Chillin' Children

This summer, I've had the privilege of teaching these little ones yoga in my home, and at the park. These are just a couple of memories my dear friend Iva caught on camera.

 It all started with teaching our neighborhood joy school children a yoga class at the end if the school year.  I was assigned to teach them the letter "Y."  So, we had a 30 min. yoga practice, colored the letter "Y," and sang a song about it.  Then we had healthy snacks starting with the word "Yummy." When it was finished, I was amazed at how well these young 3 & 4year-olds had done!  I didn't think they would have the attention span for it.   Honestly, I didn't think I'd have the patience for it--well, they proved me wrong.

Next, I was asked to come teach yoga one day for Aiden's kindergarten class.  His school teacher happened to be a student of mine, and was gracious enough to encourage the children and help them along.  Again, this classroom full of little ones ages 5-6 were astoundingly attentive, and it was an absolute blast. 

I began gathering some ideas and materials that could help me continue this for my boys.  I was not confident I could take on a large group, since I have so little experience with kids other than my own.  So the class was and still is small and very manageable.

We set up the class to have 30-40 minutes of yoga, followed by a story time and a snack. At first is was as if all the pent up energy and emotion (of my boys in particular) would never allow us any peace in the room.  I started to think maybe they were not going to be able to handle having "Mom as a Teacher."  Moving forward though, there were little glimpses here and there that would give me the patience to keep trying.  Then, my boys began to spontaneously show me yoga poses when we were on a walk, or at the store, or at Grandma's house.  The boys wanted to join me on my mat in the mornings when I was enjoying my own practice, so they would run to get another mat or towel. (Aiden rolled up his beach towel in his room and often got it out for yoga time.)  This was not entirely new except for that Liam was no longer climbing all over me, (as much,) but attempting to do things on his own

We moved the class to an outdoor setting at the park. It was beautiful and shady under the cottonwood trees, overlooking Utah Lake. The children would practice listening time.  As we sat still and unbelievably quiet for nearly a whole two minutes a peaceful place was created. If there were any outbursts, it just seemed to dissipate into the sky. The children were joyful, and willing to try new things. 

We loved little Isabel, Sophia, Krista, and others when they would join. By the end of the summer, friendships were made we never expected, and we had all learned together.  The seasons are changing, so I look forward to having a few more classes with the children at the park, and a few more times I can return to the dock for my own quiet yoga practice.  (Yes, I still practice on the docks near my home.)
Yoga alone, yoga with others, and yoga with children.  I love it all.

Chemistry in the Kitchen

Nature Walk Salad:

My husband is easy to please. I’m grateful for that.  He announced to our family at dinner one evening that this was his favorite salad. “It’s like a nature walk in Spring-time,” he said.  I had to laugh.  What a poetic compliment! (Although the salad really is more in season at the end of the Summer.)

1 Head of Green Leaf Lettuce

1 Cup Fresh Basil Leaves, Cut into Small Strips

3 Ripe Peaches, Peeled, and Sliced

½ Cup Cucumbers, Peeled, and Diced

2 Garden Tomatoes, Sliced, and Halved

3/4 Cup Salted Cashew Pieces

Dressing:

½ Cup Grapeseed Oil

4 Tbs. Fresh Lemon Juice

4 Tbs. Sherry Cooking Wine

¼ tsp Real Salt

A generous Dash of Black Pepper

Learning and Toleration~

Connor allows me to make mistakes and experiment in the kitchen, and elsewhere. There have been so many times where I have tried to make something that failed, or wasn't quite right.  He's my taste-tester.  A true loving critic to tell me when something tastes good enough that most people wouldn't notice upfront how healthy it is.  When we first got married, I didn't know how to make anything, but he still raves to this day how I spent hours learning how to make Chicken Parmesan just for him for one of our first meals.  I grew up appreciating good food.  I grew up wanting to experiment as well.  (Maybe I inherited that trait from my Grandfather Anderson, the Chemist.)  My two favorite toys when I was little were first, my easy bake oven, and later, my chemistry set. 

Don't be afraid to make mistakes in cooking, or anything else.  I'm grateful that my family tolerates my habit of experimenting on everything--making myself and them the guinea pigs most of the time.  There is always something strange on the countertop--something growing, or fermenting, or taking over the kitchen with some new aroma.  Expectations and demands are low from Connor, and he's always appreciative when things turn out.  His willingness to try anything, and thank me for what I do makes it a lot easier to keep trying new things, and easier for our boys to do the same.  It's in this process of testing and trying that I've learned so much, and will continue to do so.  So take Thomas Edison's example to heart, and realize that there are many failures to one great success.  People all around us make things happen by their diligent patience more often than by some gift of luck.

"I have not Failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." ~Thomas Edison