Glenlake Park

They have really changed Glenlake Park in Decatur. We had not been since they reopened the park. It was a beautiful day in the upper 80's so we ventured out.

My oldest son did quite a bit of grieving over the new plantings around the creek. He has such fond memories of wading, throwing rocks and getting soaked. They have built up the area and creek access is no more. He sat on the bench for awhile and spoke about how disappointed he was. How it was not fun here anymore.

As I stared at the playground equipment that neither of my boys played on...I thought about my current theory...playground equipment is lame. The boys started running up and down the sidewalk. Then they found a huge pile of rocks which they played on for about 1.5 hours. They were filthy and happy.

I thought a lot about the spaces I used to play as a child. We had a creek near our house and a lake. There were wooded trails. We played in the woods until sunset. Somebody had a canoe. We played kickball. We rode bikes. We had BIG play. Play that took up acres. Play that involved the whole neighborhood. No boundaries. BIG play - full of risks and imagination.

I plan to go back to Glenlake...one nice thing is there is a lot of land and many alternatives to the playground equipment. What will they do next...

1st day of school

Today is my oldest sons first day of school at Waldorf. No matter how old he gets I still am sad to see him go back to school. I know that he will have such a wonderful year...knitting...playing...forming deeper friendships. My heart still aches.

Sending him back to school also marked the end of summer. Both of the boys are back in school. I welcome the routine and rhythm that school brings but I love the quiet afternoons we have named "snugglefest" at our house. Anyone can have snugglefest - all you need is hugs and a bowl of popcorn. We have an air popper, a little salt and nutritional yeast.

Planning a camping trip to some wooded location next to a cold mountain creek. September.

This weekend - I am in charge of the Bluegrass Festival. Pickin 'N Junkin. Tons of crafters, classic cars and good music...

Being in the Moment with my youngest son

Last weekend I was alone with my youngest son.  We rode our bikes through Oakhurst village near our house and to a local park.  We watched squirrels gather nuts, we climbed the bars together, we drank water out of a very cold water bottle, we played together.  Those moments where you can be one with your child.  To focus only on your child and to become part of their play.  To totally be in their world.  To me it is meditation.

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If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything.  When a child presents himself to you with his smile, if you are not truly there-thinking about the future or the past, or preoccupied with other problems-then the child is not truly there for you.  The technique of being alive is to go back to yourself in order for the child to appear like a marvelous reality.  Then you can see him smile and you can embrace him in your arms. -Thich Nhat Hanh, One of the best known and most respected Zen masters in the world today, poet, and peace and human rights activist  

Today is the 1st day of school. We have studied all summer and now are understanding the Reggio Emilia approach at a much deeper level.

“Each of us has his or her own image of the child which is reflected in the expectation that we have when we look at a child. Some focus on what children are, what they have, and what they can do, while others, unfortunately, focus on what children are not, do not have, and what they are not able to do. Some focus more on their needs than on their power and capacity. As a result you have positive or negative expectations, and construct a context that values or limits the qualities and potential that you attribute to children.”

- Carlina Rinaldi, President of Reggio Children

It all begins with your image of the child. Children are competent, powerful and strong. Like adults, children are constantly searching to find the meaning of life. Children are the best of the human being. Being with a child and being truly in the moment puts me closest to nature, closer to goodness, closer to who I want to be in this life.

Read an article last night and enjoyed a blog that inspired me to start blogging.  I am a progressive parent here in Atlanta.  Mom to two beautiful boys.  I also am Director of Atlanta Progressive Preschool.  My husband is an artist and a Volkswagen mechanic. Life is good. I would love to share with the progressive Atlanta community my thoughts as a mom and preschool director.