. . .
and the hunger
to be something different
finally
overtook
the satisfaction
to stay the same
unfolding
into what was meant
to be
. . .
Yes that’s right, I am my kind of crazy. Each month at home, we explore seasonal prop stories, games, projects and books. Whilst my daughter still has plenty of time for free play, the themes provides some structure in the chaos, guiding our “work” in relation to natural cycles, and ultimately keeps my meaningful cup full. I am writing about it here to share some ideas and journal about our process. In between this, our reality is cooking, cleaning dishes, playing, cleaning, washing clothes, buying food, seeing friends, yes even screen time, but mostly a lot of beach time (and cleaning).
NOVEMBER
In Sydney, November this year felt like the days were warmer than usual, meaning we were in the ocean most days. Enjoying shallow splashes and building (and destroying) sandcastles with washed up toys. Insect life is buzzing despite flowers lacking in our small unit garden. Days were getting longer and my daughter was in bed later, meaning later mornings to wriggle out of the cocoon of our blankets.
PROP STORY
It was a simple story about the metamorphosis of the caterpillar. I imagine each year we could explore this life cycle process, emphasising different themes as relevant, such as not wanting to rest, greediness, and letting go of who we were. This year we focused on the hunger as a desire to be different, but welcoming who you are.
With a colourful silk draped over the basket full of props, we begin.
This story happened in a tree, just like that one there. And on that tree there was a limb, branch, twig, leaf. And on the underside of there leaf there was an egg. You can imagine the sound that egg heard by covering your ears.
When it was ready a tiny green caterpillar (substituted with a shark toy because kids are imaginative) hatched out of that egg… and he was sooooo hungry he ate his egg shell. And then the leaf he laid on. And then he went searching for more leaves to eat.
Wriggle wriggle wriggle. As he went on munching and crunching, nching and creeping, He saw how the leaves moved free in the wind. And he wished he could be a leaf. The leaf said don’t be silly you’re a caterpillar.
(Repeat pattern for following verses)
He moved on eating… and saw a steel dragon (aeroplane) and wished to fly high in the sky….
He moved on eating… sand saw perfume flowers and wished to be bright a colourful.
He moved on eating ..and saw a rainbow lorikeet who seemed to have all these things.
He felt heavy as he wished to be so many other things, so he laid down and wrapped himself in a blanket to rest.
And waited and waited. While the bees buzzed on flowers. The birds flew. The ladybettles chewed. The humans planted seeds.
Then when he was ready he emerged changed. A butterfly. And he celebrated with all his friends.
Now, when we attend our local Steiner Playgroup, only the leader touches the props. But earlier this year when I was facilitating playgroup, I had a deal with her that she could move the props at home but not in the playgroup where only I could. Now its this beautiful dance between us, where I recite and she plays. She is also understanding different rules for different situations.
With this particular one, I don’t know how I did it, because my sleight of hand is sloooooppppy, but every day that we did the prop story, she was LIT UP when the butterfly emerged from the cocoon. She woke up in the mornings begging to know. I felt paangs of guilt because i was worried i was tricking her, but i never lied, just encouraged with questions. Each time she said, “ok this tine I’m not taking my eyes off the cocoon”. She always eventually did. It was such good practice for attention. For a moment, each day we entered the realm of wonder. And that is real magic.
How do you invite magic into your lives? What are your thoughts around revealing the secrets?
GAMES
We loved the Roly Poly Caterpillar finger play from TreeHouse SchoolHouse free resources on YouTube. We did this one after the story and then learnt a new Spring one each time.I think my daughter loved it most when her kids were teaching the game.
An ode to Ruth who brought the Rattlin Bog to Bush Camp warm ups, we brought this one home our a workout disguised as a silly game that is sure to get the heart pumping and laughing. We did the version that ends with the egg on the leaf like in our story.
Which version is your favourite? Havre you tried the low squat moves whilst laughing with your kids?
BOOKS
We display 5-8 books at a time for my daughter to choose to read at any moment in the day when it feels like a slow IN breath. Below are a list of books from our local library which resonated different levels of our theme this month.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carl'
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
Possum Magic by Mem Fox
Birth of a Flower - Montessori A World of Achievments
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
Ladybird Little Explorers, The Creepy Crawly Caterpillar
What books do you love about butterflies, caterpillars, spring, and change?
PROJECTS
We usually grow edible plants in our tiny unit garden like kale, corn, mizuna and beans. This time we planted seeds for beautiful colourful flowers from The Seed Collection. Poppies, cosmos, zinnia, sunflowers, calendula, and so many more. Disclaimer - we had many rounds of planting seeds. The first with ME having big tantrums with my frustration when my daughter poured all the seeds in. 100 seeds went into one tiny pot. After me attempting some control, the later plantings were her having her own pots to sprinkle and plant however many to whatever depth she wanted. She even ended up stamping the soil down in the pot. The result - lots of seedling needing to be thinned, and a child who believes she can be helpful. Heres to raising seedlings.
Where is baby when we do all this? In my arms watching along or off crawling around exploring. Hence - thanks to this seasonof all photos having kids reaching hands in it.
What would you grow given a small plot?
We are finally mastering homemade gelatin marshmallows. We follow this amazing recipe by Quirky Cooking, but use Organic Rice Syrup instead of honey, and way less, and swirl in rainbow natural foood dye only once poured in the tin. It is delicious. My daughter likes to eat them alongside smoked salmon - separate mouthfuls don’t worry. Healthy fats and protein combo.
We are also enjoying face paint an bio glitter. Let me know if you have a good natural or non toxic or eco brand.
LIFE REFLECTIONS
Our themes always trickle through to hold us in a larger metaphor for our life. At the moment, there’s a lot in the desire for change. My daughter longs to be a baby like her brother, or an adult like me. She has a hunger for only sweet foods and we are introducing other options. I’m starting to embrace her desire for rainbow sparkles and am noticing my own expression of beauty. I have deeeeeep desires for a big garden and a village of humans. I’m still just as confused as to how or where to live. But I’m paying attention to my cells which are calling for change. And I know one day they will take over those defensive ones just like the butterfly. Thanks wise Lee from Connection Culture for that random fun fact that gives me hope - The imaginary cells, responsible for the growth of the new organism, are initially attacked and destroyed by the old immune cells. That is until they group together in sufficient numbers to overcome and tip the balance over to the new vision. Similar to cultural change.
P.S. my less profound and more silly pondering was wondering if what appears to me as wobbly, when butterflies fly changing directions so quickly. Is it because they consciousness was so adapted to being in a caterpillars movement pattern, that when it gets wings its like a baby learning to walk. Think your own thoughts…
With gratitude,
clio