Reflections: I'm So Glad I'm Here

Despite the non-winter weather (or perhaps because of it) my house has seen a lot of runny noses and yucky coughs this season. After my own turn with this winter cold, I found myself alone in my house for an entire Sunday. My sweet husband’s only instructions were, “Rest.” I did plenty of that. And gradually, as my energy returned, I felt compelled to clean the house and help those germs move on their way.

I cleaned the house in absolute quiet, at a snail’s pace, and the experience was nothing less than amazing. (I’m not kidding!) As I washed doorframes and polished balusters, I noticed every groove and tiny detail. I wondered about who had constructed this solid old Cape, and I thought about a family living here at an earlier time, washing these same floors. I thought about my own family, and the imaginary worlds my children create under the table or behind the closet door.  As the afternoon light shone through my windows, I saw beauty that often goes unnoticed, and I felt such appreciation for our little place in this world.

While I may not have the luxury of cleaning in solitude again, I do want to try to carry this mindfulness with me each time I place broom to wood or rag to windowsill. Housekeeping as meditation, I suppose.

And I found the perfect inspiration during my friend Erin Goodman’s 10-Day Family Recharge earlier this month. Erin created ten beautiful days of ideas and encouragement for families looking to reconnect with each other and with what matters most in their family life.

Day One: Erin asked us to pause throughout the day to notice the beauty that is now. One of the participants, Annie, took out her video camera and captured a day in her life. But really, it could be a day in my life, or your life, I’m sure. Set to Elizabeth Mitchell’s “I’m So Glad I’m Here” Annie’s video reminds us that the beauty is indeed right now.

Housekeeping as meditation.

Enjoy!

Parenting Simply: Love & Gratitude

In the busy-ness of life, we often move, move, move forward without noticing the time or the space or the feelings that we’re moving through.  But what happens when we stand still?  When we relax for a moment, and breathe, and notice what is happening around us while we stand still?  Everything changes. 

Read more over at Kidoinfo today!

Thoughts on Warmth

I actually love seeing my children’s winter gear strewn about the house- the jackets drying on the backs of chairs, hats and mittens warming on a radiator, boots waiting by the door. I’m happy when I see my girls bundled up and warm as they play outside. And I’ve been enjoying all the ways I can warm their bodies when they come back inside—cookies right out of the oven, little mugs of hot cocoa, a game in front of the fireplace, extra blankets at story-time.

During a quiet part of the day, I’ve started curling up with a collection of lectures given by the incomparable Rudolf Steiner in the early 1900’s. The other day I was struck by this statement he made about young children:

“What you say, what you teach, does not yet make an impression,

except insofar as children imitate what you say in their own speech.

But it is what you are that matters;

if you are good this goodness will appear in your gestures…”

- from The Kingdom of Childhood

Steiner’s lecture reminds me of another aspect of warmth that needs our attention: the warmth of our words, our thoughts and our actions. Can these things also wrap themselves around our children and help them feel cozy and cared for and loved? What can we do each day to be our best selves and to make ourselves worthy of imitation?

I know that for myself, I must create some quiet moments each day to sip a cup of tea and rest for bit; I must focus on one task at a time; I must remember to breathe and to stretch; and to say less and listen more. These very small (though not easy) actions generate warmth. They bring calm and peace and pave the way for kind gestures. They bring out the sort of goodness that is worthy of imitation. Yes, those teeny actions throughout the day help me remember what matters most…

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For those of you in Rhode Island, you will soon have the opportunity to spend a *warm* evening with Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting!  He will be speaking at the Meadowbrook Waldorf School in West Kingston, RI on Wednesday, February 8th at 7 pm. The evening’s topic will be The Soul of Discipline: Nurturing Healthy Behaviors in the Growing Child.

More information can be found on the Meadowbrook Waldorf School’s Facebook Page.  You may also call (401)491-9570 during the school day to register for this free event.

If you are local, I hope to see you there!!

Rhythm: the heartbeat of our days

I’ve been following an informative series over at The Parenting Passageway about the Eight Facets of a Healthy Family Culture. To kick off the series, Carrie has been talking about rhythm- a topic near and dear to my heart- as I have seen the transformative power of a solid rhythm firsthand. Here are a few thoughts I'd like to add to the conversation:

I keep a little note in my kitchen windowsill, above my sink, and this little paper means the world to me- it is the heartbeat of our days. Sometimes friends come over and comment on it, and say they’d like me to share it. So today I’m very happy to do that here….with one caveat. As Carrie said in her post today, “My only caution is: rhythm is specific to your family and your family’s values and life. Therefore, please don’t spend TOO much time looking. Get out your piece of paper and write down a flow to your day. Live with it, tweak it, change it, but start.”

Winter Rhythm 2012


So, are my weeks as perfect as they look on paper? Not really! But I'm not actually striving for "perfect."  I'm striving for predictability and purpose and peace of mind.  Some days we can’t pull off all of the little tasks, and some days we don’t want to because we’re having fun doing something else. But the point is that this IS our underlying rhythm either way. There is flexibility and we can skip or substitute parts of the day as we wish, but the truth is that if we stretch too far, or ignore too much, we begin to feel out of sorts. That uncomfortable feeling lets us know its time to come back in step with the gentle rhythm that we’ve come to know and trust and count on.

I want to tell you that this beautiful rhythm has given my life purpose. It has helped me understand life at home with little ones, and it continues to help me create the warm, loving home that I want for my family. If you have not yet looked at rhythm in your own home, I would love to help you start!

Cleaning House

Welcome to my new little home on the web, www.allisonabramson.com

I've been cleaning up and reorganizing things a bit.  I hope you find this space to be full of inspiration for slowing down and making space for the simple joys of childhood!

Be sure to visit My Programs which now include Simplicity Parenting Book Discussions for moms' groups, book clubs and other groups.

This winter, I'll be contributing to two exciting programs created by my friends Stephanie and Erin.  Click on the buttons at the right for all the details.

And when you have some time, browse through the list of my favorite blogs.  These sites are overflowing with ideas to deepen family connections. 

Thank you for visiting!  Enjoy your time here. 

And if you like what you see, please join the conversations at my Facebook Page, too.  I'd love to hear from you.

Warmly,
Allison

Parenting Simply: Creating Space

The start of a new year carries with it so many possibilities! I love the notion of a fresh start, or just creating a little more space in the New Year for things that are important to me and to my family.

In 2012, I want to create more space for connection to the people in my life—especially my children. I thought about the activities that we’ve enjoyed together this past year- painting, simple crafts, baking, playing games- and then I wondered “what would make it easier to connect in these ways?”

Read more here.

DEC 20: What are you grateful for?

For the first time, my family has been marking the days of Advent with a calendar of little activities. We’ve been making gifts and baking cookies and drinking cocoa. But today- by far- turned out to be my most favorite day of Advent.

Today, my little note in the calendar asked, “What are you grateful for?”

I sat down at the breakfast table with a four year old and a two year old and a sheet of paper (not quite sure what they would say!) 

Here's what they came up with:

I am humbled.  And full of love.

And on that note, I’ll be unplugging for the next week. I don’t want to miss a minute of the love and magic in the air!

So, I send warm wishes for a happy holiday- from my family to yours.

*** AND DON'T FORGET ***

Simplicity Parenting starts January 4th at Bellani Maternity!

There are still spots available.

Join with a friend before Christmas and save $50!