Little Herbalists and Healthy Families
Little Herbalists and Healthy Families
As a preschool teacher and a parent, I am always on the look out for ways to help kids learn about staying healthy during cold and flu season. So every year, just like I do at home, I make elderberry syrup with the kids at preschool.
Read MoreYesterday... Outside a light drizzling haze of rain has begun which promises to give way soon into a steady downpour. Walking home from the bus will likely be a wet adventure in worm hunting with rain drip dropping on each of our umbrellas. When my kids get off the bus they are worn out, ready to relax and let down their guard. Ready to be home. I love to support and help them relax with nourishing snacks and a hug.
Read MoreTrees speak to me. A soothing rustle of leaves creates calming dappled sunshine. Simply laying beneath a tree listening and feeling always centers and soothes me.
Listening to the peaceful sound of leaves whispering in the wind.
Feeling profound strong comfort of the Earth.
All is well here. All is how it should be.
What a gift to simply take a moment and breathe while watching patterns of the sky and sun shifting between the leaves. Feeling the steady love of Mother Earth cradling and nourishing every cell while letting go into the ground.
My family is truly blessed to live in Colorado where we have easy access to rich beautiful forests. On a recent hike we found a lovely aspen grove. Into it we climbed to find a forest floor strewn with soft plants and leaves. Here we nestled down together for a bit of tree gazing and centering. The wind blowing high above in the tree tops provided a lovely show as we watched the trees dancing and swaying. We let go of the craziness of the school year. We let go of schedules and stress. We let go of concerns.
Pretty soon we found ourselves taking about the beauty of nature and how we can help to preserve it. My six-year-old decided that we should have a "nature day" at least once a week.
"What would you do?" I asked.
"Give nature love and water!" came a vigorous happy reply.
Wonderful...
At the edge of the aspen grove was a very amazing tree growing in an interesting shape. What does it look like to you?
We thought maybe a headless warrior...
As summer moves along and eventually transforms into autumn, I hope we have many more family moments, many more simple pleasantly easy afternoons tree gazing.
Fun Fact ~ Aspens are one of the (if not the) largest organism living on Earth. They grow connected under the Earth. So when you see a grove of many aspens, you may only be seeing one living organism!
When did I first learn about love? Did it happen with my baby's first belly jiggling laugh or when she first looked into my eyes and said love you? Perhaps it was when I meet my now husband over Thanksgiving break from college. And I felt a searing pain in my heart every time we had to separate while I finished out that long school year away from home, away from him. Or was it even when a stranger passing by on the street offered me the honor of a heart-felt smile?
The love I found in all of these profound experiences was based on a foundation built long ago near the beginning of my life. And it was my mother who taught me about love, as most mother's do. She was my hero, my everything when I was a small child. All that sweetness she had poured into me everyday filled me up and one day was solidified while I played in our backyard.
Nestled securely in the middle of my beloved tire swing, I was twisting the tire round and round. With each successful turn a delightful popping kink of the hanging rope would gratify my efforts. I struggled to keep my feet in place with each turn as the tension from the rope sought to undo all of my hard work. Finally the rope, being all bunched up with tension, would go no further. Looking forward to my destined ride, as I had a hundred times before, I lifted me feet from the ground, held on tight and with eyes closed I began a fast spin. This time though, something went terribly wrong and in an instant I was slammed to the ground tangled up in tire and rope. The rope had broken and I, being a very small child, was trapped beneath a tire to heavy to move. Feelings of shock and pain began to consume me when an angel appeared to free me from the tire. The angel was my mother. I couldn't imagine where she had come from or how she had known I need help but she was there right when I needed her. Such a feeling of love and appreciation filled my heart that I was overwhelmed. Turns out she was folding laundry and watching me from the window that looked out underneath our porch, while I had no idea she was anywhere nearby. This was the moment, this moment when I really needed someone and that very special someone was there. This was the moment when I learned about love in a deep yet conscious way. While she rescued me from the swing, I felt the world become a safe and beautiful place. I knew that she would be there for me when I needed her, that I could trust and believe. And, as I moved forward into my life I carried this deep knowledge and used it to recognize love everywhere.
Even now I am blessed to learn more about love everyday. Everyday with my kids and husband there is more to learn, more to experience. Each day I witness acts of kindness and caring in the world, cherishing even the smallest of gestures. Mostly what I am learning about now is love for myself and appreciation for life simply as it is. With each breath and each step I endeavor to appreciate and love myself, those around me, my world and embrace being alive.
Thanks Mom!
Shared On: The Sunday Parenting Party
This is a story of how a sweet puppy helped a little girl along her way; the power of an animal in the life of a child.
The summer of my 10th year I spent largely beneath my bed or at least that is the most memorable part of that time. I had someone very special with me, a new puppy. Her name was Heidi. She was a small miniature schnauzer, covered in soft light gray fur, with a bushy white beard and deep brown eyes; just perfect for a girl like me. We would climb under the bed and snuggle down together in the mist of the discarded toys I had hastily shoved into place under the bed while "cleaning" my room. I would lay on my stomach, throw my arm over Heidi's back, rub her and talk to her. She would always listen to me with great care, never seeming annoyed by my lengthy speeches. My family was going through a tough time and Heidi helped me feel comfortable with myself and the world. She helped me to retreat into this special place of calm and love.
Later I would take her on long walks to the park and train her to play me on the slide. She slept in my bed with me, her back to mine. She had a way of slowly edging herself up against me as the night wore on and I would often awake to find myself perched on the edge of the bed while she had the rest of it to herself.
Heidi was always there for me. Sad or happy, lonely or distracted by friends, she was always there. I loved her very much and was surely a lucky girl to have a dog like her.
In honor of National Puppy Day and mostly Heidi!
Shared On: The Sunday Parenting Party
Nature has blessed us with so much. Looking to Nature we can find a multitude of amazing plant allies that can help the whole family stay nourished and healthy during the winter months. A favorite is elder berry which has an extensive traditional use as a preventative for the flu and as a support during the flu. In fact modern research has found elderberries to be active against the flu virus. You can easily make a yummy syrup from elderberries to take on a regular basis during flu season. This is something that most kids really enjoy taking which is a major plus! If you don't want to make your own syrup a ready-made preparation of elderberry Sambucol can be purchased at most natural food stores. And if despite your best efforts, sickness should take hold, syrups can be used during a bout of the flu to hasten healing.
We make the following easy delicious recipe for syrup every year.
~ Elderberry Syrup ~
Directions: Simmer the elderberries and spices in 3 cups of water. Once the berries have softened smash up the berries and spices in the water. This is a fun part to have children help with. I use a potato masher and closely supervise my kids while the squish away to their hearts delight! Cook at a low boil for about a ½ hour or until the liquid reduces by one-half. Strain the mixture with a fine mesh strainer. Make sure to get all the seeds out, which can be somewhat irritating to the digestive tract. Return the liquid to the pot and add the honey. Heat until the honey just melts. Then bottle, label (include the date!) and refrigerate your new syrup. It will keep in the refrigerator for about three months. Take 2 to 3 teaspoons for adults and 1 teaspoon for children (ages 2 and up) 3 to 5 times a week as a prophylactic during flu season. If you do happen to get sick with a bout of the flu take the same dosage about four times per day. Only the blue elderberries (Sambucus nigra) should be used as the red ones are toxic. Elderberries are generally considered to be quite safe though they can be drying and irritating for folks suffering from migraines. If you have a reaction, stop taking it immediately.
Recipe and information from Brigitte Mars's Elder.
A highly knowledgeable herbalist, Brigitte Mars lovingly offers her treasure trove of information for us to all learn from. Her classes are lively, fun and interesting. Her books offer an extremely valuable resource to those wishing to study herbs and learn about healthy living.
The spices included in this recipe not only make it taste delicious but also help to warm the body, decrease inflammation and support healthy digestion. Other herbs can be added to this syrup to increase its protective properties. Rose hips are soothing and will provide nourishing vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Astragalus has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a tonic to the immune system particularly to prevent illness. However, this herb should not be used during illness as it can drive infection deeper into the body. So do not take astragalus during the flu or cold. A great herb for children’s health is lemon balm. This yummy plant is antibacterial and antiviral, while also calming the digestive and easing nervous energy. Add any of these herbs by the handful to the pot with the elderberries be sure to also add a little extra water during the simmering and a bit more honey.
Enjoy!
Note that this information is in no way meant to take the place of professional medical care. Please use common sense and see a doctor if you need one. See Healthy Use of This Information.
Thanks!
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Elderberry Day ~ Herbs for Kids ~
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Herbs for kids and families! Crafting, learning and projects for children, parents and teachers including herbal crafts. Also natural living ideas for healthy families.
