vol.2 no. 1 winter 2012
w h o le
fam i ly
magazine l i v i ng
Conscious Close-Up with Simplicity Parenting’s Kim John Payne
Peace by Example fostering a culture of peaceful warriors one breath at a time
Virtual Inspiration family bloggers talk seasonal celebrations
Food for Not just say “no” to GMOs
Amy Jo Johnson on mothering and creativity
also: seasonal eating 5 tips for a healthier kitchen prevent +solve breastfeeding problems are you or a loved one a six-sensory?
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from the editor
notes Welcome to the winter edition of Bamboo Magazine! Winter is a time to look inward: to reflect, connect and prepare for the coming light of spring. How wonderful is it that nature gives us the opportunity to tune in during this time? Becoming aware of our purpose as parents, grandparents and children and then grounding ourselves in it helps bring us forward with conscious intention, ready to receive all that the light and renewal of spring has to offer. With that in mind, I am delighted to share with you this winter issue of Bamboo. Inside you will find ways… … to reflect: Conscious Harvest shares some ayurvedic principles of seasonal eating; Peaceful Parenting explores the sensitive, six-sensory members of the family; a lovely feature on fostering a culture of peaceful warriors will inspire. … to connect: Grandmother Wisdom has ideas for elders to connect with grandchildren; Mindful Pregnancy has helpful advice for pregnant mamas to create a peaceful journey; our feature on family bloggers gives some insight into seasonal celebrations; spend some mellow time with your children exploring the ideas for rest and renewal in Konscious Kids; conjure up stories from your imagination with our feature on storytelling. … to prepare: Tuned In discusses the importance of avoiding genetically modified foods; Home, Naturally offers tips on de-toxifying your kitchen; delight in the beauty and imagination of Judith Needham’s willow playhouses. We also speak with Simplicity Parenting’s Kim John Payne as well as actress Amy Jo Johnson about mothering and creativity. Finally, I’d like to send a warm thank you to all our amazing contributors. The wisdom of their writings and beauty of their images are the heart of Bamboo. So, as always, relax with a cup of tea and celebrate the spirit of winter with Bamboo! Wishing your family a season of peace, joy and connection, Ashley Ess
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winter bamboo features 8 Peace by Example
how four mindful adults
are fostering a culture of peaceful warriors one breath at a time
- Joli Forbes
50 Conscious Close-Up
with simplicity parenting’s kim
john payne
- Lauren Schnell
66 Virtual Inspiration
talking seasonal celebrations
with family bloggers
- Avital Norman Nathman
76 Telling Stories to Children - Samantha Mei
86 In Reflection
amy jo johnson on mothering
and creativity - Ashley Ess
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photo: anne sophie petit
magazine
in this issue
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editor + publisher: ashley ess
konscious kids
winter: a child’s season of renewal
18 bamboo baby
prevent and solve breastfeeding problems
24 tuned in
food for not: just say “no” to GMOs
30 home, naturally
5 tips for a healthier, less-toxic kitchen
34 peaceful parenting
are you or a loved one a six-sensory?
40 shoots + leaves
judith needham willow design + taiana scarves
54 mindful pregnancy
preparing for a peaceful pregnancy
60 grandmother wisdom
winter: the time for connection
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conscious harvest
80
show + tell
seasonal eating and a warming winter recipe
our favorite products for the entire family
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root + stem
winter angel tutorial
fam i ly
l i v i ng
Graphic Design: Nicole Howard Cover Photo: Nelli Hoss
editorial contributors: Marika Blossfeldt Ashley Ess Joli Forbes Laura Keegan Judy Lispon, M.A. Samantha Mei Avital Norman Nathman Lauren Schnell Nanci Shandera, Ph.D. Janelle Sorensen Nicole Spring Alisha Tamburri Hannah Ruth Wilde
photographers:
Nelli Hoss Tnah Louise Cristy Nielsen Anne Sophie Petit Robyn S. Russell Jonas Seaman Krista Fogel
For contributor info click here for advertising info click here Contact us at: info@bamboofamilymag.com
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konscious kids
Winter:
A Child’s Season of Renewal
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By Hannah Ruth Wilde
Winter is often thought of as a season of death. Trees, having lost leaves, appear stiff and lifeless. Animals, once active in a green landscape, are still in burrows and nests. There is a chill in the air. Days are short and dark. But, like a hibernating animal that appears dead, winter is more about renewal than loss. A hibernating animal rests, conserves its energy, and thus readies itself for springtime activity.
1. Snuggle into a warm blanket together and read aloud. Reading aloud does not have to be reserved for young children and picture books. Children of all ages will enjoy the coziness and ease of listening. Check out books from the library and, while you are there, investigate books on CD. Classic children’s tales, chapter books, and popular series such as Harry Potter are available on CD. Often recounted by professional actors, recorded stories are engaging and relaxing.
3. Bake. Nothing warms a home more than the aroma of chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread, or apple pie. Use storebought mixes or bake from scratch: the key ingredient is togetherness. Engage children in whipping up something simple and delicious. Let the warmth and soothing smells from the oven fill your home while enjoying the company of loved ones. 4. Craft. Even if you don’t consider yourself crafty, these charming and easy traditional winter crafts will engage your child - and may remind you of your own elementary school days! Remember the peanut butter bird feeder? The white snowflake? Or the paper snowman? Follow the links below to find a list of materials (common household items) and instructions. Don’t be surprised if your older child wants to join in the fun!
photo: robyn s. russell
As humans, our bodies tune to the seasons as well – though perhaps less noticeably. Quiet indoor occupations, as opposed to zealous spring and summer activities, are healthy and natural this time of year. Consider replacing your child’s regular bustle of activity with one or two of these mellow pursuits:
living. Your child will be intrigued to hear about your life before she was born.
www.craftlinky.com/paper-plate-pop-upsnowman.html www.instructables.com/id/peanut-butterbird-feeder www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-6Pointed-Paper-Snowflakes
2. Storytelling. Sit by the fireplace or lighted candles and take turns making up stories or sharing real stories. Use these prompts to begin creating fiction: “In a tall tower above the city lived a…Rocket ships propelled themselves toward the alien planet…The princess wore her most beautiful gown made of gold to the…Deep in the sea below the place where whales sleep, a…” Or, recount parts of your personal history. Share the places you lived, your former neighbors or friends, travel and adventures, your favorite things to do as a child, and stories about family members who are no longer
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5. C elebrate music at home. Sing along to traditional winter songs; introduce your child to classical music; enjoy soundtracks from popular theatre; and rock out with your teen. If your family is typically musical, be sure to set aside extra time to sing, play instruments, and listen as a family.
Nothing warms a home more than the aroma of cookies . . . the key ingredient is togetherness.
Hannah Ruth Wilde is an experienced educator and parenting consultant, having worked with children for over twenty years. Hannah specializes in supporting children who experience academic difficulties and social challenges; and who confront family transitions such as divorce. Contact Hannah at WildeRhymes@gmail.com
above photo: istock
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6. N ature walks. Walk in your own neighborhood or take advantage of local hiking trails to experience the change of seasons. Along the way, collect objects such as colored leaves, pinecones, lateblooming flowers, unusual rocks, animal bones, or other natural objects. Once home, create a nature table to display and appreciate your found treasures. 7. S targaze. Take advantage of the early darkness and venture out into the night with your child. Bundle up in warm sweaters, hats, and mittens, and pack a thermos of hot chocolate. Find a park, beach, or enjoy your own backyard. Spread out on a blanket and observe the moon and stars. Identify constellations. Look for bright shining planets. Spot a shooting star! 8. M ake a Memory Book. Purchase a blank book to record family memories of the past year. With your child compile and include favorite photos, small mementos, schoolwork, and other souvenirs. Briefly recount special events, family jokes, and personal accomplishments – anything meaningful and memorable. Next, create a list of goals and hopes for the coming year. Illustrate these pages. Finally, decorate the cover of the book. Let the process of making the book be a special time of reflection and renewal of spirit for you and our child.
photo: robyn s. russell
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Photos by Planet Swan
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P E ACE by Example How Four Mindful Adults Are Helping to Foster a Culture of Peaceful Warriors One Breath at a Time by Joli Forbes Charlie was so excited. She had been awarded her first Peace Leaf at school. “What in the world is that,” I thought! So my 4-year-old explained, “It’s when we are good and kind at school and we get our name on a leaf on the Peace Tree.” (Which I came to find out is a tree painted on the wall of her kindergarten classroom.) I was so proud of her. This concept that a youngster had become so excited by the acquisition of a nature symbol signifying peace was genius. I began to wonder what it means
to my daughter to be “peaceful.” Then I wondered how “peacefulness” is taught. How do we teach our children to engage the world as peaceful warriors so they might come to create it as such in the future? I started with definitions. The Oxford Dictionary Online defines “peaceful” as “free from disturbance; tranquil,” and, “not involving war or violence,” and then also “(of a person) inclined to avoid conflict; not aggressive.”
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Kids I know defined “peaceful” as “happiness,” “not war,” “no arguments,” “no angriness,” “quiet,” “relaxing and calm.” Adults I know defined “peaceful” using the same words as the kids and as it pertains to children they added words like “tranquil,” “cooperation,” “sharing” and “not jumping on the furniture!” I assume that if adults and their kids define it the same, then it seems parents are in fact teaching their kids what it is to be peaceful. Bravo!
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I am a mother of two who lives in a house with five other humans and three dogs. Any lessons I can give to my kids to keep our lives peaceful would be very productive and appreciated! I wanted to know how other parents were doing it, so I could do it too. I interviewed some women who are both caretakers and teachers to learn some real-life tactics on how to teach my children to be peaceful. What I absorbed from my interviews is that being peaceful also means being grounded, focused, active, creative, and being able to surrender and forgive.
Alegre Ramos is teaching by example. She is a mother and the founder of Green and Greener in Studio City, CA.
“Inherent in peace is assurance,” she says. “Knowing you are doing the right thing … I sleep soundly at night.”
”Peaceful” means not multitasking,” she said about parenting. “[And] being fully present … as a parent that’s really challenging.”
Part of being peaceful is being focused, according to Ramos. “Everyone is too distracted and our attention spans are too short,” she says. She is teaching her toddler to focus by offering her longterm attention span promoting activities and limiting distractions. She also limits her daughter’s contact with outside influences (i.e. no TV) so, as a parent, she can maintain focus on what her child learns about the world.
Ramos is an entrepreneur who has created a consciously sound store, utilizing strategies aimed at achieving a peaceful environment, where only environmentally sound products are sold. The store is a place to learn through workshops and lectures as well as a place to feel connected to the community.
“First do no harm.”
-Socrates
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“We only bring out a couple of toys at a time and try not to interrupt her when she’s playing with something,” she explains. “And we don’t have any toys that have flashing lights or sounds. They are all creative toys. They don’t just do things on their own. They require the child to interact with them.” Children crave ritual and structure according to Ramos. Mixed with some flexibility, her family keeps their peace by honoring just that. They offer their daughter well thought-out activities and influences to keep her focused, giving her the building blocks of community and routine. JoAnna Harper makes her living teaching kids how to be peaceful. She is a mother of two as well as a meditation and mindfulness teacher for youth and adults. She facilitates retreats for all ages often through Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society as well as UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center. She focuses a lot of her energy teaching people in correctional facilities to find their way.
peaceful, wholesome, right thing versus going with the crowd.” One of the lessons she teaches is how to sit with the feeling of discomfort and deal with that discomfort immediately when it comes. While this is a hard lesson for anyone at any age to master, it is an extremely harsh lesson for teenage kids. Out in the world older kids often struggle to find peace within their culture, their school and unfortunately even sometimes their own homes. On the inside they battle self-worth and self-doubt. What helps them to find their own peace, according to Harper, is “learning how to sit with themselves and their discomfort and begin to trust that the feelings will come and go, but if they act out of the strong emotion, their unskillful actions can have long-term effects.”
“If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.”
Harper defines being peaceful as “being calm on the inside; balanced, grounded and connected to roots or any home base that you like and [where you feel safe].” Her work is a reminder that for youth trying to live as spiritual, peaceful warriors it means they “are going against the norms.” She goes on to explain this classic struggle as “a battle to do the
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Photographer Planet Swan has two daughters who are eighteen months apart. There is mad potential for craziness in that house! But she has figured out several very useful tactics for keeping the peace while teaching her girls empathy and the power of forgiveness. When the girls are having conflict with each other, Swan has them take a few moments apart and then sits them together, facing each other. She has them look into each other’s eyes, getting them to connect with each other’s humanity.
photo: ginny sheller
“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
She wants them to find the peace between them in this moment. “It’s really hard to be angry with someone when you really connect,” she says. “When they can look into each other’s eyes, and one sees the other is broken, it turns into empathy from the eye contact.”
Then once they’re calm she tells them, “Okay, when you’re feeling it in your heart, whenever you’re ready, tell your sister how much you love her and how much she means to you. Swan believes the more you use the power of love and forgiveness, the easier it is to do.
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“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. “ -Buddha 14 bamboo w i n t e r
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Swan and her girls actively seek peace each evening after their homework is complete. “When I have a feeling, I go to art,” she says. So in her house they create things all the time (beadwork, plays, photography, painting, music, etc.). Utilizing tactile activities to bring quiet into their living room, the three girls sit working on their own creative projects, maybe with music playing maybe in silence and with the windows open. They are simply spending quiet time together taking in the end of the day before daddy comes home; a time to process the day and tranquilly sit with their thoughts.
“Peace Time is 1-on-1 time, reading or doing puzzles. We’re focused, we’re breathing, we forget other noise and take time to rest and relax in space of love [with] him [sitting] in my lap.” As a yoga teacher, Beesh understands “taking it to the breath” as an action but also as a metaphor for quieting the mind and going back to basics. When asked how she finds peace, she responded with
It is equally as important that parents keep their internal peace as they go about their days. When Swan found herself a mother of two, she taught herself how to find peace in smaller personal accomplishments each day. My friend Rachel Hubbs calls this “lowering your expectations” and claims it is the key to parenting. “[Just do] one thing at a time and it doesn’t have to be perfect,” she learned. “Nothing has to be perfect. And that’s okay. You have to let stuff go.” Beesh is a creative who doesn’t have any children of her own yet, however, she has been taking care of them for more years than she’d like to say. “I have been put on this planet to be a mother,” she explains, “and I have been taking care of kids even when I was too young to be taking care of kids … I’m good at it!” Her favorite toddler to take care of is her new nephew and she tells a tale of “Peace Time” with this 1.5-year-old baby.
the words, “mediation, breathing, yoga, trust, release, and surrender.” She teaches peacefulness by “taking everything that could be quick and making it slow.” When trying to quiet her nephew’s mind, “instead of letting him run around which he loves to do, we take stroller walks so his body can be still” in the hopes that his mind will also become still and he can just breath and observe.
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Beesh teaches the kids she is a nanny for to stop what they’re doing and take a deep breath when they get worked up, which translates to them finding their centers and their peace. The kids’ parents break up conflicts by asking the children to sit quietly with their hands in their laps and just breathe for 30 seconds. Time to cool down and let their egos deflate. According to Beesh, pent-up energy causes chaos and can be rectified through movement and relaxation. Teaching kids to recognize they are stressed out and how to release the stress will save them from mental and physical ailments down the road. “With an older child it’s easy to talk them through it,” she says, “but when feelings
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[make you] tense … you have to teach your muscles how to relax. A good way is to put on crazy, fun, loud music on and let [kids] dance crazy. Then change to mellow music and allow them to feel the musical change come over how they feel and how they relax.” Sounds like Lamaze training: actively recognizing contractions and learning how to relax those muscles to bring relief! Makes sense! The world is a tumultuous chaotic place for those of us who perceive it that way. If we can face the world as peaceful warriors—be peaceful and act peacefully—we can possess the privilege to teach our kids the priceless blessings of a peaceful way.
I have learned a lot. Namaste.
Joli Selten Forbes is a freelance writer, photographer and poet based in Valley Village, CA. She is a mother, dancer, gardener and foodie who instigates change in her home and community for what she calls the “Revolution of Consciousness” currently underway. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon who’s professional bylines can be found at yourdailythread.com, Flaunt, Shape, Bon Appétit, the LA Times, Press Democrat, Orange Coast Magazine, Minnesota Law & Politics, URB, and many other magazines and newspapers. She is also a regular volunteer for local organizations like Food Not Bombs and music/art festivals like Lightning in a Bottle. bamboo w i n t e r 2012
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Prevent and Solve Breastfeeding Problems: Support Your Baby’s Innate Feeding Behaviors and Avoid the Common Pitfalls of Bottle-Feeding Imprinting
by Laura Keegan Laura Keegan is the author of Breastfeeding with Comfort and Joy, a speaker, and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She has been in clinical practice for over 25 years. She maintains a holistic solo private family practice in Dutchess County, NY, one hour north of NYC. She is married and has four children. The two biggest problems I have found while working with breastfeeding women and babies are the following: 1) women in our society have seen babies mostly fed by bottle and rarely see other women breastfeed; and when they do, the act of the baby taking the breast in his mouth and feeding is often concealed; and 2) Women are inundated with information that is not helpful, or just too much information. When women primarily see bottle-feeding, they tend to hold their babies and their breasts as if they were bottle-feeding, even when they are breastfeeding. The mother’s and baby’s positions are so different for bottle-feeding, that this leads to all sorts of problems, primarily sore nipples, fussy babies, low milk production, and frustrated moms and babies. Some women breastfeed successfully without pain, despite holding their babies as if they were bottle-feeding. However, I have found that when these women learn to hold their babies the way women hold their babies in breastfeeding cultures, they experience more efficient, less frequent feeding and less colic and gas. This is because the baby is given room to take a mouthful of breast which allows for easier extraction of milk including the higher fat milk that can be more difficult to extract. But perhaps more importantly, I have found that most women are not so
fortunate and experience pain, at least early on, when they hold their babies as if they were bottle-feeding. When imprinting successful breastfeeding behaviors to model, unlearning bottle-feeding behaviors is a very important goal for the breastfeeding mom in our society. When women have unhelpful information or information overload, they may struggle with a set of rigid do’s and don’ts and may take a mechanical approach to breastfeeding, instead of being intuitive and instinctive. Seeking help from a health care practitioner experienced in helping women successfully breastfeed can be very important and helpful to a mom, but too often this advice mistakenly translates to women looking outside themselves, relying completely on the help of “experts.” I find moms often are immediately seeking validation that they are doing it “right” and not tuning into their own expertise that comes from feeling their baby against them and connecting to their baby in a way that only they can do. Only mom knows if she is comfortable, and she must look inward to find her comfort that allows for her to feel relaxed and then tend to her baby’s comfort and follow his cues and calm him. Only a calm baby can root to the breast and feed.
Photos Copyright Laura Keegan, Breastfeeding with Comfort & Joy
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Whether a mom can find her comfort lying down or sitting up, her arms and her baby’s weight need to be supported against her body; or if sitting up or side-lying the support comes from towels or blankets rolled to the right size or pillows that are just the right size. The advice to “feel your way,” can seem over simplistic and may even be a turn off to some who tend to take a left-brained approach to learning new skills. I think it is helpful to picture a child (or yourself) learning to ride a bike. The child doesn’t know all the physics of how she is going to get on the bike and stay on, nor does she need to. She doesn’t need a lot of detailed instructions. She learns best by doing. She is encouraged by seeing other children bike ride successfully and have fun doing it. She has to master balance, steering, pedaling, and speed in order to maintain the momentum to keep her on the bike and moving forward. Yet, the child only needs an extra pair of hands to support her and cheers of encouragement, as she makes her attempts and finds her way to that successful ride. Just a note about problem-solving – it is made overly complicated in our culture. I have found that the simplest, most organic interventions can solve the most complicated problems. Slight adjustments in positioning give mom and baby comfort
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and opportunity for the baby to get the breast as deep in his mouth as possible. Many women come to me saying they know their baby’s “latch” is fine because they had it checked by a lactation professional. However, more often than not, in those situations, I find the “latch” is good, but not ideal, and a myriad of problems can be solved by slight changes that make mom and baby more comfortable, and as a result the baby gets the breast deeper in his mouth. For that baby, that is what is necessary (as would be the case for a baby with an inability to suck, see story at end of this article). For another baby, the deeper “latch” will make things easier but may not be absolutely necessary for breastfeeding to work.
Tips:
1. S pend time skin-to-skin with your baby during and between feeds
2. Calm your baby when he is ready to feed with your voice and your touch 3. Skin-to-skin contact can be very helpful in calming and getting in a comfortable position for breastfeeding 4. Let your family and friends know that a mom breastfeeding her newborn is usually caring for, touching and holding, or close to her baby 24/7. Seek their help with household duties and childcare for six weeks or at least until you feel breastfeeding is well established. If problems arise, seek help with breastfeeding but also help that will relieve you of your other responsibilities. 5. Learn what to expect as the baby searches for and takes the breast, keeping in mind that his goal is to get as deep a mouthful of breast as possible (as described on the right).
When your baby is close to the breast, he will turn toward the breast and open his mouth; when his chin touches the breast he will open his mouth even wider. If his chin is far from the nipple, below the areola he will be able to take the breast deep in his mouth. If his chin is not low enough or baby’s chin is tucked in rather than his neck extended, he will not get the breast deep enough in his mouth for a comfortable feed. Knowing that a baby taking the breast does not center his mouth over the nipple (like a bottle-fed baby) but rather has his nose or upper lip in line with the nipple, will make it easier to follow the baby’s movements toward the underside of the breast. When he opens his mouth and buries his chin into the underside of the breast, the nipple slips just under the upper lip as he draws the breast in. If you are sitting up and placing your baby near your breast to feed, make sure your arms holding your baby are fully supported (i.e., with rolled towels or blankets) so you are not straining to hold up the weight of the baby but also so that the baby is not so high that he cannot take the breast from the underside. Usually the baby’s bottom will be lower than his head, requiring different size supports on the left and right side of mom’s lap.
your side enough to bring the baby’s head more toward the center of your body than you would for bottle-feeding where you bring the baby’s head over to the feeding side. If you want to be inspired and understand the significance of an ideal “latch” where the baby takes the breast as deep in his mouth as possible, read this story by Michael Wuebben. His son has Moebius syndrome characterized by facial paralysis and an ability to suck. He tells the story of how his son was eventually able to breastfeed because of his mother’s repeated attempts to nurse him. The father makes a very astute clinical observation, clarifying a very important point, on why a baby with the inability to move his facial muscles and inability to suck could feed at the breast. He notes, ‘As long as he [the baby] could have something to latch onto deep in his mouth he could use his swallow response to pull the milk out.’
When placing the baby near the breast, keep the baby’s bottom snuggled in close to you, and support his shoulders with your hand, allowing his head to move freely. The baby should be held just below your nipple as you get ready to bring him to the breast. His nose or upper lip, not the center of his mouth, should be in line with the nipple. The nipple will actually point to the baby’s nose or upper lip. Be sure to wrap the baby’s legs around
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tuned in
Food for NOT : Just Say No to GMOs by Ashley Ess As parents, we all want our children to be healthy mentally, physically and emotionally. We want to provide them a good education, a safe home and nutritious food. And of course, we do our best. Unfortunately, sometimes even our best isn’t enough when it comes to food choices. While at the supermarket buying cereal for our children, it’s easy to choose the one that advertises 100% whole grain goodness. The problem is that this whole grain goodness may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
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What is a GMO? A genetically modified organism is a combination of molecules from different species that is transformed into a new gene in a lab. Around since 1996, they are banned or have restrictions (including mandatory labeling) in almost 50 countries worldwide. In the U.S., 80% of processed food contains GMOs (1) . The crops with the highest risk for GMO contamination are alfalfa, canola, corn (70%), cotton, papaya, soy (90%), sugar beets, zucchini and yellow squash. Needless to say, this means that many animal products are at risk due to the fact that many are fed diets containing GMOs. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine even released a statement geared toward doctors to educate their patients on the health risks of consuming GMOs. GMO Safety So why the alarm? Well, simply put, GM food has not been proven to be safe to consume. When the corporations who create GMOs are the ones to produce the majority of studies, often without rigorous safety testing in mind, one must take a step back and look at the bigger picture. In 1992, the FDA considered GM foods to be “generally regarded as safe.� The catch is that this conclusion came after zero safety testing. Generally, it is fairly tough to do independent research on GMO seeds. The GMO industry has patents disallowing scientists to grow GMO crops for research. Furthermore, U.S. government safety tests are few-and-far-between due to lack of funding (2).
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In a 2008 study, researchers found that mice fed with GM corn had fewer offspring and lower birth rates. According to Robin Wasserman, Ph.D., a biotechnical patent agent and research scientist, there are serious potential risks to the environment (genetic mutations) and human health (allergies, antibiotic resistance), among many others (3). You may have heard the term “Roundup Ready.� This is a gene created for use in crops in order to withstand the effects of the weed killer Roundup. In a recent study by Dr. Ron Huber at Purdue University, an organism used in Roundup Ready crops was found as a likely cause of miscarriages in farm animals and
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disease in plants and animals. The highest concentrations were found in soybeans and corn (4). There is also evidence of growing resistance to pesticides; farmers are increasingly using more and more pesticides to combat insects in these supposedly resistant crops (5). Long-Term Potential Now don’t get me wrong. There are many scientists intending to create genes that may potentially keep the population and environment healthy. Some claim they are creating crops fortified with micronutrients which could be tremendously important for people in developing countries who do not have access to vitamins or abundant, healthy food. Perhaps there are wonderful benefits of some GMO seeds and many well-meaning people behind the development of them. Anita Burger, of Biosafety South Africa, claims “It is our aim to promote the responsible use of genetically modified organisms.” Two of BSA’s main goals are to limit harmful consequences of GMOs and to support their potential benefits. Unfortunately, the reality is that 99% of GMOs produced are intended to resist herbicides and/or to produce their own pesticides (6). But perhaps long-term studies and rigorous safety testing should have been done before humans became part of the GM experiment. There simply is no way to know what long-term damage, if any, GMOs might have on the population. There are, however, hints to the potential negative effects that cannot be ignored. GMO Labeling Unfortunately, there is no standard for labeling GMOcontaining foods. In health food stores, you may find that many companies opt to tout their products as GMO-free. But the vast majority of supermarkets are laden with GM foods. In recent polls conducted between 2010 and 2011 through sources such as MSNBC, The Washington Post and ABC News, approximately 93-96% of respondents believe GM foods should be labeled. Most said the federal government should require mandatory labeling. For more information visit JustLabelIt.org.
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Say “No” to GMOs! If at all in doubt, always try to choose non-GMO and pesticide-free or organic foods. Choosing organic really can be easy and affordable (see Bamboo Magazine Summer 2011: “Deliciously Affordable” and Healthy Child, Healthy World’s “Low Cost Ideas for Eating Organic”. More and more organic choices are being added at popular supermarkets and some items are even labeled as GMO-free. There is a small risk of cross-contamination of GM crops with organic crops, however, and that is why it is imperative to spread the word and have your concern heard regarding GMOs. There are various ways you can take action:
The Non-GMO Project One of my favorite sources of information on GMOs, The Non-GMO Project, has an extensive list of products and brands that do not contain GM ingredients, including body care items, pet products and vitamins. The Alliance for Natural Health Support HR 3553 and 3554, the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act and the Genetically Engineered Safety Act! Institute for Responsible Technology Join a Non-GMO action group today! Center for Environmental Health Keep pesticide- and GMO-ridden corn off your diner plate! Food Democracy Now Understand the research, watch an interview with Dr. Huber and sign the letter.
For more general info on GMOs, click here or here. For a list of GMO-free products, check out Nourished Kitchen. Test your knowledge of GMOs at the Institute for Responsible Technology (scroll down to Quiz PDF). There are a ton of smart phone apps to help you shop GMO-free! Check out True Food Now’s website and the Non-GMO Shopping Guide. photos this layout: istock
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tuned in Sources
One of the best pieces of advice on learning how
1. www.nongmoproject.org
to avoid GM foods is to educate yourself about the numerous sources of the top GM offenders like
2. http://motherjones.com/tomphilpott/2011/09/gmos-safe-eat
corn and soy. The following is a partial list of the
3. http://www.livestrong.com/ article/195953-risks-of-gmo/
so-obvious elements of these GM offenders:
4. http://www.gm.org/gm-organisms/ roundup-ready-gm-crops-may-triggeranimal-miscarriages/ 5. http://www.gm.org/science/geneticmodification/gm-foods/insectresistance-to-bt-toxins-increasing-ininsect-resistant-gm-crops/ 6. http://www.responsibletechnology. org/take-action/action-tool-kit
most common ingredients that may contain not-
High-fructose corn syrup Soy lecithin Soy protein isolate Dextrose Maltodextrin Soybean oil Cornstarch Corn oil Canola oil Cottonseed oil
If at all in doubt, always try to choose non-GMO and pesticide-free or organic foods.
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5 Tips for a Healthier, Less-Toxic Kitchen by Janelle Sorensen The kitchen is the most actively used spaced in my house. It’s where my family comes together to try new recipes, work on homework, and catch up on life’s happenings. And, my husband and I have always encouraged our daughters to join us in cooking and helping as much as possible. I want them to grow up not only eating healthy, home-cooked meals, but also understanding how to make it themselves. When kids are in the kitchen, it’s easy to safeguard for visible dangers (sharp objects, hot foods, etc), but there can be other dangers lurking – toxic risks in everything from pantry staples to countertop cleansers. Just as I’m teaching my kids how to make healthy food, I also want them to understand how to protect their health from these other risks. Here are some of the steps we take for a healthier kitchen and healthier kids: 1. Purge plastics (as much as possible). Plastic has become ubiquitous in modernlife, but many common plastics can leach toxic chemicals into your food and beverages. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health effects. The easiest and cheapest way to start eliminating plastic is by re-using spaghetti sauce and salsa jars to store leftovers. You can also reduce plastics in your kitchen by buying food in bulk and storing it in glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers. Bulk foods are also often less processed so you reduce your exposure to questionable food additives. 2. Ban the can. Canned foods and beverages are lined with a resin that contains bisphenol-A, a hormonedisrupting chemical that’s building up in our environment and our bodies. Many manufacturers are beginning to explore alternatives - though the safety of the
photos this spread: istock
substitutes could be questionable, too. Choose foods that are fresh, dried or frozen or packaged in glass jars or tetra packs. 3. Clean carefully. Many modern concoctions, products of an inventive chemical industry, are overkill and may even be more dangerous solutions than the problem. Homemade cleaners may seem difficult and time consuming, but in reality, they are extremely easy and cheaper than purchasing products. Here are a few of my favorite recipes: • C ountertops & Sinks: For a “soft scrub,” mix together baking soda and liquid soap until you get a consistency you like. The amounts don’t have to be perfect. Make only as much as you need, as it dries up quickly. w i nftael rl 2011 2012
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• O vens: To clean extra-greasy ovens, spray the surface with water, sprinkle with baking soda, spray with water again, and let it stand overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime and wipe clean. I was stunned the first time I tried this – it’s like magic! I do this with pans that have baked on goo, too! • C utting boards: Disinfect them by spraying with vinegar and then with 3% hydrogen peroxide (available in drug stores). Keep the liquids in separate spray bottles and use them one at a time. It doesn’t matter which one you use first, but both together are much more effective than either one alone. • A ll-purpose cleaner: Mix 4 tablespoons vinegar, 20 drops tea tree or thyme essential oil, and 2 cups water in a spray bottle. For extra cleaning power, add 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap to the mixture. Vinegar and these essential oils have natural disinfectant qualities, too!
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• D rains: Prevent clogged drains by using food traps. To de-grease and sweeten sink drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain followed by 1 cup vinegar; let bubble for 15 minutes (kids love this part); and rinse with hot water. You might have to repeat the whole procedure more than once or leave the baking soda and vinegar to “cook” overnight. 4. Wet your whistle with water. Americans drink an overwhelming amount of sodas, sports drinks, energy boosters, juices (that often contain little juice), and other bottled beverages. The first problem with this is that most of these drinks are loaded with sweeteners and artificial flavors and colors. The second is that they’re bottled in plastic, which can leach additional chemicals into the drink. Your body is 70-75% water, so hydrate it with water! And, skip the single-use bottled water. Again, it can be contaminated by chemicals from the plastic bottle. Also, it’s less regulated than tap water.
Make an investment in a water filter and reusable stainless steel water bottles.
Janelle Sorensen is the Chief Communications Officer at Healthy Child, Healthy World. She is a seasoned environmental health advocate with extensive experience in public education, communications, policy analysis, program management, e-advocacy and strategic development. She has worked with a diverse array of stakeholder groups from across the country ranging from nonprofit organizations and community groups to school districts and government offices. Janelle also takes care of her sweet little girls, cooks, cleans, gardens, reads, bikes, hikes, crafts, laughs, speaks using silly voices and accents, drafts environmental policies, works on a Master’s Degree, and tries to keep up with social media. Well, typically not all at the same time.
photos this page: istock
5. Eat healthier! This step is last because it is often the hardest. Your family’s diet is a habit, and those can be difficult to break. Yet, this step is also the most important. The easiest way to eat healthier and avoid toxic chemicals is to make your food instead of buying processed foods. Whole foods reduce your exposure to the synthetic additives in processed foods. If you are a novice chef, the idea of preparing your own foods from scratch can seem daunting and too time consuming. However once you start doing it, you’ll see how easy (and cheaper) cooking at home really is. Also, involving your children in the process will foster healthy habits. Kids are more likely to eat new foods if they are involved in choosing, buying, and preparing. Here are some other tips for healthy eating: • Wash fruits and vegetables, even if they’re organic, before eating to get rid of wax, chemical residue, and pathogens. • Eat less meat – and when you do eat meat, trim the fat off and broil or bake it instead of frying. • Opt for organic when possible – especially what your child eats most. If you can only afford a few organic items, try to buy organic milk, apples, grapes, blueberries and strawberries. • Read labels and look for foods with fewer and identifiable ingredients.
Here’s to a healthier kitchen and healthier kids! Bon appetit!
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peaceful parenting
Mentoring and Parenting Sensitives Are you, or is your loved one, a Six-Sensory? by Judy Lipson, M.A. Photos by Robyn S. Russell
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As I grew up, there was no recognition or understanding of Sensitives. I knew I was anxious and I always felt different, seemingly living on the sidelines of the life that my peers appeared to live. It wasn’t until adulthood that I understood: I am a Sensitive. I believe that this is true of many of today’s young adults, and most of your children, too. And it’s wonderful. I now feel blessed for having these qualities and appreciative to be able to support and guide others in their understanding and acceptance of who they are, of this way of being.
Judy Lipson is a Licensed Professional Counselor in West Bloomfield, MI. She is dedicated to facilitating her client’s journey of Awakening and Acceptance. She works with all ages of Sensitives, Indigos and those who have been given such descriptors as Anxious, ADHD, Aspergers Syndrome or Autism. As an educational strategist, she believes ‘There Are No Lazy Students.’ Judy can be reached at judylipson@spiralwisdom.net or visit www.SpiralWisdom. net so she can assist you and your family.
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One approach to understand Sensitives is to examine the six senses. In fact, Sensitives, who are often called Indigos or Crystals, are often referred to as Six-Sensory Beings. • Touch: Complaints about irritating fabric or embroidery, or the sensation of water on the skin. When the touch of another person is uncomfortable or intolerable, consider a firmer touch. Occupational therapists often prescribe skin brushing and weighted vests. • Hearing: This child hears everything (other than directions to clean their room or put out the garbage). Certain tones can be distracting or even distressing. I had a student who couldn’t concentrate in a classroom because of a loud fan. Another student was distracted by the classroom TV’s high-pitched sound. Oh, and that noisy classroom? A sensitive child can have difficulty distinguishing a specific sound in the midst of others, or might even tune everything out. • Taste: Flavors or texture limit the foods eaten • Smell: Sensitivity to chemicals or fragrances • Seeing: They notice the smallest details and are compelled to ‘take it all in’. (But I don’t suggest that these individuals be placed in sterile environments.) • Sixth sense: The awareness of others’ emotions and moods. Sensitives don’t realize that they are sensing the emotions of others. Their anxiety, anger or sadness might be coming from surrounding people. They can ask, “Is this mine?” to help identify if it is their own emotion.
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Sensitives frequently have anxieties and/ or ADHD and may even be on the Autism Spectrum. They often have a love for nature and animals. They tend to seem older than their years, or may be characterized as old souls. They are often right-brain thinkers who are creative and artistic. They are deep thinkers and tend to be bright. In school they may be unsuccessful or unmotivated because of the mismatch between their learning style and the style of the teacher or the educational system. Many Sensitives are argumentative and headstrong: They are frustrated with our society because they came into the world knowing how things should be—in institutions, systems and relationships. Yet as children, they don’t have the power to create this change. Their ability to understand their world may be greater than other’s their age, but their ability to cope with this awareness is compromised because they have neither the life experience nor the emotional maturation to handle what they know. Sensitives may feel misplaced and alone. They frequently verbalize their dislike for (or discomfort with) their school, peers, and/ or community. They describe themselves as having few friends--or few individuals who truly understand them and think as they do. These perceptions can also lead to anxiety and depression.
Sensitives may verbalize or behave in a manner that lets others know that they do not like being in large groups. They are empathic and intuitive and unknowingly feel and absorb the emotions of those around them. They are already experiencing discomfort due to their feelings of personal isolation and differentness, but much of their anxiety and depression is a result of the “negative emotions” they absorb while in the presence of others. The source of their anxiety and depression may not always be from within, or the intensity of their emotions is not theirs. Sensitives may sense the unexpressed
conflicts and emotions of their parents, siblings, extended families, peers everyone! Again, they do not understand this sensitivity and the sponge-quality of their knowing. But they are acutely aware of the conflicts and emotions, and it makes them feel uncomfortable. But again, this is usually at a subconscious level. They know that they feel “bad” when in the presence of their family or groups and wish to avoid the unpleasantness. They are responding to the body language of the individual, to their words and tone, and to the unexpressed energetic message – all things that others think are being suppressed. Their discomfort is real! Thus they may isolate themselves from others.
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You can support the Sensitives (adults and children) in your life: • Six-sensories who don’t understand, often feel scared and overwhelmed • Teach them different is not bad; their gifts (intuition, empathy, etc) are not crazy • Allow them to verbalize their experiences • Keep your own energy and emotions calm when communicating (especially when offering criticism or suggestions) • Focus on their gifts: compassion, empathy, creativity, intelligence; rather than challenging behaviors • Help them realize they may be affected by the moods of others: family, other students, people in malls, etc • Provide structure and familiar routines • Stay present: • Breath – be the observer of the breath, and
and feet. I relax my ankles and calves. I relax
the mind calms. Say: Take a slow, gentle
my knees and thighs. I relax my hips and waist.
breath in; as you do, watch how your chest
With my next breath I breathe this relaxation
and abdomen (tummy) move out; as you
into my back. I relax my lower back, middle
exhale (breathe out), see how your chest and
back, upper back. I relax my shoulders away
abdomen move back inward once again.
from my ears. I relax my neck, jaw, chin,
Take a few more breaths, just watching the
tongue, cheeks, nose, eyes, forehead and
movement.
temples. I’m fully relaxed from the top of
• Relaxation –When the body is tense, the
my head to the tips of my toes. Breathe in
shoulders rise up and the chest can’t breathe
peace and exhale tension. This is an excellent
as fully; so you breathe faster. The mind
technique to fall asleep at night. (If you are
interprets this as anxiety, making the situation
interested, I have a professionally recorded
worse. Say this: Close your eyes and say in
relaxation CD available on my website.)
your mind what I say out loud. I relax my toes
• Teach grounding techniques (often more beneficial than meditation for Sensitives) • “Tree” – Sit or stand with your feet on the ground. Imagine the trunk (torso) of your body is the trunk of the tree. Feel the strength of the tree move down through your legs and feet (the roots), anchoring you into earth. This is a great technique when someone is anxious, agitated or experiencing hyperactivity.
• Use your own energetic skills to clear the negative energies from physical spaces • Find a mentor or counselor who understands Sensitives to learn how to manage the sensitivities, deal with the experiences and recognize their inherent gifts • Continue to educate yourself about Highly Sensitive People, Indigo Children and Crystal Children
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I believe Sensitives are the seeds of the future that we strive for—a peaceful world that promotes and maintains ecological and social responsibility. We – the Sensitives who have come before – have an extraordinary opportunity to parent and mentor Six-Sensories to achieve their destiny. I hold the Sensitives in my life (and yours) in love and light. May we all know and attain our highest purpose.
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shoots + leaves
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Photos by Tnah Louise
Taiana Design: Wearable Art www.taianadesign.com
Taiana Geifer’s scarves are inspired by the wide range of personalities that the fibers of merino wool and other natural fibers take on.
Judith Needham Willow Design www.judithneedham.co.uk
These adorable playhouses are made with willow that has been cut and dried and then re-soaked just before use to make it pliable. w i n t e r 2011 2012
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It may take Taiana anywhere from two days to two weeks to complete her creations. A wonderful aspect of her designs is that no two are alike!
The fibers are hand woven, agitated, cleaned and picked. These processes are very intensive but are necessary to create the right texture and aesthetic. 42 bamboo w i n t e r 2012
This gorgeous wearable art is made from felted merino wool, processed with only warm water and natural soap made from olive oil. Each piece is handmade by Taiana. w i n t e r 2012
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“I have always loved the look of woven willow alongside plants in a garden, and its limited lifespan when left outside seemed to be appropriate given the transitory nature of childhood. I also liked the fact that, when my daughter had outgrown the playhouse, it would return to the earth leaving a minimal carbon footprint.�
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-Judith Needham
The organic shapes of these willow playhouses fit well into a garden setting and are a blank canvas for children’s imaginations. They can be a castle one day, a rocket or a submarine the next. w i n t e r 2012
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Being a craftsperson is Judith’s third career and was
inspired to become self-employed after having a child. Basket-making had been her hobby for ten years.
Judith made her first playhouse, an alternative to the
environmentally un-friendly plastic concoctions sold in toy stores, for her daughter with no thought of making more but so many people told her that she should sell them.
What a brilliant idea!
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conscious close-up with Kim John Payne, M.Ed. by Lauren Schnell
If you aren’t completely humbled by reading his book, Simplicity Parenting, this interview may convince you to join in his Simplicity Parent movement!
Kim John Payne has an impressive list of credits in the world of education. As a consultant and trainer to more than 100 schools in the U.S. and a worldwide workshop and conference leader for over 25 years, Kim is also the author of the popular book Simplicity Parenting. Kim’s message is seen by thousands as the saving grace to our next generation of children, and, more urgently, our family lives. Kim compares his experience of being a trauma counselor in war-torn, impoverished villages in Third World countries to the same behavioral issues that we are seeing here at home with our own children. He says, “Children in the west are just as startled, stressed and traumatized as the children in these war zones.” He explained, “I didn’t need to travel anymore because there were so many children in the States that are traumatized and need to regain their connectedness to their childhood and family.” Kim calls this “The silent undeclared war on childhood,” and believes it is extremely destructive to our family lives. In Simplicity Parenting, he goes into great detail as to how we, as parents, can change this outcome with our children. And this is where Simplicity Parenting is so inspirational to read.
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Who was Simplicity Parenting written for? “Masses.” This book is reaching the masses and has been embraced by everyone. Ten, twelve years ago the whole idea of simplifying -- and the whole realization that our lives were overheated -- was probably somewhat of a question for some, but now that reality is a reality for many. A question that exists for so many parents these days is, “How do I balance all that my child is asking to do and the school is asking and coaches are asking? How do I balance all that busyness that seems to be external?” It’s now the balance between the outer and the inner-- [between] the outer activities and strengthening connectedness with family and giving the child enough down time. That question used to be only carried by a few and now that has become really one of the questions of our time. It is very zeitgeist. You can hardly pick up a newspaper these days without seeing something about our fastpaced lives and its effects on children. Do you feel that your book has made an impact on the masses that have read it? Yes. The reason there is a moderately confident “yes” to that answer is that this book isn’t a book but a movement. Since the book has been released we have trained large numbers of group Simplicity Parenting readers and they are all over the world now. These trained group leaders (called coaches) have gone out and trained their own groups. Think of this not as a grass roots movement but a campfire movement. What we are doing is lighting campfires, which people can come to with their own torch and are warmed. And back out they go to light their own campfires. Every single hour there is another one lit and another and another. There are these groups all over, very strongly in North America but also worldwide in every continent including Europe and Asia. The impact of this book is not the fact that it is a book but rather because it is a worldwide movement, with trained group leaders behind it and a strong Facebook presence. This growth speaks to me that it is answering a question that is in most people’s minds. In Simplicity Parenting, you mention the importance of keeping adult conversations away from our children. Can you be a little more specific about exactly what is “adult” conversation? Let me share with you my 2012 New Year’s Resolution:
Taking care to filter adult conversation around children is my new years intention. Before I say something in front of my children I will ask myself 3 Simple Questions: 1. “Is it true?” To this I can usually, though not always, tell myself, with a sense of righteousness, a firm yes. So onto the second question... 2. “Is it necessary?” Hmm, now I pause. Do my children really need to hear this? They will know soon enough the world is flawed. For now a good world will do just fine. 3. “Is it kind?” This is altogether harder. Is it kind to this person to say this? Am I modeling being accusative rather than inquisitive? Dehumanizing or humanizing? I am going to sweat the small stuff by paying attention to the everyday comments I make in front of my children rather than give them long-winded lectures about being kind when sibling relationships have gotten heated. And if I fail and a zinger passes my lips (after all, election season is coming up), I will try to smile and say to my intolerance, “Hello old friend, I’m afraid we won’t be seeing so much of you around the house this year.” w i n t e r 2011 2012
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What do you say to a parent who is trying to live a more balanced life and really practices Simplicity Parenting but has a “slip-up”? Whether it is an adult conversation in front of their child, or if their child is in an environment where there is the unwanted distraction of a television? I would say if I could, blessings on what you are trying to do. Because what are important are not your “slip-ups,” it’s your decision to live a more balanced life. And your decision to do that is all that is important. It’s not about your successes or failures. They are kind of interesting, but what your children benefit much more from is a parent who is standing on the firm ground of their own values. It is our values that are important, not [our] successes and failures. It is all about being authentic and modeling everyday. It is all about the little things. They are what speak values.
simplify and balance the child’s life. So it is not a question of where you send your child to school but rather what you want for your child. Simplicity Parenting is not about the past but rather about building resiliency for the future. It’s about being able to empty your child’s cup enough so that they are ready for it to be filled again the next day so that they can absorb all the wonderful things people are bringing to them. In other words, if a child’s cup is not emptied and they don’t get enough downtime, then no matter how many wonderful things they are doing, they won’t be able to absorb it. [One last point] is the importance of clearing away the clutter for our kids on all levels. In spite of the fact that there are TV screens everywhere, including my child’s own pediatrician’s office, our home is the one environment we do have control over! For more information, visit www.simplicityparenting.com Simplicity Parenting on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/SimplicityParenting/257701525127 The Center for Social Sustainability: www.socialsustain.com/home.html
Are there any final comments you’d like to share? In the undeclared war on childhood we, as parents, need to remember that we can declare peace in our homes and simplify and balance our child’s life! In other words, if there is too much coming at them from the outside and not enough downtime and creativity then the inside world is being overwhelmed by outside demands. When that is going on then it becomes even more important to
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Lauren Schnell Davison is the founder and president of OrganicGreenMommy.com and Nutrition Works at YogaWorks, NYC. She is a board certified holistic nutritionist, yoga instructor, writer and life coach. Lauren resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and two girls. www.laurenschnell.com
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mindful pregnancy
Preparing for a Peaceful Tips on preparing your mind and body for a relaxed positive experience
by Alisha Tamburri, MH,CCHT
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Pregnancy Pregnancy is a time to go within, as your body expands out to give space for your baby to grow. You may feel the whole world knows something special is happening. Strangers approach you with all kinds of advice and comments and want to touch your belly. If you do not want to hear their stories or let people touch you, it is best to say so. Being pregnant is the most sacred time in your life and a blessing that you are housing the miracle of life. Even though you are excited you may be a little nervous about the responsibly of caring for another human being that is completely dependent on you. Emotions, moods and hormones change as your baby grows. Everything you feel is valid since feelings are not right or wrong, they just are. Allow your feelings to be, notice them, let go of judgment and just become aware. From conception to birth and during the first four years of life, imprints are being formed that determine your child’s health and well-being. This period is a golden opportunity to release stress and fears enabling you to enjoy a calmer pregnancy, birth and baby.
Photos by Cristy Nielsen
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Here are some ways to assist you on your journey of a conscious pregnancy: Practice Hypnosis and Prenatal Yoga These tools are designed to support pregnancy and birthing as your body goes through many changes. Yoga strengthens the body, and hypnosis focuses on releasing fear and creating relaxation. In yoga, the asanas are designed to tone the muscles that are used for birthing, add stamina and strengthen the upper body for nursing. Preparing to welcome a baby is a life changing experience, not only through pregnancy and birth but also for the rest of your life. HypnoBirthing速, a complete childbirth course, offers a remarkably simple and relaxed approach to this most important transition. It will teach you and your partner techniques for relaxation, visualization, hypnosis and breathing while bonding with your baby in utero and after birth. There are many other delightful practices you will gain from HypnoBirthing速. One of the most important you will learn is to release the fear-tension-pain syndrome which creates a calmer, easier birth and enables you to look forward to labor rather than dreading it.
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Go Outside Spend plenty of time out in nature every day walking, hiking, swimming, gardening and going to the park or beach. Take a friend, your dog or go by yourself to enjoy solitude and quiet. You might take a camera, book or journal. Journaling during pregnancy is a wonderful way to document this precious time. Gurmukh, founder of Golden Bridge Yoga and Midwife, Davi Khalsa, suggest walking five miles a day up until you give birth. Listen to your body and go at your own pace. Your body always tells the truth so listen to it, and it will give you guidance just like your intuition does. Nurture Social Connection Get together with friends for a meal or tea. Watch a feel-good movie or chick-flick. Visit a museum. Surround yourself with positive, happy people as much as possible. Since you choose your friends make sure they are conducive to your peaceful journey. This may also be a time to cultivate new nurturing friendships. A good place to meet other pregnant women is at a prenatal yoga and childbirthing class.
Disconnect from Stressful Relationships If family members are negative or stressful, limit the amount of time you spend with them. You may even decide that it is in your and your baby’s best interest to disconnect from them for a while. Remember, how you feel effects how your baby feels. Many times parents will do things for their children they will not do for themselves. You are preparing to be a mother by making wise decisions for both of you. Foster Open Communication with Your Partner Write down your fears, concerns and stresses and have your partner do so as well. When you are both done, sit together and share what you wrote and how each of you are feeling. Many suppressed feelings may appear. See what issues you can resolve. If there are unresolved issues, it will be helpful to have several sessions with a counselor, hypnotherapist or your clergy. Bringing a child into the world and how you decide to raise them are the most important things you will ever do. Keep an open communication with your partner and ask for what you want and need rather than assume they should know. Nourish Your Body For energy and for growing a healthy baby, eat plenty of fresh organic fruits, vegetables and lean protein. Make sure you drink lots of water. Nap when your body is tired. When at work, take small breaks often, elevate your feet and close your eyes. You can have a birth ball to sit on at your office and at home. If you don’t feel like socializing, stay home or keep the time out limited.
Fire Up Your Creativity Bring out your creative side by painting, writing, sewing, belly dancing, singing or any other form of art you enjoy. Visit your favorite spiritual center. If you don’t have one, explore different places that nurture your soul. Each day think of all the things you are grateful for and write them down in your journal. For more effortless relaxation get prenatal massage, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment and deeksha. Enjoy candle lit baths, as relaxing music plays in the background. You might read a good book, watch a movie, listen to your favorite music and have breakfast in bed. You deserve to be pampered! You will only be pregnant with this baby once, so enjoy this time.
Alisha Tamburri is a clinical hypnotherapist, counselor, HypnoBirthing childbirth educator and birth doula. She is also a domestic violence counselor and
Venture Within Start a meditation or self-hypnosis practice. You can do this every day to relax and it will also prepare you for a calm birth. Notice how you are breathing. Pay attention to what is causing you stress and think about how you can eliminate the source of it.
HypnoFertiliy therapist who uses deeksha and EFT, for PSTD, fears and phobias in her sessions. After being trained in India as a deeksha giver and Trainer she leads Oneness Awakening Courses. Alisha Tamburri is a clinical hypnotherapist, counselor, HypnoBirthing childbirth educator For more information www.clearmindhypnotherapy. and birth doula. She is also a domestic violence com or call herHypnoFertiliy at 818 775-1868. counselor and therapist who uses
StrongestLink Elementary Intervention and School Based Tutoring strongestlinkeducation.com
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• Easier birth • Comfortable pregnancy • Release fear & tension • Relaxed & shorter labor • Less or no medication • Calmer parents • Happier baby
Alisha Tamburri P: 818.775.1868
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Grandmother Wisdom Winter: The T ime for Connection
by Nanci Shanderá, Ph.D.
Winter Solstice celebrates the shortest day of the year … and the longest night. We can see different stars than the ones we saw on balmy summer nights. We feel the crisp chill in the air, sometimes even the soft fall of snow on our cheeks. This is the perfect time for grandparents to hunker down with the kids and tell stories around the fireplace, play in the snow, go for walks on nippy days, and explore the mysteries of this important time. Winter is intended by nature to be a quiet and deep, introspective time. Animals know this by hibernating. We ignore the exquisite value of what winter offers by rushing around shopping and partying during the winter season. While others are experiencing this, I look forward to spending quality time with my grandchildren. Of particular significance is what I can teach them about the value of seeking the riches of this season. No, not expensive gifts or piles of toys. Rather, Elders of all tribes and cultures have always held the responsibility for teaching children the value – and necessity – of developing a rich inner life. We can teach that there is more to life and living it well than what is held in a sparkly holiday package. above photo: istock
There is an ancient Greek myth that tells of Persephone, a young maiden, who is hauled off to the cave of Hades, the god of the underworld. When she disappears, her mother, Demeter, searches high and low to no avail. Understandably, she grieves the loss of her daughter deeply. This is descriptive of how we feel at the end of a year when the darkness of night seems interminable. Many of us become depressed and anxious about our lives. We may reach an existential crisis during this time. We have been taken by our own underworld god that says to us, “Stop living your life through externals and go within. Discover more about yourself than ever before. I have given you this special time to do it.” Most of us are wary of anything that takes us out of our comfort zones, so exploring the deep within takes courage. But the results can lead to self-awareness and a more expansive view of life. Just as nature needs the night to balance the day and vice-versa, we need the balance achieved by integrating our inner and outer lives.
little wiggly things in the water!” We respond to her delight of the natural world and bring her attention to how we are all interconnected and responsible for the “little wiggly things.” Or we can talk with our pre-teen grandchildren about how they see their lives, what really fills them with excitement and delight. Children of this age can sometimes be drawn into believing that pop stars, makeup, and what clothes they wear are of ultimate importance. Grandparents offer great gifts to their grandchildren by instilling thoughts and ideas in them that help them develop a more balanced viewpoint about what’s really important. When we hear that they’re confused about the opposite sex, for instance, we can gently share our own pre-teen love story, including both the lovely sensations of being in a love relationship as well as the heartache when it ended. Parents are responsible for the rules needed during this pre-adolescent time. But grandparents offer the wisdom of experience through presence and thoughtprovoking concepts about values and virtues can be indispensible and priceless.
When Persephone finally emerges in the spring, she has This wintertime, be a guide to grown. And so has your grandchildren as they her mother. They enter the various stages of have both become life’s mysteries. You know the Persephone by Meredith Dillman independent women way and can show them how who can now accept to develop their own guidance that life has its seasons. Persephone continues system when they are ready. This is the true gift of to enter the underground labyrinth every year, grandparenting. Give it wisely and well. always bringing forth the fruits of her work while in the cave of consciousness. Dr. Nanci Shanderá is a transformational psychologistGrandparents have an innate sense of this cyclic nature of life. And we can share it with our grandchildren. We can take the very young ones on walks where we bring their awareness to things happening all around them – and they’ll do the same for us! What a delight to almost miss the tiny critters in a pool of rainwater until our granddaughter points it out to us excitedly: “Grandma, look at these
teacher in northern California and author of Bridge to the Soul: The Alchemical Path to Transforming Your Life and Discovering Your Soul’s Purpose and The Quilt: A Woman’s Journey to Power, both to be released in 2012 . She studied with Brugh Joy, M.D. for over 30 years, trained seminary students for the United Church of Religious Science, and now facilitates a Mystery School at EarthSpirit Center. She can be contacted on www. EarthSpiritCenter.com. w i nftael rl 2011 2012 bamboo
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conscious harvest When observing nature, we can easily see that life is cyclical and constantly changing. Would it make sense to change our patterns as the seasons do? According to ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, the key to living a healthy and
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Notice how your food cravings change with the seasons. Listen to your body and consciously adjust your diet as the seasons change.
happy life is to live in harmony with the cycles of nature. This refers as much to the seasons as to our body types and the rhythms of each day. Photos by Jaan Heinmaa
Seasonal Eating and a Warming Winter Recipe by Marika Blossfeldt, from Essential Nourishment, Recipes from My Estonian Farm www.MarikaB.com/book
Seasonal Body Types Ayurveda means “the study of life” and is rooted in Indian philosophy. It proposes that all manifestations of life come in three different qualities: kapha, pitta and vata. Kapha has the qualities of spring – the elements are earth and water. Pitta has the qualities of summer – the element is fire. Vata has the qualities of winter – the element is air. Body types also fall into these three categories. A person might have one dominant quality or a combination of two. Rarely, a person may exhibit all three qualities in equal amounts.
Seasonal Eating Ayurveda teaches us to live in harmony with the seasons and cycles of nature in order to remain healthy. A proper diet is therefore connected to spring, summer and fall/winter foods. One easy way to figure out which foods are in season is to visit a nearby farmers’ market. There, you will find only freshly picked produce from your local area. Marika Blossfeldt was born in Estonia, grew up in Germany and currently divides her time between Beacon (NY) and Estonia. She studied painting in Berlin and contemporary dance in NYC. She was a featured soloist in the New York dance scene during the 80’s and 90’s. Today, she is a renowned kundalini yoga teacher and holistic health coach. In the late 90’s Marika restored a traditional farm complex in her native Estonia and transformed it into an international arts and wellness center, called Polli Talu Arts Center. During the summer she facilitates yoga, wellness and cooking retreats there.
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Spring: After a cold winter and a diet
of heavier warming foods, spring is the best time for a cleanse, using natural bitter greens like watercress, dandelion greens, arugula, sprouts and herbs like basil and parsley. These foods are most helpful in keeping mucus, congestion, colds and allergies at bay. Cut back on dairy, as dairy is a mucus-producing food. Turnips, radishes, daikon and the entire onion family are great fat-melters to help you lose some of that winter insulation. Eating less meat, fat and salt can be beneficial as well.
Summer: When the weather is hot,
use the cooling effect of seasonal fruits, berries, lettuces and vegetables. Have more raw foods. Now is the perfect time for salads. Eat complex carbohydraterich foods to stay energized during the longer days of summer.
By living in harmony with the seasons, you allow your body to work with nature. Consuming less fat and fewer calories in the spring, more complex carbohydrates in the summer and more protein, fat and salt in the winter will greatly enhance overall health and well-being. 64 bamboo w i n t e r
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Fall/Winter:
The autumn harvest provides us with nuts and grains, which are warming and most welcome in the cold seasons of the year. Meat, too, is warming and can be eaten in larger quantities. A little more salt is fine as well. During the colder months when there is not much sun, it is especially important to have salt because it stimulates the kidneys to produce vitamin D for calcium absorption. Prefer cooked food to raw foods, and eat warming soups and stews. Eat more healthful fats and oils to keep the body lubricated during this dry time of year. Eat vegetables that traditionally can be stored over winter, such as potatoes, carrots, beets, winter squash and cabbage.
Try this wholesome, warming winter recipe from Marika’s Essential Nourishment, Recipes from My Estonian Farm:
Kidney Bean Soup This bean soup, one of our favorites at the farm, has a rich flavor that is enhanced by a little sweetness from the corn and a little tartness from the tomatoes. 2 ½ cups dried kidney beans, soaked overnight, drained and rinsed 8 cups water 1 bay leaf 1 onion, chopped 2 large carrots, halved lengthwise, then sliced crosswise 3 tablespoons olive oil 4 to 5 tomatoes, cut into chunks 2 red bell peppers, cut into small pieces 1 can (15 ounces) corn, rinsed 1 leek, cut into small pieces salt and pepper 1. P lace the beans and water into a pot and bring to a boil. Skim off and discard any foam that forms. Add the bay leaf and cook over medium heat until the beans begin to soften, about 1 hour. 2. Sauté the onion and carrots in the oil until the onion turns golden. 3. Once the beans are tender, add the sauté and the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes. 4. Add the bell pepper, corn and leek and cook for another 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with sour cream.
For a discount on purchasing Essential Nourishment, Recipes from My Estonian Farm, please visit www.MarikaB.com/book and enter the promotion code ENJOY at checkout!
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by Avital Norman Nathman
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As far back as the first cave paintings, humans have enjoyed sharing stories about their daily lives. Whether it be letters to grandparents, a funny anecdote with a neighbor over coffee, or secrets during a “mom’s night out,” there is something special about talking about our families with others. This concept has been made abundantly clear over the last few years as the number of blogs devoted to family life has soared. Type in a key word, and you’ll be overwhel med with the number of sites set up to talk “family.” Every blog has their own special spin, something that makes us return day after day. These blogs offer glimpses of everyday life, stories of shared frustration and triumphs, and the occasional bout of inspiration. That’s why Bamboo has gathered some of our favorite parent bloggers here, in the hopes of inspiring a little creativity and joy during these winter months and beyond. I had the chance speak with these bloggers, asking them why they share their stories, and learned more about them in the process. We also talked about their special family rituals and celebrations, in the hopes of continuing the cycle of inspiration. From winter walks, crafting, family gatherings and tasty treats, these 2012
bloggers share their family traditions with you.
photo: jonas seaman
Virtual Inspiration
Talking Seasonal Celebrations with Family Bloggers
Derek Markham Why did you start your blog?
I started my site to scratch an itch, so to speak. I’d been writing just for myself for many years, but hadn’t actually tried to publish anything. I had seen a number of parenting/fatherhood blogs, but none of them really resonated with me, or covered the topics I wanted to (homebirth, homeschool, natural living) so I started my own.
runs the website Natural Papa
where he writes about green living and parenting. Parents to two girls, ages 13 and 6, and a 2.5 year old son, Derek and his wife have created a host of special traditions within their family, many of which are celebrated around the seasonal Solstice. We celebrate the Winter Solstice instead of the traditional Christmas celebrations (and we also acknowledge the summer solstice and both equinoxes in their times as well). Making orange and clove pomanders is usually a craft around this time of year, as is decorating some kind of tree. The last couple of years, it’s been a stalk from a yucca plant, which is in plentiful supply around here, and this year we may decorate a living tree in our yard. We do exchange gifts, but on a small scale, and the fairies are the ones bringing those ‘surprise’ gifts. Our kids usually run to look in their shoes that morning to see what kind of treats the fairies have brought them, and then my wife leads us outside to ‘sing up the sun’ as it rises. We do have our own ‘stockings’ also, and those are usually full of edibles and small items. Derek’s suggestions for families looking to create their own special traditions is to focus on what works best for your particular family: Remember that it’s your family and your own celebrations, and don’t be bound be what you did while growing up. Feel free to add anything to your traditions, and if something doesn’t feel right to you, then drop it from your family’s traditions. w i n t e r 2012
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Darcel
from The Mahogany Way
uses her blog to write about her adventures in unschooling and Attachment Parenting. The stars of Darcel’s blog truly are her family: her husband Charles, daughters Nakiah (6), Ava (4) and son Samuel (17 months).
What began as a way to keep track of everything her kids were learning via unschooling turned into a labor of love for Darcel, as the blog has not only provided her with a place to share her thoughts, but also connected her to a number of great people that she now considers friends. Darcel and her family have a variety of wonderful winter traditions that they have cultivated as their family grew. Nakiah’s birthday is in the beginning of December, so while others put their Christmas
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trees up before or right after Thanksgiving, we wait until after her birthday. That way she doesn’t feel like her birthday and Christmas are all rolled into one. We also cook together often. Since my girls have been old enough they’ve helped me in the kitchen for the holidays every year that I’ve cooked. It’s been about two years since I cooked (we went to be with family the past two years) and I’m really looking forward to getting back in the kitchen with my children for the holidays again this year.
This will be our first year celebrating Winter Solstice and Kwanzaa. Next year we’ll do Summer Solstice, and we usually attend BBQ’s during the summer holidays. We also spend quite a bit of time at the beach every summer, I know that’s a tradition we’ll keep. Getting her children involved in these traditions doesn’t take much convincing from Darcel: It doesn’t require much work on my part. I ask if they want to help and the answer is almost always yes. A few times I’ve gotten a “not right now.” I make sure to keep everything kid-friendly and do my best to keep my expectations in check. My girls are
up for just about anything, so getting them involved is the easy part. Since starting her blog, Darcel has even incorporated a few new rituals into her family’s lives: We do nature walks around the neighborhood with the change of seasons. I love watching the girls talk about and see how different everything looks as the seasons change. I’ve always wanted to have our own rituals/ celebrations, and I’m really looking forward to finally starting to implement them, I really don’t know what I was waiting for!
Darcel has blogged about a few of her family’s traditions. Please check out the links to see some of these wonderful ideas in action over at The Mahogany Way! http://www.themahoganyway.com/2011/04/at-beach.html http://www.themahoganyway.com/2011/04/making-wish-for-warm-weather-to-stay.html
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Sara Janssen
of Walk Slowly, Live Wildly is no stranger to managing a blog. In fact, she runs a total of five sites that range from discussing her family’s daily lives, hula hooping, cooking, their travels, photography and design. www.thehappyhoop.com www.happyfoody.com www.happyjanssens.com www.sarajanssen.com
With all of her sites, I was curious as to how Sara got into blogging in the first place. I initially started a journal on MySpace in 2005 and started posting recipes that I liked. I was also passionate about green living … and that was back when it was all still very new and trendy to “be green.” Eventually, it merged into a Blogger account and then Wordpress. It gradually evolved into more about our family and lifestyle … and as the years went on, I started several other blogs/websites! Yes, it’s safe to say I like blogging. With all of her blogs and writing, I had to find out what Sara’s favorite part about maintaining a blog was. Her answer was incredibly enthusiastic, making it clear that Sara is truly following her heart in running her various sites. The people!! Our first tour around the country was initially a “let’s go meet some blog readers” tour. In the process of planning, it turned into an educational tour about sustainability and living simply … but we set out with the mission to meet people and build relationships.
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Over our four years of life on the road, we’ve had the opportunity to meet SO MANY blog readers and new friends. I feel so blessed to know so many of my readers in person! We’ve stayed at their homes, shared meals, stayed up late discussing our passions and dreams. We will have those friends for life…we keep in touch with LOTS of them on a regular basis. They are all incredibly inspiring and unique individuals/families and I can’t imagine our life without them! Of course, with every positive there can be a negative. Sara also shared the not-sofabulous aspects to blogging: I tend to put WAY too much pressure on myself and instead of just blogging daily life, I wait until I have something that is well thought-out and takes forever to write! It drives me crazy that I do that, but I’m working on it. It’s also hard when you’ve put yourself out there for all to see/read … and someone is critical of you or what you have written. I don’t get a lot of negative feedback because my blog tends to be a “happy place” (which is
very much intentional) … but over the years I’ve learned to develop a pretty thick skin. With a family of four (soon to be five with a baby due in April!) that has spent most of their time on the road, Sara, her husband, Matt, and two daughters (Bella, 7.5, and Lucy, 2.5) have learned to be flexible when it comes to family rituals. Now that they have put down some roots, they’re looking forward to solidifying their own traditions.
While her site certainly inspires many, Sara also tends to find some inspiration from others online. With the Internet being such a huge part of everyone’s existence these days, it seems that there is never a shortage of ideas for holidays, crafts, etc. It can be overwhelming at times! I am most certainly inspired by reading about other bloggers’ rituals and celebrations, but I have to remind myself that I can’t incorporate them ALL. I try to pull 2-3 fun ideas to try and focus on those.
My advice is to
JUST START! Being that we have been on the road for much of the last 4 years, our traditions have constantly been in flux. We have observed and enjoyed the traditions of those that we were spending the holidays with…and have really enjoyed that. However, now that we are settled, we are super excited to develop new traditions and rituals of our own. One tradition that I’m looking forward to starting is going out to cut down our own Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. I love the magical twinkle of little white lights and want to have them around for as long as possible! We also love to bake, and I plan on finding some very special treats that we can create together. As an unschooling family, we are together all day and we have lots of time to focus on creating new rituals.
Transitioning from a family on the move to one more firmly settled, Sara has some good advice for others looking to start their own special traditions. My advice is to JUST START! Like I said, it’s so easy to get caught up in trying to do it all and make it perfect … when in fact you can create the best rituals and most special memories in the simplest of activities. Also, take photos or keep a journal! Traditions can be passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth … but now that we have the technology, why not document it for all time?! w i n t e r 2012
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Our One Sweet Family
is the space that Shel Frolich Tscherne created to record all the “wonderous adventures and daily goings-on� of her family of four. Shel and her husband David are parents to a 5-year-old and a 3.5 year-old, both of whom have starring roles on the blog. Shel and David have worked hard to provide an upbringing for their girls that is welcoming and that warmly embraces everyone, regardless of differences. Many of their winter family traditions play into that ideal.
Shel and David have worked hard to provide an upbringing for their girls that is welcoming and that warmly embraces everyone, regardless of differences. Many of their winter family traditions play into that ideal. We have always celebrated Christmas, and two years ago started celebrating the Winter Solstice. We adore both holidays, but the more mellow pace of Solstice is a welcome addition to our family festival celebrations especially during a time of year where the world’s pace is at a more frantic level than usual. We decorate our home. Change our nature table. We go cut down a Christmas tree a couple weeks before Christmas and decorate it as a family. We have a family Advent wreath that we light each of the four weeks of Advent.
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We have a Yule Log that we light on Solstice. Our Solstice celebration centers around creating gifts for the birds and other woodland creatures (bird feeders, edible garland etc) and embracing the beauty of the darkest day of the year. As much as possible we avoid turning on lights that day and instead use candle light. We have a simple supper of soup and sandwiches. We put luminaries outside that night. On Christmas morning, we open presents. Each girl receives four gifts. They correlate to the following poem: Something you want, something you need, something you hope for, something to read. Santa leaves something small. The girls make gifts for each other and for us. We will make treats to share with our dearest friends and neighbors.
When the gift giving is done, we bake cinnamon rolls for breakfast! Another tradition that they just started this year involves creating lanterns and going on a lantern walk. Shel shared a bit more about this ritual and the history behind it: In the Waldorf tradition there is a festival called Martinmas. During Martinmas the story of St. Martin is shared and lantern walks are taken. While I was not familiar with the story of St. Martin prior to this year it is one that resonates beautifully with the season we are about to enter into. It speaks of bravery, of doing the right thing even when the right thing might go against the popular choice, giving to others, and letting your inner light shine through. We created our own lanterns and then gathered with other Waldorf inspired homeschooler for the lantern walk (our first!). We gathered to hear the story of St. Martin, headed out (on a perfect autumn night with full moon shining high above) with our lanterns aglow and headed to the path that would take up through the wooded area that was being used for our lantern walk. Lantern songs were sung along the way. It was truly a magical experience! We are looking forward to celebrating Martinmas for years to come!
http://ouronesweetfamily.blogspot.com/2011/11/ making-lanterns.html http://ouronesweetfamily.blogspot.com/2011/11/ our-first-lantern-walk.html
Involving the kids is one way that Shel suggests can help in creating meaningful family traditions that all will enjoy. Keep it simple. Let the beauty of the season shine through. Find ways that your children can be included in the preparations and the giving. Talk to them about the how the true gift is in the giving and the time spent with family and dear friends. Let them help plan holidays and festivals. Read lots of blogs and books on other holidays. The best way to build a tolerant world is to experience first hand different things.
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Who knew that a website full of rudimentary drawings done in Photoshop would become such a big hit? Certainly not
Amber Dusick
of Parenting. Illustrated with Crappy Pictures™
Her website has amassed a huge following. Her pictures and stories are funny, accessible, and have many people nodding their head in agreement with Amber’s quirky take on every day parenting. Amber shared a little bit about how she got into blogging and what she thinks of it all. I started Crappy Pictures as a way to vent. To not go completely crazy. It helps me capture certain moments in time, both good and bad. I really like having the outlet that a blog provides. Parenting is hard and hilarious and frustrating and wonderful. I love that my readers relate and enjoy what I write. It makes it feel easier somehow, like we are all walking this journey together. Strength in numbers. The most difficult part of blogging is showing up. Finding the time to do it. As a parent, it can be hard to carve out that time. I thrive on it though, so it seems to work out. Living in California presents its own set of challenges when it comes time for winter holidays, yet the temperatures never dip anywhere near freezing. Creativity rules and Amber explained what she does with her two young boys, ages 5 and 2. We live in Los Angeles, so we don’t get a winter here. I compensate for this by using copious amounts of glitter in winter craft projects with them. We create a simulated winter in our house. Paper snowflakes, homemade garlands, snowman pictures and that sort of thing. Everything gets a dusting of glitter. And if you know how glitter works, that means everything.
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We also have an orange tree that ripens in December/January. So winter involves all of us heading out to the orange tree in our pajamas and picking a handful to juice for breakfast. I love this. We have a lot of fires in the fireplace. The boys like to sip hot cocoa and eat popcorn in front of the fireplace. Again, doing these things gives the illusion of winter. We also drive into the San Gabriel Mountains to see snow. This is a new tradition since we went last year for the first time, but it still counts. The boys had never seen snow. We bundled them up, and they were so excited! We parked and got out of the car, and the kids ran into the snow to build a snowman. Only we forgot gloves or mittens. Well, we didn’t “forget” them. We don’t own any. Anyway, snow is cold. Despite having grown up in the midwest where I endured more than enough snow to deal with in a lifetime, I had forgotten this detail. The boys were ready to hop back in the car within about five minutes. This year, we’re bringing gloves. And also hot cocoa. For Amber, when it comes to creating family traditions, simple is always best. Aside from glitter, which always works, I’d suggest finding something that is meaningful and fun for all of you. Traditions can be simple. In fact, they are more likely to stick if they are simple.
A former teacher and lifetime learner, Avital Norman Nathman is a play-at-home mama, freelance writer, wife and feminist (and not necessarily in that order). When not gardening, cooking or dancing around the house, you can catch her musing about motherhood and feminism at www.TheMamafesto.com w i n t e r 2012
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We all know the importance of reading with your kids, but have you considered telling stories to them as well? by Samantha Mei Reading with young children develops skills such as letter recognition, left to right scanning, the love for the written word and many other wonderful learning attributes. If you combine this with oral stories, children are able to develop a wonderful capacity for imagination and for creating their own images in their heads. This then helps them to sequence the information and comprehend it in a whole new level. Storytelling has a deep history in culture and religion. The act of telling a story can involve one’s own imagination with passing down stories from previous generations. It should be emphasized that one important aspect of storytelling is that it must rely on the listener to help create and visualize the story. Children are a wonderful and usually very willing audience, with awesome imaginations. One evening, instead of picking up a book, try telling a story to your child and watch as the development progresses. Making up or telling stories may sound like a hard task to attempt after a long day. We’ve all just finished making all three meals plus snacks, cleaning, driving to school, playing, disciplining and, of course, working. The idea of reading to your child sounds wonderful because you know it’s positive but you really don’t have to put much effort into it. However, telling stories to children who are 2-7 years old is actually a fun, relaxing, imaginative activity that is not too difficult. The stories can be as elaborate and detailed as you want, but they don’t all have to be. For example, stories I tell to my 2 ½-yearold and my 5-year-old range from chapter stories with characters we’ve developed over time to very simple, quick stories. Our chapter stories involve Worm, Caterpillar
Telling Stories
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to Children photo: robyn s. russell
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and their protector, Beetle Bug, with Magic Mushroom Lady and her magic powders. My simple, “I’m-tired-and-can’t-really-thinkright-now” stories involve backhoe loaders at construction sites, to dolphins swimming through coral reefs. Holiday time is great because that leads right into stories about pumpkin patches, giving thanks, the lighting of candles and decorating trees. Story time can also be used to teach and reinforce lessons. For example, if my child is having a problem sharing with others or using mean words, I create a story to teach him about appropriate decisions to make. I like to create stories in which the characters are animals because the children have fun envisioning these pictures. Storytelling is a part of human development. According to Pamela Rutledge, Ph.D., stories are a way to use our right brain which, in turn, triggers the imagination. In her article, “The Psychological Power of Storytelling” (Psychology Today, 1/16/11), Rutledge states that by “engaging our imagination, we become participants in the narrative. We can step out of our own shoes, see differently, and increase our empathy for others. Through imagination, we tap into creativity that is the foundation of innovation, self-discovery and change.”
While telling stories, I can see my children forming the pictures in their head and becoming active members in the story. They will often come up with the next part or develop a new character. We become partners in the storytelling process. The children are getting all the benefits of the spoken word. They are learning about the inflections and expressions involved in speaking. In addition, they are developing a knowledge base about character development, plot, conflict and resolution. I use this partnering process not only as a mother but as a teacher and a schoolbased tutor. I have worked with students who have special needs as well as students who simply do not like writing, yet have wonderful imaginations. Without the pencil there to hinder us, we are able to create beautiful images with developed characters, exciting problems and enchanting resolutions. Another wonderful benefit that I have observed in my children and students is their attention span. They are able to sit and listen for great lengths of time, even my 2 ½ year old. We always tell two stories before bedtime but there are other times when it comes in handy. Long car rides, long lines, cuddling in bed in the morning, sitting under a tree and having a picnic are all wonderful times to sit around and tell a story.
Samantha Mei is a mother of two boys, 5 and 2 ½. Before having children she taught at a Los Angeles Unified Public Elementary School for 7 years. She has a K-5 Multiple Subject Credential and a Mild Moderate Education Specialist Credential as well as a Masters in Educational Administration. Currently Samantha is a School-Based Tutor in the Los Angeles Area. She is the founder of StrongestLink, a School-Based tutoring company that works with small groups of students during the school day.
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show + tell bamoo favorites
for the family... River Veda River Veda’s products are made with natural, organic and sustainable ingredients. Mom will love the smooth, rich and never greasy Revival Eye Cream and the replenishing properties of the Wonder Lift Serum. Dad will appreciate the lightweight Shaving Soap and nourishing Vital Moisturizer.
After Hours Wax Seal Reversible Necklaces What a sweet treat for someone you love! These wax seal monogram necklaces are stamped on both sides to make them reversible. Made with fine silver, no two designs are alike!
Cuddles From Home Blankets + Pillows
FIVEkin Jewelry FIVEkin has fun jewelry for kids and the family. The bracelets, hair barrettes and necklaces are bright and cheerful. You’ll be empowered to wear your thoughts or feelings “on your sleeve” with these unique pieces!
These adorable blanket + pillow sets are perfect for naptime at home or at school. There are several designs and are small enough to be easily packed away after a nice rest, or just let your kiddos snuggle up in their personal bag to read a nice story on a cold afternoon.
Zarbee’s All-Natural Cough Syrup With the Winter months upon us and coughs everywhere, this great tasting natural cough syrup is the perfect way to go. Kids love it!
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Lana de Ana
Funky Little Frog Wall Art Signs
How cute are these pixie hoodies? These adorable winter hats fit comfortably, keeping you warm and stylishly cute.
The Funky Little Frog’s sweet signs have the perfect messages for any season. They are rustic, recycled, and creative. The perfect gift for that someone who has everything!
Mary Marie Knits How adorable are these over-sized knitted poufs? They are so fun and will accent any room with the perfect amount of charm and warmth!
AVictoria Knitted Gloves Warm up your hands with these amazing-hand knitted gloves. They are sweet and fun – every family member should have a pair! Check out this wonderful Etsy site for hand-knitted purses as well.
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show + tell bamoo favorites
for the kids... Anamalz These are amazingly fun for all ages. These Animalz are cute, bendable, eco friendly and provide hours of entertainment.
Enchanted Enfant Clothing Stop by the amazing Enchanted Enfant shop to look for an extra-special dress for your sweetie. These clothes are seriously beautiful and make the perfect “special” outfit for a special evening out.
Little Miss Lollies Cushion Poufs Can’t get enough poufs? Each of these upcycled poufs is made with love and will be a fun seat for the playroom or a little chair for a toddler. They come in happy fun colors -- a great gift for anyone.
Peaceable Kingdom Games Peaceable Kingdom has amazing cooperative games for when its too cold outside. Inside games are where it’s at! Count Your Chickens is super fun and kids learn about working together to get the chicks back home.
Innovative Kids Puzzles and Games Want something for your kiddos to do on super-cold days where playing outside just isn’t an option? Try these awesome eco-friendly puzzles, games and board books from the wide variety of choices from Innovative Kids.
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Hot Dogs + Catsup Stuffed Dogs and Cats With a name like that, how could you go wrong? These cute repurposed pups and other stuffed toys are sweet and loveable. They even have little pockets for your kids to hide their favorite treasures.
Spirithood These are ridiculously cute! Every kid would love to pretend to get their warrior spirit on with these cozy Spirithoods! Whether you choose the wolf or the husky, they are all adorable. Part of the proceeds benefits PRO-blue, an organization that helps animals!
Gluckskafer Wooden Stove from Hazelnut Kids This awesome wooden stove is perfect for little hands. All kids love to pretend to cook, and this sturdy wooden version is small enough to carry around the house!
Face Painting Pencils from Hazelnut Kids Your child will have so much fun painting his or her friends’ faces with these unique face paint pencils. They are easily washable, eco-friendly and make a super-fun gift any time of the year!
Plan Toys Wooden Crane from Hazelnut Kids If your boy likes to play with cars and trucks, this version is amazing. Your son will get hours of enjoyment playing with the crane! The fact that it is sturdy wood, makes this toy a classic that will stay in your family for years to come and be able to be passed down to little siblings.
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show + tell bamoo favorites
for baby... Keptin Jr. Organic Cotton Doll from Hazelnut Kids This baby is perfect for your little baby’s first doll. It’s soft and cuddly and comes in different ethnicities. Made from 100% organic cotton and stuffed with pure wool, your child will love snuggling with this cutie!
Westcoast Baby Bamboo Kimono Wrap + Cocoon Swaddler These infant kimono wraps and cocoon swaddlers are so luxuriously soft and cozy you’ll wish you had some for yourself! Breathable and completely hypoallergenic, Westcoast Baby’s bamboo line will wrap your baby in pure comfort.
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Husavik Sweaters This adorable silver fox sweater is repurposed felted angora, lambswool and decorated with a handmade tree branch button! These are sweet and warm and perfect for a winter day!
Sheepskin Sheepskins are the complement for the winter season. They are soft and cozy and super warm. They make great gifts for new parents with babies, because they are perfect for a baby to cozy up on and take a rest. Amazing and well worth the price!
JJ Cole Hooded Towel Set + Zoey Diaper Bag This sweet hooded towel is the perfect thing to wrap your baby in after a nice warm bath. JJ Cole makes high quality products that you can trust and will enjoy. Turn to JJ Cole for your baby gear and try out the new Zoey bag to be both stylish, ecofriendly and practical.
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in reflection
Amy Jo Johnson on Motherhood and Creativity by Ashley Ess At a young age, actress Amy Jo Johnson decided she wanted to become an artist. She is a true creative; no facet of her life is left untouched by her art. Whether she is staring in roles in television (Flashpoint, The Division, Felicity) and movies (Without Limits, Interstate 60), performing and recording music (she sings and plays guitar), painting or journaling, Amy Jo appears to weave her instincts for creativity and family with grace.
A very private person, Amy Jo is dedicated to her family and nurturing her inner life. In 2008 she gave birth to her daughter, Francesca. Taking time off of work to birth and bond with her baby, Amy Jo had found that her new family life had taken the place of her art. With less of a struggle and more of an embrace, she is managing to balance her artistic dreams and aspirations with her most important creation, her family. On being pregnant...
I had been waiting my entire life for the day I found out I was pregnant. Truly, a life long dream finally came true at thirty-seven years old! I had only known [the baby’s father] for about four months! So I was a bit nervous of the adventure we were embarking on together as strangers.
But my faith in life is as big as the highest mountain and I knew that no matter what, I was in the right place doing the right thing. It’s been a journey to say the least. I think that not only having a baby, but being in a committed relationship with someone, is like holding up a giant mirror for you to see all your beautifuls and uglies, which I am 100% grateful for. Commitment to personal growth is what I am all about and BOY OH BOY, am I growing. On mothering and wellbeing…
I think the biggest challenge I find as a mother is making sure I’m doing enough, and not too much. It’s a balance, which I handle by constantly checking in with my instincts. Deep down we know what is best for our children. So deep down I try to navigate my way with the choices I need to make as a parent. What surprises me most is Francesca’s ability to help steer me in the right direction. Also, I’m a huge believer in listening to your body. I’ve noticed that if I let Francesca make choices about food and what she’s craving it’s usually exactly what her body needs. I try to keep organic snacks in the house if what she’s craving is cozy fun treats. Also, we live in a wonderful city with lots of parks and boardwalks on the water so we spend a lot of our time outside. Even in the winter. On creativity and work...
One thing for sure I have realized in the past three years of being mom is that you cannot fully create while nurturing. The first two years of
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Photos by Krista Fogel
Every night before bed my husband, Francesca and I go through all the things we are grateful for...
Francesca’s life was a real wake up call for me. I had been focused on myself and my creativity for more than half my life -- okay let’s face it, all my life -- and suddenly I had this little person in front of me that needed me as much as I had always needed myself. So I let go. I had been waiting so long to be a mother I just took a deep breath and let go of me. Even while working on a TV show, I was completely focused on being a mom. Needless to say, I got shingles five months into breastfeeding and working twelve hours a day! But sometimes in life we gotta do
what we gotta do. NOW! Francesca is three and has started pre-school! And I am also thankfully on hiatus from the TV show. So I’ve spent the past three months writing and singing and creating from 9 am to 11:30 am Monday through Friday. And I must say it is so lovely to say hello again to those things that drive me and make me, me. On family…
When I was a little girl I went through a bit of a depression around the age
of twelve. I was overwhelmed by the fear of death. My mother, who has since passed away, cured me of this heavy, scary time. She taught me to be grateful. She taught me to write down all the things I’m grateful for, especially when feeling down. I’ve brought this ritual into our family. Every night before bed my husband, Francesca and I go through all the things we are grateful for, taking turns. She loves it so much she now begins the day by asking me what I’m grateful for.
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root + stem
Winter Angel Tutorial by Nicole Spring
My oldest daughter, Kaulini, has had a love of angels for as long as I can remember. She is always talking about her guardian angel. I have even caught her talking to her angel on more than one occasion. Her love of her angel is truly a special thing. Actually, it is thanks to that true, deep love of hers that I was inspired to find my faith, something that I will forever be indebted to her for. Last winter I decided to create something that would remind her of her special guardian angel that is always watching over her -something simple and small, yet meaningful and beautiful, to look at. That’s when I made her this guardian/winter angel mobile. It fit the bill perfectly. When I was finished, I suprised her with it. I hung it up in a corner of her room so she could always see it there. She loves it even more than I imagined. In fact, she cherishes it so much that I am now making a couple more for my other two children so they might have a similar experience.
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Nicole Spring is a girl known by many names: wife, mama, homemaker (of the radical kind), knitter, cook, seamstress, student (of life as well as of her children), crafter, photographer, and girl of all trades. Winter Angel Tutorial By Nicole Spring
She currently lives in Portland, OR with her
My oldest daughter, Kaulini, has had a love of angels for as long as I can remember. She is always talking about her guardian angel. I have even caught her talking to her angel on more than one occasion. Her love of her angel is truly a special thing. Actually, it is thanks to that true, deep love of hers that I was inspired to find my faith, something that I will forever be indebted to her for.
husband, three little ones, and a house full
Last winter I decided to create something that would remind her of her special guardian angel that is always watching over her -something simple and small, yet meaningful and beautiful, to look at. That's when I made her this guardian/winter angel mobile. It fit the bill perfectly. When I was finished, I surprised her with it. I hung it up in a corner of her room so she could always see it there. She loves it even more than I imagined. In fact, she cherishes it so much that I am now making a couple more for my other two children so they might have a similar experience.
local Waldorf community with dreams to
This is a fast project with simple supplies and can completely be done as a last-minute gift.
she chronicles her family’s journey through a
Please view the tutorial for the Winter Angel Instructions! If you have trouble downloading please email info@bamboofamilymag.com for the pdf file.
of animals, and is heavily involved in her
someday live off the land on her own frontier homestead. Always with her camera in hand,
creative life on her blog Frontier Dreams.
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