photo by Cathy Koetsier
Monday, November 27, 2023
The morning sky
photo by Cathy Koetsier
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Closeness and connection
Most of the things that have happened I didn't foresee! And they continue to happen and surprise me every day! To name just a few: spirituality, healing, realisations and awakenings, and most of all, a closeness and deep connection with my boys (and partner) that warms my heart and fills it till it's fit to burst! We spend every day laughing and smiling, most days side splitting laughter over a shared joke or something.
photo by Janine Davies
You can hear Janine's voice at 10:22 in the recording here: Healing
Monday, October 2, 2023
Positivity, gratitude, optimism
photo by Cátia Maciel
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
"A" is for Abundance
In order for kids to feel and see abundance, they first must have parents who feel and see it too, even if there is no money. Go to parks, pick up sticks, ride bikes to new places, swing on the swing differently, make bubbles and blow them in front of a fan. Look at stars at night and try to find constellations, light things on fire with magnifying glass, roast hot dogs for dinner (it's cheap), the possibilities are limitless, but only if you choose to see them. THAT is what will help your kids learn how to be creative thinkers—seeing and doing creative things.
at SandraDodd.com/abundance
Thank you, Alex Polikowsky.
Sunday, July 10, 2022
Learning directly
photo by Cátia Maciel
Friday, May 6, 2022
With and for, not against
photo by Brie Jontry
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Helping grown kids
If Holly got cold, she could come to our house, or I would lend her blankets, or make corn bags for her to heat up in her microwave. We would pay her gas bill if she needed that sort of help. But for now, we share our fireplace know-how and the by-products of Keith's wood-processing hobby.
Share what you can share. Do what you can do.
photo by Holly Dodd
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Being present with kids
They won't be three forever! Their understanding and needs will grow and change as they get older.
Conventional parenting is not about being present with kids. It's about giving kids rules as a replacement for being there. Same can go for information. Information shouldn't be a substitute for being there and being aware. We should let kids know that cars can hurt them, which is why we steer them clear of the street. But we shouldn't then depend on kids understanding. We need to be there. We need to be aware of our child's tendencies to run to the street when in that type of situation. We need to avoid as much as we can places where they can run into the street until they can understand.
photo by Sandra Dodd
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Lamplight and color
This week, Karen James (probably with the help of her family) painted a couple of these walls different colors. I know this because she shared it on facebook.
Now, to all of that, add the thought of new colors.
photos by Karen James
Monday, November 1, 2021
Your individual self
The associations I have with this lamp won't match those of my children, who have seen it most of their lives. Even my husband, also from New Mexico, probably has other thoughts and connections. Visitors, depending on their ages and experiences, will see it and images or words might come to them.
It's good to know that the pictures in your head are your own, and the connections that go with them. Your children's experiences and views of the world are their individual own selves'.
photo by Sandra Dodd
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Principles over rules
Once one is living by principles, it's nearly impossible to make a move that's contrary to those principles. It doesn't happen overnight, but it's much different than just changing from one set of rules to another.
photo by Holly Dodd, of Lily Y., at a symposium
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Saturday, May 8, 2021
Peaceful Sleep
Sleep is crucial and peace is good.
We don't know what experiences and ideas our children are processing, but the more often they go to sleep gently and wake up sweetly, the better their lives will be.
photo by Lydia Koltai
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This photo was used here a few years ago. Some of the most beautiful photos in this blog are also by Lydia Koltai. See more.
Saturday, April 10, 2021
Directly and clearly
See also: Practice Watching elsewhere on Just Add Light and Stir
photo by Sarah Dickinson
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Sunday, June 14, 2020
What's important?
Debbie Regan wrote:
What is important for your family—peace? joy? doing fun things? well-being? growing and learning? comfort? delight?...
What can you do to enhance what's important—more flexibility? more listening? more engagement? more calm? more kindness? more fun ideas? more soft places? more interesting/happy options? more generosity? more creativity?...
photo by Eleanor Chong
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Monday, April 20, 2020
Secret surprises
That flower is unfamiliar to me. Caroline, in Queensland, sent the photo. I hope if you click it, you'll see a larger image. There's a sort of bloom coming out of the flower. There's a bug. But look up and to the right, behind it. A windmill.
There will be unexpected things, in life. Some are sweet and good. Be open to seeing them!
photo by Caroline Lieber
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Thursday, February 13, 2020
Approaching solidity
There is a danger when someone's own understanding and practice of unschooling is shaky, and she wants the approval of others more than the solid joyful everyday life of her family. I've seen a few of those.
Another problem comes when someone's reasons for unschooling are not about learning and family relationships, but about being way cool and out there, and cutting edge, and anti-this'n'that. But that sets the stage for lots of problems in insecure people, when they want to glom onto something that's wild and new and shocking.
photo by Alex Polikowsky
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Thursday, January 30, 2020
Integrity
photo by Karen James
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Thursday, January 23, 2020
Choose to choose.
Making a choice is a matter of choice and just doing it.I don't think it requires willpower to realize that a person can make a choice.
Think of two choices. Choose the best one.
Next time think of two choices (maybe the choice from the time before and a better one). Choose the best one.
If you do that several times a day, soon you'll be doing it countless times a day.
Make choices. Make choices that move you toward being more at peace with your child.
photo by Jill Parmer
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Tuesday, January 14, 2020
See what you have
The difference between poverty and abundance is sometimes the ability to see what one has. There have been times when I didn't have a car, we had a leaky roof, and the washing machine wasn't working. There have been more times that the car and washing machine were functioning, the house was solid, and I forgot to appreciate it.
(page 185, first edition)
photo by Elise Lauterbach
Friday, December 27, 2019
Warmer and more comfortable
Make conscious choices, in little ways, in ways that make your family warmer and more comfortable. Not a few big decisions, but a hundred of little decisions in the next 20 hours. Tone of voice. Smile/no-smile. Patience/rush. Gentle/jerky.
photo by Jo Fielding
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