Welcome to the Festival of Food Carnival. This month, we celebrate Smoothies and Mocktails! Hosted by Diary of a First Child and Hybrid Rasta Mama, you're welcome to join us next time, or if you have a previously published recipe you'd like to share, add it to the linky below.
This is one in a series of guest posts by other bloggers. Read to the end for a longer biographical note on today's guest blogger, my partner and husband, Crackerdog Sam. From his mighty kitchen arsenal, today Sam offers a dairy-free, sweetener-free summer smoothie containing only four natural ingredients that's sure to refresh both kids and adults.
Guest post by Crackerdog Sam
We were first introduced to watermelon agua fresca (which is simply watermelon liquified in a blender) at a local Mexican restaurant several years ago and fell in love with the simplicity and taste. I, of course, had to experiment with different variations, and I really like this one: The addition of the mango gives it a smoothie consistency.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups watermelon cubes (1/4 of a personal watermelon)
- 1/3 cup mango cubes (about 1/2 a mango)
- 1/2 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves
- 6 ice cubes
Dietary/allergy notes:
Vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, egg-free, nut-free, sweetener-free. Well, look at it: It's just fruits and herbs!
Welcome to the June 2013 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Parenting in Theory vs. in Reality
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants are sharing how their ideas and methods of parenting have changed.
Here's the danger of blogging: You find yourself doing something that you know you wrote against at some point before…
As Mikko's gotten older — he just turned six — I've found my laissez-faire attitude about his (lack of) manners shifting into appointing myself instead his own private Courtesy Cop. And I had this nagging suspicion — more than a suspicion — that at some point I had written a blog post all about how I don't coach my kids to say "please" and "thank you," that I just model it. Yet here I have been, whispering to him, or saying outright, "Remember to say 'thank you'!" or "That's not a very nice way to ask; what would be a better way?"
I didn't really
want to write about this subject for the carnival, because — well, gee, how embarrassing! But let's delve in, shall we?
The past
Dropping the "say 'please'" script
Various excerpts from the post in the past:
We've gotten several compliments lately about how pleasant and agreeable our three-year-old is. He politely thanks people for giving him things. He always wants to help with whatever we're doing (whether it's helpful or not!). He gives affection freely and spontaneously, leaning over with an unexpected hug and "I love you, too, too, fweetie Mama" since I responded to his earlier "I love you"s with "I love you, too, sweetie." (The cute makes your teeth ache, doesn't it?)
…
We try not to (sometimes I slip up!) tell Mikko what to say to be socially acceptable. I never appreciated as a kid having something withheld until I remembered to "use the magic word" or being prompted with a whispered "Tell Grandma you love her!" It felt false to me, like a breach of manners rather than true sociability.
My theory — and it's not just my theory — is that humans are innately social creatures. They want to fit into their social group (their tribe). To specify this with children, children are always looking for ways they can cooperate within the social structure and model the behavior they see in older children and adults. This doesn't mean that every action they make is in line with what we want from them at all times. For one thing, we often don't want our babies acting like adults (trying to operate the lighter or turn on the stove). For another thing, they often miscalculate what is expected of them (not picking up on social cues and signals) or their own abilities to follow through (like being able to pour from a heavy pitcher). What it does mean is that, overall, barring anything that keeps them from taking part in the social group, children will act like little social scientists in finding their proper behavior within the group. They will observe what their elders are doing and try things out for themselves. They will self-correct if something they try goes badly. Of course, all of this takes time and repetition and is limited by their current developmental abilities, so they don't get it correct right away or every time. (And sometimes they simply choose their own unique paths!)
When it comes to manners, I don't teach Mikko how to be polite. I model it. (I hope!) I say "please" and "thank you," "excuse me" and "I'm sorry," to him, and to others in his presence. Despite not being "taught" manners, he has them, and he knows how to use them!
Sales through the links in this post go to support the work of my website and toward the incredible contributors to this bundle! Thank you so much.
The
Mindful Parenting eBundle Sale ends
TODAY! I can hardly believe we're at the end of this whirlwind two weeks, but that's what my calendar tells me. This is your
LAST CHANCE to get these
22 quality parenting e-products in one place! Time to stop dithering and
hop on over to get your copy of this bundle before it's gone!
The bundle costs only $24.95 — let's break down some math here.
My book is already worth $9.99. Some other resources are worth more than the bundle as a whole (!), but let's say they're worth about $10 on average.
If you were interested in buying even three of the resources this year, you'd come out far, far ahead by buying the bundle now instead. You don't necessarily need to read all 22 (amazing) titles, but there's no downside in having them available to you!
It's like
populating your mindful parenting library in one go. And you guys know me — you know I've vetted all these resources. I wouldn't be recommending them if I weren't serious about how life-changing they can be!
Want even
more incentive?
I've been working on developing some
new Activity Cards and am pleased to offer a
sampler pack of twenty for anyone who buys the bundle through
my affiliate link. These fun and educational flashcards will help you entertain your kidlets during any tedious situations. If you email me your receipt, I'll email you the PDF (for printing) and jpg (for mobile) versions of 20 cards. Yea!
Meanwhile, you'll be enjoying your bundle, hand-designed for the thoughtful parent: e-books, workshops, e-magazines, and audio with themes such as
creativity and play, peaceful guidance, mindfulness for mothers, children and food, self-care and relaxation, and more.
Check out all the contributors below — then
hurry to purchase!
Attachment Parenting International Teleseminar
Attachment Parenting isn’t new. In many ways, it is a return to the instinctual behaviors of our ancestors. In the last sixty years, the behaviors of attachment have been studied extensively by psychology and child development researchers, and more recently, by researchers studying the brain. This body of knowledge offers strong support for areas that are key to the optimal development of children, summarized in API’s Eight Principles of Parenting. Enjoy the exchange among the world’s leading experts in attachment parenting discussing API’s 8 Principles of Parenting, listen to their responses to questions of our time, and hear their answers to questions from the audience.
Panel experts include:
- Dr. William Sears
- Martha Sears
- Dr. James McKenna
- Ina May Gaskin
- Dr. Isabelle Fox
- Mary Ann Cahill
- Barbara Nicholson
- Lysa Parker
Relaxation Meditation (audio) — Amy Phoenix — lifetime access!!
Relaxation Meditation helps you access inner awareness and resolve, cultivating the space for true, lasting transformation. Relax into parenting as you enhance your relationship with yourself, your child, and life at the same time.
Welcome to the Sunday Surf, a tour of the
best blogposts I've read throughout the week.
Mikko and I went downtown to attend the Science Expo and Mini Makers Faire (for mini-inventors) yesterday. It
rocked. Since we're unschooling but inventions and science are not my bailiwick, I love that there are resources like this out there that can satisfy him.
 |
This is his typical non-smile for photos, but he was super proud of the light-up pin
he's sporting that he soldered himself. I was proud, too! I've never soldered a thing. |
And what do you think all that science-learning did for him?
 |
My little scientist is also a conservationist. He volunteered to clean up
all the trash around the bus stop because it would be "good for the environment." |
Woot! Science!
Good links to share!
I hear about {affiliate link}
this book from *everyone*, and I keep wanting/hoping we might implement these strategies. But also not wanting to disrupt my own bad habits. Hmm.
But, seriously y’all, I was skeptical at first about whether the tricks in this book would work for us. I have employed some aspects of attachment parenting, and one of them that I associate with the trend is to offer children choices and let them articulate their preferences and control aspects of their food world. If I had to pick one thing I’ve learned in the last week, it’s that the science does not agree; in fact, it suggests children aren’t capable of deciding what they should eat, and these decisions actually stress them out.
Interesting idea of offering chore sticks for extra spending money.
I believe in sharing honestly about breastfeeding, even the negative and ambivalent aspects.
This is one in a series of guest posts by other bloggers. Read to the end for a longer biographical note on today's guest blogger, Lucy H. Pearce of Dreaming Aloud. Lucy has perfectly summed up the experience of parenting — both delectable and distasteful — in one delicious metaphor.
Some links in this post are affiliate links that support the work of this site. Thank you!
Guest post by Lucy H. Pearce of Dreaming Aloud
Life for me as a mother is like a layer cake: I just can't jam it all in my mouth in one go. I can't savour its wholeness, the harmony of its completeness, the careful balance of the textures and flavours. I get all of one, and then all of another. I love it, I hate it. I want it forever, I can't bear another second…
I taste the tartness of tantrums, tiredness and despair at my lot. Red and raw as raspberry jam, the pips get stuck in my gums.
The rich oozing chocolate love of adoration hits me another moment. They are edibly good, my little cherubs. I shower them with kisses and thank the heavens for all my blessings.
And then there's lots of boring sponge - laundry, washing up, nagging them to get dressed, and brush their teeth, and lie down and go to sleep and don't hit your sister say sorry andwhatdoyouwantinyoursandwichtoday?
I'm Lauren Wayne, writer and natural parent. I embrace attached parenting with an emphasis toward green living. 
