Why focus on today (cold, rain, blah) when yesterday seemed to have more to offer! I know, I know.......every day is beautiful and I should NOT sound so negative. Let's just say that if every day was like today......I may not be such the optimistic person I am. And since I AM an optimistic person....(despite that sometimes it is hard work)...I will distract you away from the gray dull clouds that are currently painting the sky at the moment, and focus on Yesterday.We went to the 'Secret Gardens in the Forest' class at Alice Holt Forest in Farnham, Surrey. The morning started much the same as today....gray skies, cold rain tapping at the windows. But, we were motivated to get dressed and aren't we glad we did! By the time we arrived at Alice Holt, the sun was shining brilliantly! The cool breezes complimented the warm rays of sun so much, that we didn't even care that we were 15 minutes late to the class. The Secret Garden projects were fun. Each child got a box to fill with soil, to then decorate with nature items and fun appliques that will
eventually be adorned with grass and flowers the children also planted in their secret garden. The boxes have a label so the chidren can name their gardens, but ours are still blank. My kiddo's are looking for an inspiration (or they've simply forgotten). After our class ended, we took our pre packed picnic off the beaten path and into the forest. We found a lovely ring of logs with an interesting tall chair that looked like a throne fit for a Forest Queen. Then we head over to the very busy playground so the weeuns could run around for awhile. Zephyr was content climbing on a wooden truck, Cypress was content swinging, but Indigo decided she was being treated unfairly on anything and everything around her. As I was drying her never ending 'poor me' tears, the little 2 year old boy who caused her current tears ran up calling Indigo a 'naughty girl'. With all awkward situations like this, I calmly told the little boy that Indigo is certainly not a 'naughty girl'. And before I had to figure out what next to say; thankfully, the boys aunt quickly arrived and after he (we now know as Leon) fessed up as to why Indigo was crying, the aunt and I took the children over to a playhouse so they could have an opportunity to try playing 'together'. It worked well! it was all smiles and laughter after that. Or at least until the little 18 month old baby reached up to touch Indigo and inadvertently 'pinched' Indigo instead. I decided the n
ew Indigo tears warranted an ice-cream break. (no lectures, Please!) They each picked out their ice-lolly and we head over to the pond. They spent 45 minutes just staring at the pond life, which consisted of 2 large fish and a small moor-hen. As to how my children manage to keep quietly ent
ertained by these simple pleasures when outdoors, yet they tend to fight and squabble over the numerous toys they have at their disposal at home indoors......(hmmmm...maybe I really SHOULD get rid of all the toys). We then found a shady patch of rugged forest that had lots of hills and bushes for exploring and hiding. I sat and relaxed whilst the weeuns played for another 45 minutes or so (I didn't really keep track of time..I kind of 'guess' here!).. I can't express enough how much it warmed my heart to see the children playing with no rules, no gadgets, no interference from me (I held my tongue when it looked like they may maul themselves or cause an injury.....I decided to 'see what happens'...and I'm happy to report no injuries!) They played much in the same way I would have played in the forest when I was growing up. We arrived home blissfully exhausted!
eventually be adorned with grass and flowers the children also planted in their secret garden. The boxes have a label so the chidren can name their gardens, but ours are still blank. My kiddo's are looking for an inspiration (or they've simply forgotten). After our class ended, we took our pre packed picnic off the beaten path and into the forest. We found a lovely ring of logs with an interesting tall chair that looked like a throne fit for a Forest Queen. Then we head over to the very busy playground so the weeuns could run around for awhile. Zephyr was content climbing on a wooden truck, Cypress was content swinging, but Indigo decided she was being treated unfairly on anything and everything around her. As I was drying her never ending 'poor me' tears, the little 2 year old boy who caused her current tears ran up calling Indigo a 'naughty girl'. With all awkward situations like this, I calmly told the little boy that Indigo is certainly not a 'naughty girl'. And before I had to figure out what next to say; thankfully, the boys aunt quickly arrived and after he (we now know as Leon) fessed up as to why Indigo was crying, the aunt and I took the children over to a playhouse so they could have an opportunity to try playing 'together'. It worked well! it was all smiles and laughter after that. Or at least until the little 18 month old baby reached up to touch Indigo and inadvertently 'pinched' Indigo instead. I decided the n
ew Indigo tears warranted an ice-cream break. (no lectures, Please!) They each picked out their ice-lolly and we head over to the pond. They spent 45 minutes just staring at the pond life, which consisted of 2 large fish and a small moor-hen. As to how my children manage to keep quietly ent
ertained by these simple pleasures when outdoors, yet they tend to fight and squabble over the numerous toys they have at their disposal at home indoors......(hmmmm...maybe I really SHOULD get rid of all the toys). We then found a shady patch of rugged forest that had lots of hills and bushes for exploring and hiding. I sat and relaxed whilst the weeuns played for another 45 minutes or so (I didn't really keep track of time..I kind of 'guess' here!).. I can't express enough how much it warmed my heart to see the children playing with no rules, no gadgets, no interference from me (I held my tongue when it looked like they may maul themselves or cause an injury.....I decided to 'see what happens'...and I'm happy to report no injuries!) They played much in the same way I would have played in the forest when I was growing up. We arrived home blissfully exhausted!I'll add that this was an incredible day out as well, because it followed a day at the seaside we had with my Mum-in-Law on Monday. The kiddo's and I spent a couple of hours on the sandy beach collecting different coloured pebbles and made some artwork in the sand with our pebbles. I only have one picture of a flower we made using orange, white and black pebbles, which I have to figure out how to get off my hubby's iPhone and onto this blog. But WOW what incredible therapy it was. I've now coined this as 'Pebble Art Therapy' (and resist the urge to turn this into a new business for me to explore! because I could spend every day making pebble art).
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