Do you ever get that feeling at the start of a new year? You know, the one where you are just filled with hope for the future, new goals, new beginnings, new you even! Well, here at Brambleberry Kids, we've got that feeling!
We started our year off with a Celebration of New at our annual Noon Year's Party. We celebrate specifically on the first in order to take that first day of the year to be grateful for fresh starts. The children love the party atmosphere, and for us adults, its a precious reminder that every new thing is really a birth. A tearing open of that which was to make space for that which comes.
So, with that, welcome to the Birth of 2019! The year my eldest begins her Kindy journey, my youngest graduates from babyhood to toddlerhood, and my middle child begins his schooling journey in pre-kindy.
I have decided not to set resolutions at the New Year, but to set intentions. My intentions are that this year will be one filled with peace in my heart that overflows into my home and my homeschool. To achieve that, I am spending these first few weeks exploring our family's rhythm, finding the balance we need to protect the peace that our home deserves.
We aren't a scheduled family, despite being fairly busy, and having so many young children! I refuse to rush, and am rejecting the idea that we need to be out the door early in the morning for anything. Except maybe to get to Nana's house or watch the sunrise! Those things are worth moving faster in the morning!
So, in honor of newness- here's a sneak peek into our anti-stress morning routines! Morning to me is such a beautiful gift! Whether the day before went well or not, whether the children slept or not, the sun still rises, and with its rising, comes newness. A new opportunity to start again.
My children wake naturally between 5 and 6.30. When they wake up, we get dressed head to toe, make beds, brush teeth, feed the cats and dogs, let them out, and then we move on to our morning meal and lesson block.On a good day, this takes 10 minutes. However, we also do have mornings where NOBODY (me included!) is ready to do what needs done or everyone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Life, man. It'll get ya!
Each morning, my children eat a home cooked breakfast at a child's size table in our living room while I read to them and enjoy my morning coffee. Breakfast is usually a green smoothie, a piece of raw fruit, and pancakes or pumpkin bread. Sometimes, my kids will ask for eggs, and occasionally, my oldest will cook eggs for everyone!
I keep a sweet little basket beside my couch filled with books that suit our weekly and monthly theme, and I invite the kids to each pick one to read. They love this time, and really I do too! As we read, we usually burn Nag Champa incense, and for the wintertime, I've been playing "Fireplace" from Netflix on our television to create coziness. If things are especially chaotic, I'll put the Il Divo station from Pandora on as well on low, and leave the lights off. Who needs electric lights anyway at 6.15 in the morning?! Not me.
Our family is religious, and so we spend time reading a Bible story and praying during our breakfast time too. Its really a beautifully slow way to start our morning, and I have to be honest- the prayers of a near four year old little boy will bring even the burliest manly man to tears! At this time in the morning, we often take a minute to talk about social justice issues in a child friendly way, or we talk about character building. Lately, we've been spending time talking about using our words to lift others up rather than tear them down.
Afterward, we'll do Yoga cards, family stretching, or lately, Cosmic Yoga! We spend a few minutes intentionally moving our bodies together as a group. Even the toddler gets into it, though she often just twirls in circles giggling! Our breakfast time usually takes an hour or so, and then we all (including the 18 month old!) clean the table and dishes together. Another time, I'll go into how I choose what books we'll use each week, and how to tie them all in together!
At this point, the kids need to move their bodies, and I'm ready to have some time to myself too. Most mornings, we stay home and they can play. I often leave an invitation to play or a provocation in our living room, but more often than not, they'd rather play with each other in their rooms at this time. This is my time to do a devotional, play on the floor with the toddler, groom the dog, manage household chores for the day, etc. If all goes well, this is about an hour or so, but more often than not, its about 25-30 minutes.
By 9ish, we're all ready to get up and DO something, so we collect our picnic basket, work together to pack it with our lunch, and get in the car for the daily outing! This transition can be especially hard, so I allot almost 45 minutes to 'get in the car' time. I mean, really, why are the shoes NEVER at the door?! We could make it faster by me packing lunch the night before, but I find that the kids choose foods that they will actually eat if I let them pack their own just before. I hold a special snack aside which I then dole out to kiddos after they've gotten buckled in the car.
So, that's our slow and low stress morning routine including homeschooling, home blessing, meal time, and play! Its been a blessing to me, and I hope it has also been a blessing to my children.
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