick the kids up and we talk about how their day was and what we are going to do/eat/enjoy that night. My three year old already knows that’s the time where she gets to make requests for the evening and we’ll usually work them in.

The biggest part for me is to have a plan. I don’t always follow the plan, but without it I feel frenzied and lost. Never a good combo for enjoying my family in the evening.

]]> Comment on The Champ. by Lesley http://www.plantingdandelions.com/mindfulness-with-children/#comment-4363 Lesley Wed, 09 May 2012 17:21:56 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3496#comment-4363 Such a wonderful story. Your champion has a champion: You! Such a wonderful story. Your champion has a champion: You!

]]> Comment on The Champ. by tamara http://www.plantingdandelions.com/mindfulness-with-children/#comment-4356 tamara Tue, 08 May 2012 23:55:58 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3496#comment-4356 I actually love this time of day! It turns out to be my 'half-way-point'. My husband is gone to work at this time of the day and works in the evening, so it's just me. I am at home, so when my 4 kids come in from school, even if I am busy with something - I stop to ask each of them about their days, and I have a little break from what I have been doing. (before starting into my 'second shift', of after school stuff, dinner, dishes etc..) With 4 teenagers, it is sometimes the best time to 'connect', especially if I stop, and sit down to listen. It tends to offset the times when they don't feel like 'sharing' with a parent, as well as the "Oh, Mother.... (roll of the eyes) times! :D I actually love this time of day! It turns out to be my ‘half-way-point’. My husband is gone to work at this time of the day and works in the evening, so it’s just me. I am at home, so when my 4 kids come in from school, even if I am busy with something – I stop to ask each of them about their days, and I have a little break from what I have been doing. (before starting into my ‘second shift’, of after school stuff, dinner, dishes etc..)
With 4 teenagers, it is sometimes the best time to ‘connect’, especially if I stop, and sit down to listen. It tends to offset the times when they don’t feel like ‘sharing’ with a parent, as well as the “Oh, Mother…. (roll of the eyes) times! :D

]]> Comment on The Champ. by Alexandra http://www.plantingdandelions.com/mindfulness-with-children/#comment-4355 Alexandra Tue, 08 May 2012 22:11:39 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3496#comment-4355 Honestly? What keeps me mindful in my children's presence is the hope of how they will talk about me when I'm gone. Honestly?
What keeps me mindful in my children’s presence is the hope of how they will talk about me when I’m gone.

]]> Comment on The Champ. by marilee pittman http://www.plantingdandelions.com/mindfulness-with-children/#comment-4354 marilee pittman Tue, 08 May 2012 19:17:40 +0000 http://www.plantingdandelions.com/?p=3496#comment-4354 This makes me feel all is right with the world :-) This makes me feel all is right with the world :-)

]]>