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Reach Out

Reach out if you need help. Reach out to mamas who might need help. Write about how you know when to reach out. What do your instincts tell you?

If you feel like you need to reach out, write about whom you could reach out to or a time you have reached out. If other mamas have reached out to you, write about how you’ve helped them and what you’ve said or encouraged them to do.

“Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird, and when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream, reminding us of a previous state of existence…The voice of nature is always encouraging.” – Henry David Thoreau

Out it Out

If you follow yayamamas on social media, you know that one of my strategies for dealing with stress, overwhelm, and negative emotions is to either dance it out, read it out, or out it out (i.e. go outside).

Out it Out today, mama. Every day is filled with ups and downs. When you sense a down coming, stop what you’re doing and go outside. Yes, this could mean leaving a grocery cart in a store for a few minutes while you regroup outside. Yes, this could look like you leaving your desk and walking outside for a breath of fresh air. Yes, this could look like scrapping an afternoon plan and going outside to pick flowers with your kids. Connection is more important than a to do list. Modeling how and when to de-stress is very powerful for your children to see. They learn so much by watching your actions. Write about your time outside and how purposefully using time outside affected you, your mood, your mental state, and productivity.

“Sometimes you need to step outside, get some fresh air and remind yourself of who you are and who you want to be.” – unknown

The Power of a Breeze

Do you recall a time when you felt a breeze? Were you driving with the windows down? On a boat, racing across the water? Were you suffering through a hot summer day when a blessed breeze blew across your face and provided relief? Do you notice breezes? The wind? How did it affect you? Write about it.

“Nature is often overlooked as a healing balm for the emotional hardships in a child’s life.” – Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Every Day Beauty

Today’s goal is to find something beautiful in nature and write about it in detail. Look around. Take your time. Find what speaks to you the most, what you find beautiful, and then capture it in words on paper. Be sure to include all the senses, colors, smells, etc. in your description. What it is, what it looks like, what’s around it, how it makes you feel. It can be poetic or literal. Don’t stress about the technical details of your description. This exercise is only for you; no one is editing it or critiquing it. It’s all about taking the time to appreciate how beauty inspires you, calls to you, and to show you how you are connected to nature and how it influences you.

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As long as it exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” – Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

Trapped

Do you ever feel “trapped” in your role? By the demands of motherhood?

If so, write very specifically what that looks like—times, places, chores, locations, etc. Do any of those descriptions include times or places outside? What have you done to shake those feelings?

If not, what about other mamas? Do you know any mamas who feel this way from time to time or all the time? Have they talked about it with you or is it something you observed or both? Have you felt compelled to help? Been able to help? If so, how and when?

“Humanity is part of nature, a species that evolved among other species. The more closely we identify ourselves with the rest of life, the more quickly we will be able to discover the sources of human sensibility and acquire the knowledge on which an enduring ethic, a sense of preferred direction, can be built.” – E.O. Wilson

Loneliness in Motherhood

Write about a time or times when you have or do feel lonely in motherhood. Did you talk about it with anyone? Did you feel like you should reach out or simply deal with it by yourself? During times of loneliness do you tend to stay indoors more?

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” – Rachel Carson, A Sense of Wonder

Collective Loneliness

In an interview I listened to, author Richard Louv talks about his belief that there is a collective loneliness among humans because of our disconnect with nature. What are your thoughts on this idea? Do you feel nature plays a role in loneliness? Why or why not?

Read the quote below and write down your feelings, thoughts, and observations about it.

“In nature nothing exists alone.” – Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

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“I’m sorry, the Auldridge Ohana can’t take y “I’m sorry, the Auldridge Ohana can’t take your call right now. Leave a message at the tone if you want, but also know we won’t be available for the next month. Maybe more. We like adventures and we’ve gone to find some.” *beep*
Day 6 of our “official” new homeschool year an Day 6 of our “official” new homeschool year and we pressed pause on everything to start Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park on the front porch while holding cats, petting dogs, and soaking up the last of the summer sunshine. ☀️🍁🥹☕️

This is the life. 🩵 Truly, truly. There is nothing else I’d rather be doing than reading Jane Austen with my kids in the sunshine when the moment strikes them. 

10/10 recommend this Usbourne introduction to Jane Austen. It’s captivating and beautiful!
Is anyone else reading this book right now? 🫁 O Is anyone else reading this book right now? 🫁 Or have you read it? 🤔

There’s a lot to unpack in this book! 👀 Let’s talk about it! Spoiler alerts and stories about how you have applied it to your life are welcome in the comments👇🏼 

This was gifted to me by @birthuprising 🥰 It’s book club worthy for sure!
Our first baby Holland Lops are available 🥰 The Our first baby Holland Lops are available 🥰 They are adorable beyond all reason & ready for their new homes. If you’re in North Idaho and interested in a 4-H project or a snuggly pet, send me a DM! 

@honeybunnyfarm 🐇
This is absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite t This is absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite thrift store find ever. 😍 Our entire family is obsessed with books. Our house is designed around our books. And one thing we need more of (other than bookshelves 😂) are book ends!

Wait until you see the thrift treasures my homemaker friends are posting about today, too. 🤩 (See tags below) 

What is the best thing you ever thrifted? 

For more fave second-hand items, check out my friends along with our hashtag #homemakerscircle 

@lifeonhomegrownhaven
@crazyw8farm
@allyson.boop
@homestead_education
@foremeandmyhouse
@iamkristib
@loribethauldridge
@theprairiewife
What a summer of simple joys and beautiful days wi What a summer of simple joys and beautiful days with my children! 🥰 

Lord, open my eyes so that I can take in the joy that is meant for me in this beautiful life. Help me and my family to continue to keep our eyes open as we enter into the new homeschool year. Draw us closer to each other and closer to you. Amen. 

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18

Blessings on your new homeschool year! 🙏🏼😘
A rainy summer day at home Sleeping in, not sure A rainy summer day at home

Sleeping in, not sure if by accident or on purpose
Coffee with my best friend
Our toddler requested banana bread
So I made some
The rain became more steady
So we made tea
And opened our poetry book
One poem was so beautiful, I cried
Wide eyes asking questions 
Then laughing at the next poem
I love these days, my children, and poetry
A little school
And a lot of home
I treasure our time together
I stare wide eyed back at them
The seasons are shifting
And so are we. 

#homeschoollife #homeschooldreams #homeschoolpoetry #teachingpoetry #rainydays #elevatingmotherhood
There’s only two things that money can’t buy a There’s only two things that money can’t buy and that’s true love and homegrown tomatoes! 🍅 

Those three humble cherry tomatoes are from my garden and the heirloom tomatoes are from the store 😂 (But my tiny tomatoes definitely tasted better than store-bought ones! Motivation to grow more next year!) I didn’t have enough for my caprese sourdough bread so I combined the two 🙂

👩🏻‍🍳LB Style Recipe:

Sourdough pizza crust can just be a regular sourdough bread recipe but add garlic, oregano, basil, and olive oil. 1 loaf is 2 crusts. 

Put your halved dough in a pan and cook it hot (450-500) for about 8 minutes to cook the crust partway. 

Take it out, add your toppings, & put it back in the oven until it’s done enough for you and your family. 😂

For this dish, I loosely followed @halfbakedharvest recipe for caprese garlic bread with crispy prosciutto. I subbed salami for prosciutto because that’s what I had on hand and I cooked everything instead of keeping it cold on top. 

That’s my favorite way to cook…read other recipes for reference, see what I have on hand, and make adjustments. The only thing I actually follow a written recipe for is baking 😉 

Now’s a great time to dive into your garden and grab basil and tomatoes! For more great tomato recipes (and recipes with details 😂) check out my friends along with our hashtag #homemakerscircle

@lifeonhomegrownhaven
@iamkristib
@homestead_education
@allyson.boop
@loribethauldridge
Today was a ✨perfect✨ homeschool day Not bec Today was a ✨perfect✨ homeschool day 

Not because I was the perfect teacher or they sat perfectly still in their seats and got 100% in their workbooks…

It was perfect because we were together and learning and enjoying one another. Comfortable and content at home. 🥰

It was perfect because I got to be the one they ran to when they found a giant peacock moth caterpillar, the little one shouting, “Mom! Come here! It’s a calerpitter emergency! Tell us what it is!” 🥹

It was perfectly natural and relaxed, despite poopy diapers, ill-timed giggles, misplaced supplies, squirming in seats, daydreaming, chatting about everything, and any other occurrence I could have called “annoying” or an “interruption.” It was perfect all the same. 🥹

#hereforit #elevatingmotherhood #elevatinghomeschool #homeschooldays #homeschoolday #perfecthomeschoolday #adjustedexpectations

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