Beautiful read. Would love to read and hear more about your thoughts on parenting Rafi, love the “my immune system is Strong” and him choosing his “potion” !
I’d love to write more about our parenting philosophy but it definitely feels like we are figuring it out.
There are some things that feel solid and grounded in who we are, and other aspects of parenting that feels more fluid and we are trying it on to see if it fits.
These kids listen to everything though, beautiful little sponges so the ways we speak about our body, well-being, selves is all taken on board
Loving this check in, reading your newsletter always gives me this little shot of motivation to start my own. I think partly because what’s true for you has a bizarre synchronicity to what’s true for me in real time. My newsletter is yet to happen, but the motivation is still welcomed and appreciated ;)
The school talk has been big over here in my house lately too, well lately & always, because I’m passionate about alternative learning and grateful for the many ways that can look (and for the variety of options that are becoming more available) as the mainstream system never jived with me. But my husband is really encouraging putting our son in a standard preschool and soon because that is the only option near us and he thinks he’ll benefit greatly from it.
Side note - I died a little inside when I saw the forest school you took Raf to a while ago and eagerly showed my husband THIS is what I’ve been looking for all along (for this stage of life) I’ve been low-key looking into how challenging it would be to start our own forest school with a parents association but it feels like a little more responsibility than I’m ready for in this season of life if I’m being honest.
Anyway, unschooling feels the most aligned with how I want my kiddos to learn and experience the world, but it also feels so big and burdensome of a responsibility sometimes and as I’m back in the bliss & complete full on-ness of newbornhood with our second, I know that some kind of school structure that routinely takes my children into the world (and gives me some time & space) is definitely what I crave long term. I know that our version of unschooling could look that way too if we create the structure for it... ultimately I’m just grateful I have a couple more years to really think on it before needing to implement!
Niko’s nearing 3yo now and I see the ache he has to be around other kids his age and older which has been hard to witness because I take it too personally and it can feel like I’m not doing enough as his mom to facilitate those containers for him as we are new expats and are in the early stages of integrating and building community here.
Ech, trusting trusting trusting in the timing of life.
As for the discussion on the holiday season... I have been working towards opting out of Christmas and instead curating a super winter-y yule celebration season since becoming a mom and this year felt like we finally got kinda there. I invited over several families from our neighborhood to a winter solstice candlelit dinner party, we drank homemade traditional wassail, lit a big fire in the hearth, and enjoyed each other’s company, wrapping up the night with stargazing while sharing a joint. It was super low key and of course my mind projected in the future like “this is my new thing, winter solstice will be my thing, everyone will know to plan to be at mine the 21st, and the party will get bigger and more beautiful with every year” think massive bonfire and live music and games and feast and kiddie activities and a communal ritual all by candlelight and on and on…
As the oldest of 5, like you my Christmas spirit turned to giving and I didn’t feel cheated when I learned the truth about Santa. I remember feeling a little duped, and a bit mad at myself for not seeing through it from the git go but I also was amazed at the level of dedication and work my mom and other adults had put in to make magic happen.
Nothing about Santa resonates with me now though, and although my son learned this year that the man in red and white is named Santa, he has no other ties to this story and I feel good about raising him two steps away from the Christmas craze. Instead of cookies for Santa, we can make treats/offerings for the spirits and leave them in the forest. Or just generally reviving the pagan roots to all the Christmas traditions, because that’s where all these Christian festivities began… “adopted” and then override the existing pagan traditions which were based in the cycles of nature.
The calendar thing is interesting though, thirteen months makes a lot more sense to me, and generally feels more aligned in my body, but how to actually live by a different calendar than the one accepted by your society at large is a tricky prospect. I remember the first time I realized (not too many years ago actually) that different places on earth went by different calendars in the present day and it blew my mind. Still does, even though it makes sense and is quite obvious now when I think about it.
Okay... I feel like with these topics we could have a sit down and talk for hours but I think I’ve maxed my comment space here as it is. Looking forward to see all that this new calendar year brings for us personally and our world at large 💫
Hey beautiful! I read through your comment days ago and I’m dying to come back and give you a proper reply, haven’t had half a second without Raf to do so! I haven’t forgotten. Thank you for taking the time to really participate in the conversation and sharing so much - I so appreciate the effort xxxx
Beautiful read. Would love to read and hear more about your thoughts on parenting Rafi, love the “my immune system is Strong” and him choosing his “potion” !
I’d love to write more about our parenting philosophy but it definitely feels like we are figuring it out.
There are some things that feel solid and grounded in who we are, and other aspects of parenting that feels more fluid and we are trying it on to see if it fits.
These kids listen to everything though, beautiful little sponges so the ways we speak about our body, well-being, selves is all taken on board
Thank you Kat. Once again talking about topics that have been on my mind lately. Really appreciate your work🙏
I appreciate you taking the time to come and read xxx thank you
Loving this check in, reading your newsletter always gives me this little shot of motivation to start my own. I think partly because what’s true for you has a bizarre synchronicity to what’s true for me in real time. My newsletter is yet to happen, but the motivation is still welcomed and appreciated ;)
The school talk has been big over here in my house lately too, well lately & always, because I’m passionate about alternative learning and grateful for the many ways that can look (and for the variety of options that are becoming more available) as the mainstream system never jived with me. But my husband is really encouraging putting our son in a standard preschool and soon because that is the only option near us and he thinks he’ll benefit greatly from it.
Side note - I died a little inside when I saw the forest school you took Raf to a while ago and eagerly showed my husband THIS is what I’ve been looking for all along (for this stage of life) I’ve been low-key looking into how challenging it would be to start our own forest school with a parents association but it feels like a little more responsibility than I’m ready for in this season of life if I’m being honest.
Anyway, unschooling feels the most aligned with how I want my kiddos to learn and experience the world, but it also feels so big and burdensome of a responsibility sometimes and as I’m back in the bliss & complete full on-ness of newbornhood with our second, I know that some kind of school structure that routinely takes my children into the world (and gives me some time & space) is definitely what I crave long term. I know that our version of unschooling could look that way too if we create the structure for it... ultimately I’m just grateful I have a couple more years to really think on it before needing to implement!
Niko’s nearing 3yo now and I see the ache he has to be around other kids his age and older which has been hard to witness because I take it too personally and it can feel like I’m not doing enough as his mom to facilitate those containers for him as we are new expats and are in the early stages of integrating and building community here.
Ech, trusting trusting trusting in the timing of life.
As for the discussion on the holiday season... I have been working towards opting out of Christmas and instead curating a super winter-y yule celebration season since becoming a mom and this year felt like we finally got kinda there. I invited over several families from our neighborhood to a winter solstice candlelit dinner party, we drank homemade traditional wassail, lit a big fire in the hearth, and enjoyed each other’s company, wrapping up the night with stargazing while sharing a joint. It was super low key and of course my mind projected in the future like “this is my new thing, winter solstice will be my thing, everyone will know to plan to be at mine the 21st, and the party will get bigger and more beautiful with every year” think massive bonfire and live music and games and feast and kiddie activities and a communal ritual all by candlelight and on and on…
As the oldest of 5, like you my Christmas spirit turned to giving and I didn’t feel cheated when I learned the truth about Santa. I remember feeling a little duped, and a bit mad at myself for not seeing through it from the git go but I also was amazed at the level of dedication and work my mom and other adults had put in to make magic happen.
Nothing about Santa resonates with me now though, and although my son learned this year that the man in red and white is named Santa, he has no other ties to this story and I feel good about raising him two steps away from the Christmas craze. Instead of cookies for Santa, we can make treats/offerings for the spirits and leave them in the forest. Or just generally reviving the pagan roots to all the Christmas traditions, because that’s where all these Christian festivities began… “adopted” and then override the existing pagan traditions which were based in the cycles of nature.
The calendar thing is interesting though, thirteen months makes a lot more sense to me, and generally feels more aligned in my body, but how to actually live by a different calendar than the one accepted by your society at large is a tricky prospect. I remember the first time I realized (not too many years ago actually) that different places on earth went by different calendars in the present day and it blew my mind. Still does, even though it makes sense and is quite obvious now when I think about it.
Okay... I feel like with these topics we could have a sit down and talk for hours but I think I’ve maxed my comment space here as it is. Looking forward to see all that this new calendar year brings for us personally and our world at large 💫
Hey beautiful! I read through your comment days ago and I’m dying to come back and give you a proper reply, haven’t had half a second without Raf to do so! I haven’t forgotten. Thank you for taking the time to really participate in the conversation and sharing so much - I so appreciate the effort xxxx