Steady Mom

learning: let's talk books....

As part of my new authenticity, I'm sticking with a subject I know and love for this post - children's books!

This week we've been reading Henry Climbs a Mountain by D.B. Johnson.

I think this series of four books (with more on the way) is truly amazing. They combine an intriguing story for 4-8 year-olds with the historical account of Henry David Thoreau's life. In this book the character Henry (a bear) goes to jail for refusing to pay taxes to a state that supports slavery.

The children and I had some intense discussions following this reading about the evils of slavery, what it used to mean, what it means now, and how our family is helping through our work with Love146. And all from a story about a bear - genius. I can't say enough good things about this series, and I've just made a decision: I'm off to buy all four books to add to our permanent library.

The inspiration for this particular book came from one of Thoreau's passages in Walden: "One afternoon, near the end of the first summer, when I went to the village to get a shoe from the cobbler's, I was seized and put into jail, because I did not pay a tax to, or recognize the authority of, the state which buys and sells men, women, and children, like cattle at the door of its senate-house."

Incredible.

My rating: 5/5
Kids' rating (yep, I asked them): 3 thumbs up

(P.S. And if you're interested in learning more about Thoreau, check out his blog!)

enthusiasm: an authentic mother

This post began about art, but ended up about authenticity. It all started when I checked out a book from the library called Crafts from Salt Dough. I picked out a project making flower necklaces out of salt dough, which you then bake and paint. Sounds fun, right? Nope.

Now, I think this is a fun book with great projects for children ages six and up. But in this case, I ended up doing yet another project alone as there were so many steps my little people couldn't help with. (Oh, and you do know that I have three kids, right? And not even one of them is over age six? I think when I planned this project I had a mental block and thought I only had one child!!!!) 

So there I was, alone, using a knife to cut flowers out of dough while children ran, chased each other, screamed, and played around me. My kind and gracious husband approached and gently said, "Um, why are you doing this? It doesn't seem very you."

Great question! And I couldn't quite remember the answer. Of course I like trying new things with my kiddos (sometimes). I thought it might be cool to experiment and then blog about different art projects. And it's inspiring to watch people who naturally have art flowing through their bloodstream.
But standing there stressfully clutching my salt dough, I realized I was being inauthentic. And to blog about the project without mentioning that little fact would be, well, a lie. So here I am, openly admitting the art fraud I tried to pull off.

Authenticity is one of the most important qualities of a mother. We all have different talents and when we use them well, we know it. We feel satisfied and our children enjoy being the recipients of our 'gifts.' But children can smell phony a mile away. "Just be yourself" is one of the lessons mothers aim to teach their little ones. I guess I need to practice what I preach, then, right?

So this mommy will focus on the things that make me the best mom for my little people. Things that inspire me. Things I have a contagious passion about that I can pass on. Like reading, writing, discussing deep thoughts, and helping children in need.

And I'll gladly pay someone else to do the in-depth art projects. Any volunteers?

steady thought for the day

(photo by Desirea Rodgers)

“Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it."

- Gandhi

what is seen: what is unseen

I started this series when I began blogging two months ago. Because in our lives as mothers, things are not always as they appear! You can check out other posts here and here.

what is seen:

Sister and brother sweetly having some snuggle time.

what is unseen:

Left-out brother whining at the foot of the bed!