Homemade Rice Hot Pack

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  This year, Soren wanted to make his Dad a hot pack.  Hot pack?!  What kind of gift is that?!  Well, if your toddler is as active as our's, then you will understand.  

So we picked up some flannel, cotton ribbon, and rice - and voila! Hot pack!  I threw in a coconut-almond tea bag so it smells extra yummy.  

I have witnessed Rick stuffing our current hot pack under his shirt to get it in the right position, the ties are to help him adjust and keep it there.  Plus - he runs from station to station in the evenings, so if he uses it at work he can just tie it on and go!  It was super fun and super easy.  I highly recommend this DIY!

Remember Motherhood

Some days are up and some are down and sometimes it's just moments.  But motherhood is always there.  I was going through these photos I took yesterday of the little man.  I edited them last night hoping they would lighten my heavy heart a bit, but had no such luck.  

Then, he cuddled me this morning.  Said 'momma - read, book - please?'.  After reading it twice I offered to him to take it to 'dadda, maybe he will read it to you, so momma can go to work'.  He said 'no, dadda.  Momma, read, book - please?'.  My heart soared.  Thank you little man - you have no idea how much momma needed you to remind her how lucky she is to have you.

And how much joy I have found in motherhood.

Soren was busting some really sweet dance moves yesterday.  I found this post from a momma.  Her words and pictures could not have been better timed.  Enjoy.

Heart of a Lion

...and the hands of a mother.  Therese said this at the workshop.  I didn't quite understand it's meaning until this past weekend.

The hands of a mother - a nurturer, a warm touch, forgiveness and acceptance.  But the heart of a lion - to persevere, overcome, stand up...straight - for what you believe in.  Courage.

The events of this weekend were deeply personal and painful.  But as most life lessons, they can destroy you or make you stronger.  I will opt for stronger.  I don't know if it's age that has brought me this wisdom or just my past life experiences,  but I am grateful that it has sustained its course through all of this.  You can choose to be dragged down by the past - which are only memories of the mind.  You can choose to be fooled by hope which lies only in the imagination.  Or you can choose reality.  The now.

I will live here.  The now.  It is sometimes the most unsettling, but the most sincere and honest.  I wish I could vent about all of this, but my heart is on my sleeve for only one person other than myself and I choose him to hold that sacred and will continue to do so.  

I write this to encourage others, no matter the situation - look deep within yourself when things seem impossible.  When your world crumbles at your feet.  Look deeply into your heart.  Find your heart of a lion and always keep your hands palms up, warm and loving, not cold and callused.  Calluses break and bleed over and over again - they have memories.  

I apologize for these esoteric ramblings.  I hope they strike a chord in whoever encounters them.  These words - this sanctuary I created through this is healing for me and the people I love around me.  And that, to me, is priceless.

photo credit unknown, discovered on pinterest

Improvised Sensory Play

We are moving!  More on that later...

Yesterday, Soren took Sensory Play into his own hands.  I couldn't have been prouder, in retrospect.  I walked in yesterday afternoon, keep in mind the past couple days have been super stressful.  A carriage house has just come up for rent in a really good part of Cincinnati.  Great schools - even better - neighborhood.  But Rick and I have been going on this yes/no roller coaster for 48 straight hours.  Is it cost effective? yes, is it more space? yes, can I fix up the kitchen and put a fresh coat of paint on all the walls? yes, can I do another move...? I thought this was a no...but we are working on it.  Can I still go back to school in the summer?  Rick said - YES!  

Ok, needless to say - both of us are a little wiped from the ride.  So I walk in to find this - 

I took some much needed Therese advice from our workshop this past weekend and reflected with 3 seconds of silence.  First second - breath, is it really that much of a mess?  Can it be cleaned up?  Of course - silly!  Soren will probably help (which he did).  Second - what is he learning from this experience, isn't this self initiated sensory play?  YES!  and the third second - proud momma.  There he is scooping and piling and dumping and then, as I bring out the vacuum, he pulls down the cord and gets ready to clean it up himself!

This is what I like to call self-initiated Sensory Play and I couldn't be prouder!