Archive for the ‘Conscious Parenting’ Category

Spiritual Fishing?

June 14th, 2011

Today is a big day for us here at Baugher’s Summer Camp.  We’re going fishing!

poleToday we get a lesson in what it really means to eat meat.  A lesson on how if you’re eating meat of any kind, some living thing gave it’s life for you.

This is a lesson that I don’t think very many people learn in life.  We consume tons of meat on a constant basis, but very few people ever really stop to think about where that meat actually came from.  Very few even momentarily consider that the meat they consume once belonged to a living, breathing Being.

I’ve only ever been fishing maybe twice in my life, but I’ve always loved eating fish.  My boys love fish too, and they love the idea of fishing.  Sounds like a win-win to me.

I went and got my $20 fishing license yesterday, and while we were there, we got three poles and a small tackle box with sinkers, bobbers, and hooks.  I can’t tolerate the idea of impaling a live worm on a hook and then drowning it, so we’re going to grab some fake bait on our way to the water today :)

And because I love any opportunity to teach my children Spiritual practices, we’re also going to talk about how we don’t take any more from nature than we need.  We’re going to Bless the water before we fish and we’re going to actually thank the fish for its contribution to our sustenance before we kill it.

I know fishing is fun and relaxing, and I’m looking forward to sitting in the sunshine, sharing a beautiful afternoon with my kids, but I am really feeling a lot of reverence here.  I’m feeling this is a sacred act.  The hunting and killing to sustain and flourish.

It doesn’t feel “wrong” but I definitely feel the need to approach with honor and respect and gratitude and reverence for the sacrifice that’s being given.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

This new hobby of ours also makes me feel a little more self sustainable.

The garden is going well.  I planted from seed in the waxing moon in May, and transplanted in the waxing moon in June.  So far, so good.  But it’s nice to know we now have a meat source that doesn’t depend on anyone else too.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/digg_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/reddit_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/dzone_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/stumbleupon_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/delicious_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/blinklist_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/blogmarks_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/furl_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/newsvine_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/technorati_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/magnolia_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/google_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/myspace_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/facebook_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/yahoobuzz_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/sphinn_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/mixx_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/twitter_48.png

Bringing Peace

February 28th, 2011

I was on the telephone at eight o’clock this morning. On the telephone, and on hold, waiting for Michael’s teacher to pick up the other end so I could blast him right out of his chair.

I’d written a pretty forceful email on Friday, but when I sent it to Ash, and asked her opinion, she told me not to send it.  I’m an impulsive person, so I try to get the advice of a trusted, less impulsive person before I jump off any bridges.

Because she’s got to be one of the most level headed and sane people I know ( ♥  her), I took her advice and just let it go for the weekend.

“Mr. Thomas” stepped over the line a little and in a moment of frustrated anger, he embarrassed Michael and made him feel humiliated and stupid.  Then he added insult to injury by committing a thoughtless deed that meant very little to him, but meant a LOT to Michael, so the kid got kicked while he was already down.

You want to see fire shoot from the face of a woman?  Hurt her kid.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I can hear Mike and the boys in the other room talking about normal morning stuff. I can hear voices in the distant background on the other end of the phone line.

I’m waiting.

I don’t know what I’m going to say.  I want to explode, and yet I don’t want to be seen as the crazy, exploding mom.  I want to be heard, and taken seriously.  I don’t want to overreact, and being that I wasn’t there myself, that’s hard to judge.  I know Michael is worried about the “fall out” of the call.  He doesn’t want to be uncomfortable at school.

And then BAM!  I knew what to do.

Right there, holding the phone to my ear and waiting on hold, I closed my eyes and took a deep, conscious breath and relaxed on the exhale.  Then, in my mind I said, “Please help me to bring peace to this situation…”

In the blink of an eye, I realized, I don’t have to be right.  I don’t have to yell.  I don’t have to make him feel bad for making Michael feel bad.  I’d already talked with Michael about how this teacher has 90 students, and by the time his class is there in the afternoon, this guy has clearly been worn thin and is ready to go home.

I don’t have to make this guy feel defensive.  I don’t have to accuse.

What I DO have to do is bring peace to this situation for the highest good of all involved.  And as soon as I’d cleared my head, and asked for help, I suddenly, just knew it would be fine.

And it was.

It was a productive conversation.  I didn’t have to accuse anyone of anything.  As soon as he was on the line, he told me that he spoke out of turn and apologized, saying he intended to speak with Michael as soon as he got there.

Then we were able to discuss the current project which is what seems to be the trigger that’s stressing both of them.  As it turns out, Michael is further along than Mr Thomas thought he was, and most of the stress was unfounded.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Thank you Miss Ash for being my friend and sounding board. Many people say they don’t know what they’d do without a loved one.  I know what I would do if I didn’t have you.  I would talk to no one because most think I’m insane a good portion of the time, and I’d make myself look like a complete asshole a lot more frequently.  You are not the wind beneath my wings, but the gravity that keeps me grounded.  Thank God for you.

Thank you angels or guides or Yeshua or God or all or everything… You all give some kick-ass advice when I’m able to shut up and listen.  Bring peace.  Good one.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

It amazes me that such a highly charged subject was so easily brought to a peaceful end, and on a Monday morning. Gives me great hope for this day… This week…

Not that I had any doubts to begin with…

http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/digg_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/reddit_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/dzone_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/stumbleupon_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/delicious_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/blinklist_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/blogmarks_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/furl_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/newsvine_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/technorati_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/magnolia_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/google_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/myspace_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/facebook_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/yahoobuzz_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/sphinn_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/mixx_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/twitter_48.png

Out of the Mouths of Babes

November 9th, 2010

I believe that knowledge is power.  I try to arm my children with knowledge and allow them to control their own lives (supervised of course) and make their own choices so they grow up feeling in control and empowered and independent.

OscarI try not to make rules.  I try to explain the choices available and then explain MY choice.  This is what I would choose, and this is why.  Lead by example, right?  They do as you do, not as you say.

I love when you are rewarded with a moment in which you can clearly see that you are making a difference in what they think.  You are being heard even though it feels like they aren’t listening most of the time.

We’ve all heard the saying, “If I knew then what I know now…..”  That’s what this is.  An opportunity for them to live THEIR “then” with the knowledge of MY now.  But it’s not my job to make them do anything.

It’s my job to practice what I preach in every aspect of my life and show them the way.  Not dictate the way, and then enforce it.

So here’s my conversation with Michael… my 10 (11 next month) year old.  As a side note, he asked me what irony was a few months ago.  I tried to explain, but he said he didn’t quite get it.  Guess he’s past that now…

Son: Mom, why would someone call their pizza “Tombstone?”

Mom: *Contemplates a moment* I don’t know why. Kind of a dumb name, huh?

Son: I wonder if it’s meant to be ironic.

Mom: Ironic? How?

Son: Because it’s processed fake food and a tombstone is what you’ll need from eating it.

Mom: *Stares blankly* (blink blink)

http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/digg_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/reddit_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/dzone_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/stumbleupon_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/delicious_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/blinklist_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/blogmarks_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/furl_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/newsvine_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/technorati_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/magnolia_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/google_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/myspace_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/facebook_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/yahoobuzz_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/sphinn_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/mixx_48.png http://www.thesmilingspirit.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/twitter_48.png

RSS Feed

  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Furl
  • Stumble
  • Technorati
  • Yahoo