learning to love

All the children who are held and loved...

will know how to love others.

Spread these virtues in the world.

Nothing more need be done.

Meng Zi, c. 300 BCE

laughter

Laughter is the key! Listen to the laughter of the Little Ones; as they laugh, the stars radiate with joy. For their laughter is joy and hope for the new light shining on planet Earth - the planet of free choice, the planet of laughter. Are not our children too serious? What about the elders? Are they not teaching the Little Ones by their examples? Laugh with this, and understand that the Little Ones need to, as well. Their hearts demand it. The stars demand it. The universe demands it. Laughter is necessary for the planet to continue to vibrate with love, joy, and peace. Laugh with the Little Ones!

LAUGH WITH THE LITTLE ONES

from The Indigo Children

Lee Carroll and Jan Tober

http://www.kryon.com/

amelia

Amelia by Jose Villa

see more here

Or should I write...the incredible, incomparable, insanely talented Jose Villa...

I love the expression of childhood joy pouring out of this photo. So so sooooooo beautiful.

wonderful wednesday

I love Wednesdays. Lucky me, it is my day to play parent helper in J's kindergarten class. The kids are bright, spunky, and all-around adorable. Their teacher, Mrs. H, is not only a fantastic teacher but also a really, really wonderful woman and has become a dear friend. Plus, I get to spend the morning with my precious girl. Wednesdays are by far my most favorite day of the week.

Each week, the kids are focused on learning one letter of the alphabet - along with math, geometry, spelling, numbers, social skills, reading, etc etc etc. "W" is the letter of the week. Today was extra special. It was "W"ednesday. The kids made and ate "w"affles and strawberries for their snack. And one of their "w"ork stations today was playing with the "w"ater table. That's what I got to supervise this morning. Lucky, lucky me.

waffles

water

During make-up time, the kids who had already finished their work got to choose what they wanted to do with their free time. They chose to create a feast!

the feast

all photos via my iPhone

Lucky, lucky me.

mother's love

photographer unknown

from Giant-Panda

via Bear Naked

nevertheless

I hate you, Mommy. You will never be in my heart. I miss Daddy. I love Daddy, not you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.

Nevertheless...you will brush your teeth and wash your face.
Nevertheless...you will go to bed.
Nevertheless...you will get up when Mommy says so on school days.
Nevertheless...you will not drink chocolate milk exclusively.
Nevertheless...you may not have dessert instead of dinner.
Nevertheless...you will hold my hand crossing streets and in parking lots.
Nevertheless...you will not throw balls in the house.
Nevertheless...you will go to the bathroom before we leave.
Nevertheless...you will not eat McDonald's hamburgers everyday.
Nevertheless...you will go to school.
Nevertheless...you will not ignore me when I am speaking to you.
Nevertheless...you may not hit me.
Nevertheless...although you may feel however you do, it is hurtful and unacceptable to say to anyone "I hate you."
Nevertheless....

Nevertheless...you will always be in my heart whether we are near or far apart.
Nevertheless...I love you.
Nevertheless...I will always love you.

Although, I suppose it will be fair for you to hate me when you are older and see the photograph I posted.

childhood

Today J and I attended a birthday party for J's classmate's little sister. Cookie decorating, Christmas hats and stockings, face painter, balloons, pinata, cupcakes and more cupcakes...the kids' favorite activities involved running around outside in the cold cold weather. Oh, to be young in body and spirit.