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Archives for April 2013

April 29, 2013 By gwynyth

Eight

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My first baby turns eight tomorrow. EIGHT. Each year I swear the number seems as heavy as can be, but man oh man this one feels big. We seem to have left behind the unpredictable moods and outbursts of yesteryear, and entered into the reasonable golden years of childhood (with one anyway)! All of a sudden, requests to set the table, help out a brother, or get ready for bed are met with an anti-climactic, “O.k.”. Or at the most, a half-hearted, “Oh man”  “Mo-om,” or “Just a little bit later”? Who is this eager to please, easy to live with fellow?

As much as I love the new dynamic around here, I am also keenly aware that this too is fleeting. Its easy to miss time passing when you’re in the thick of melt-downs and power struggles, but in this new light, I realize we only have a few more years of this innocent childhood to savour before adolescence throws us back into the angst ridden storm.  Of course I knew that the fog of baby, and early childhood would pass, but I don’t think I ever really believed it until now. As an added bonus, this knowledge makes it  much easier to take the younger ones’ shenanigans with a grain of salt.

The next few years with big kid promise to be ‘EPIC’ ( his expression du jour). At this age, he can swim, skateboard, and ride a bike. He is reading, creating, and joining his first baseball team-there is a lot of fun to be had! The best part though, is that he is open to our guidance and still welcomes snuggles-at home anyway.

What will we make of  these tender years? Now more than ever, I feel a great responsibility to make a positive impression . What do we want him to leave his childhood knowing and feeling?

The answer will be different in every family, but I think it is worth asking. For me, this means:

  • Putting family at the centre of our lives. This is one of the main reasons we homeschool-though not the only way to achieve this goal. I want my kids to know and love each other deeply. I want to spend time engaged with them in their favourite pursuits. I hope that in doing so, not only will we have a lot of fun together, but that they will want to continue spending time with us as they get older.
  • Knowing that they are loved, unconditionally, and are free to be their truest selves.
  • An unquenchable curiosity, passion for learning, and adventurous spirit.
  •  Kindness and compassion towards all people, creatures and the earth.

Of course we strive to model these values in the day to day, and often come up short, but I think it is helpful to clarify and hold them close while we still have our kids attention.

Lets not bear the weight of this alone though! These golden years are just right for welcoming mentors into our children’s lives, especially when homeschooling-we need breaks too! We are grateful to have found a naturalist program that puts community building and mentorship high on their list of priorities. Is there something similar in your community?  Are there Family members-aunties, uncles, and grandparents in your lives that can act as mentors to your children? A trusted adult who shares a similar passion with your child?  Welcome them into the fold.

Above all, no matter what the age of your kids, remember that the days are long but the years are short. Make the most of what you’ve got!

Heres to a new chapter with my sweet boy, let the adventure begin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 26, 2013 By gwynyth

beginnings

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Good Morning!

I’m over at The Happiest Home today sharing my story in their Path to Motherhood series.
Check it out!

April 25, 2013 By gwynyth

Making The Time

 

I got serious about setting time aside for my book project a little under year ago, deciding that I want to be finished with my first draft-no matter how terrible, by my birthday this year (October 2nd- now you can hold me to it too).  I know that many professional writers will say  it should only take a season to knock out a first draft, but I have three young kids and I homeschool.  I get that you distance yourself from your story and lose the flow somewhat when you take too long, but slow and steady is the only way this is going to happen for me at this point in my life. I’ll take it.

Why have I started a blog in the midst of barley scrapping together enough time to write my story? Good question! I’ve been asking myself the same thing lately.  My theory is that by having a blog, even just committing to write once or twice a week for it, sets up a writer’s frame of mind. It gets me motivated to sit down, face a blank page, and practice my craft. It offers a sense of accountability, even if no one is reading it. Writing is kind of like exercise; I love it once I’m doing it, I just need the push to get started. As soon as I’m writing out a blog post, working on my draft becomes very appealing.

But between toddler exploits, never-ending snacks and meals, homeschooling and plain hanging with my family, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of time or energy left. I don’t want to just make excuses though, so I’ve come up with a few strategies to maximize my writing time. Here’s what I’m trying out:

  •  In times of inspiration, I’ll sneak moments here, there and everywhere. Sometimes I submerge myself into a project and let other things go a little. I have to be mindful not to neglect  other parts of my life too much.
  •  A compromise to pulling out the laptop every time the kids are distracted, is to keep a notebook and pen handy at all times, even chucking it into my purse when we go out. Its easy to jot down an idea that comes at less opportune moments, getting the essence of it down and fleshing it out later.
  •  Read a page or two in quiet moments, listen to audio books on solo dog walks and forget about TV.  Reading is part of writing, so this is ‘slacking off’ I can feel good about.
  •  Write fast. I have read/heard this advice many places in my quest for writerly knowledge. The theory goes that when you write quickly, blowing over the page without hesitation,  the quality of writing is often better than when you mull over  and nit-pick your way through it. I suppose this is the wisdom behind finishing a draft in one season. I’m using this as a way to reach smaller goals, like writing a complete chapter in one session. It certainly gets me out of my head and into the story.
  •  Set aside two larger chunks of time a week to make solid progress. I would really like to become an early riser. I picture myself alone, with my coffee and words, and think that would be the perfect way to start my day. So far my 5am self disagrees, so I am going to experiment with writing after bedtime this week and see if my brain co-operates.

 

Parents, Homeschoolers, Writers, Creatives,

How do you fit your own passions around your busy life?

 

 

 

 

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