Ever is Asleep!

Ever fell asleep at 6:00 pm which is good and bad. 
Good because I have been able to eat dinner, write
 two emails and read a couple articles from my 
favourite blogs. Bad because he will wake up around
 4:00 am and be ready to play. So tomorrow morning
 is going to be an adventure!! 

I just got really inspired to post a few of my favourite links here. 

These are all baby- and parenting-related because

 currently these are my passions! Enjoy!

SelfDesign Learning Foundation : This is a school I have had the honour of being involved with and that I hope to enroll Ever in one day. From the site: 
SelfDesign is a learner-directed, enthusiasm-based educational methodology. SelfDesign programs... seek to co-inspire wonder, joy and integrity in all learning experiences and realtionships. Our various programs enable authentic self-discovery and reflect respect for the rights of all learners, young and old, to assume responsibility for their own learning paths.


hazelnut kids  : A phenomenal website full of wonderful toys and more! Best part is, they have a bio about each company they are affiliated with. 


peaceful parenting  :   Peaceful Parenting blog. Inspiring stories and educational articles about natural parenting and creating a more peaceful world.


The Attached Family   :  you don't have to be a member anymore to explore this extensive online magazine all about the attached family from pregnancy to parenting teenagers. A wealth of information.

click to see a great page inspired by an author I love

...and this is why parenting is my passion

nuestro osito

This is Ever wearing a very adorable bear suit. His Auntie Brittney got it for him at the used baby clothing store in Lower Gibsons. This blog entry is all about why Stephen and I are choosing sustainable, reused and local products over disposable, new and wasteful products.

We want to support local and small businesses by refusing to shop at big box stores as much as possible. Corporations have no feelings, so they won't mind. This means we have agreed to pay more for the things we need and sometimes skip out on buying the things we might "want". Quickly we've noticed that the things we now "want" are only things we need and we're free to use our extra money to do things as a family- like go to pool!

We want to encourage Ever to give value to people over things. This might mean that we don't buy him toys that "do something". We think people should do something with their toys. Instead of a shiny, red plastic firetruck with flashing lights and a screeching siren, consider a plain, wooden firetruck. One was handmade by someone with love and can be used with utmost imagination. How adorable would it be to be playing trucks with Ever as he screeches out a firetruck sound!

We are open for discussion on this, so please don't hesitate.                                          

                                                                                                          ~db
                                                      

p.s. Stephen says: don't think this gets anybody off the hook for Christmas gifts!! ;)



And now, the reason we're all here-- pictures of a cute baby!!!!!!!!!!!

   

                               

Music from the radio harmoniously crashes, Saturday rising behind the November rain clouds and I still hear Ever's laughter from the walk in the woods. Years ago I wondered at how complicated life can be, only to realize in the small moments, how very simple everything really is.

The world is changing. So must our families. "It takes a village."

Compassion and empathy, without a doubt, are the skills that I wish to pass on to my son. I always wanted to change the world and I have learned that only parents change the world. We do it with the unconditional love required to foster healthy relationships, not expecting our children to be anything but what they are (whatever that may be).

Although not concrete commandments, the principles of Attachment Parenting have given us knowledge to walk this new road with Ever as he inherits the world we all have built.

-s