by michelle on January 25, 2012
Tonight, I tucked the girls in, waited a little while for Claire to fall asleep, and then got up and sat down on my own bed.
And then just sat there.
I surfed twitter for a while, then set it aside. I just sat there. No books, no knitting, no writing, no wriggling baby.
Empty handed.
Intellectually, I know that this is the uncomfortable period in between one burst of creative inspiration and another. But I am feeling, well, uncomfortable.
~~~
On the winter solstice we walked through a beautiful beeswax candle labyrinth, and the word “trust” came to me as we were walking. Trusting that I couldn’t get lost walking that labyrinth. Trusting in the inherent drive towards growth, wholeness and love in my children, and in myself.
Trust.
by michelle on January 20, 2012
by michelle on January 18, 2012
SOPA matters to parents, Canadians and the global internet community. Have you ever…
- Looked up something on Wikipedia to help you answer your child’s question?
- Watched a video on YouTube to learn how to latch your breastfeeding baby or hand express milk?
- Connected with other parents, parenting bloggers or your extended family on social media websites like facebook and Twitter?
- Supported your family from income earned in an internet startup or blog ad revenue?
SOPA threatens all these things by forcing website owners to monitor all content posted on their sites for copyright infringement. The practical reality of this is that large websites with user-generated content like Wikipedia, YouTube and other social media will be impossible to maintain. Control and censorship of the internet will squelch innovation, dramatically reduce new internet businesses and reduce the information available to people on the internet around the world.
What kind of internet will be around when your kids are old enough to use it on their own?
Learn more:
SOPA matters to Canada
Stop Online Piracy Act
SOPA infographic
Americans, Take Action here
by michelle on January 16, 2012
Kids are the masters of making the most of whatever comes their way.
If life sends lemons, you better believe the child is reaching for the jar of sugar to make lemonade. And if the sky sends down 5 centimeters of snow, the children are throwing on their snowpants and gathering up every scrap of snow from the lawn to make a slide, snowman or fort. At least here on the West Coast they are, because snow here is rare and therefore precious.

It’s pretty inspiring, really. It’s too easy to look out the window at masses of white flakes falling out of the sky and think, “Yikes! I have to drive the car in this!” But even as adults with responsibilities we can still make the most of the magic that’s given to us every day. We can put on our own proverbial snowpants and lick snow from our mittens. Or crunch through the icy layer on the duck pond.

I’ve been spending Sundays unplugged from the internet, inspired by this Unplugged Sunday project. It’s been good. Very good. It helps me see where and when I feel twitchy for a fix, and where I’m using technology to actually achieve something or make the most of what I’ve got. Creating that space feels good, like a freshly made bed or clean countertops.
Snowy, computer free Sundays. We’re making the most of it.
by michelle on January 13, 2012
Inspired by SouleMama – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
