Gaia: Electric Moms: Holistic Parenting

Re: Wanted: Mom's

http://amazume.gaia.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:53:27 GMT

With Love and Gratitude

Parental Medical Rights

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:35:24 GMT

By now, I imagine, most of you have heard the story of Daniel Hauser and his mom Colleen in Minnesota.

A court has ordered that despite the teenagers desires, his parents' decision and belief, that they MUST use "western" medical treatments for his cancer.

This is a wave of coming legal decisions that will affect what and how you raise your children, what and why you choose to handle their growth, illnesses, and development.

A friend of mine, with her daughter's pediatrician, made a decision that was safe for her child, supported my friend's belief as to what health care her daughter needed. Both her and her doctor were threatened by the chief of staff @ UCLA (Los Angeles, California) if they did not administer antibiotics even though her daughter was well on the way to recovery.

But medical rights isn't the only area of life where the state is trying to supplant parent choice with their laws. Parents who want to educate their children according to their own philosophies are also coming under legal attack. There is a movement to have a Constitutional Amendment for parental rights. Learn more at parentalrights.org

I don't share this information with you to alarm you, but to encourage you to know other like-minded parents and their struggle so we can support one another, because if we don't support one another, the monolithic structure on the other side gathers weight and steam the more legal decisions that are made in its favor.

You can support the Hausers and their battle to maintain parental medical rights by contacting their attorney, Calvin P. Johnson.

Being a "wholistic" parent requires integration on all levels of our societal structure. Politics is an arena where most people just slam the door and hide, and hope that someone else will "take care of it." We must re-integrate the body politic with our own so that our choices, ideas, understandings and visions take hold in our communities, our nation and our planet.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Re: Schools of Creativity

http://steelflower.gaia.com — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:03:56 GMT

So, there is this notion in my head that I can in so many ways, chill, about my daughter's education because her path is unique and a formal education would not benefit her- she is exactly where she needs to be. The relevance of history in the form of dates and being able to list the presidents doesn't register in my brain. Even the homework I see her former classmates doing- it's crazy making.

Something registered with that last sentence- the issue of education is fundamental for the transition to the next phase of our evolution. In keeping my daughter out of the mainstream I feel like I am allowing her soul the opportunity to expand naturally, instead of restrict under the painful pressure of busy work in school.

I know, in the long run, don't know how, but that this is the best thing for her and that it will benefit her adult-life.

Trust- way better than fear. Am going to try to check out those links- but have trouble with the computer.

thanks for this insight,
anna

Re: Schools of Creativity

http://joyseeker.gaia.com — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:17:46 GMT

Hi Again,
Thanks for posting the link to my blog post here. Not that it really matters, but it was me JoySeeker who sent this to you. It just really seemed to go with this groups purpose and I knew that this audience would appreciate it. Thanks again for sharing it with your group. I am going to watch the Juan Enriquez video now. Thanks for bring that to my attention. : )
In Joy,
JoySeeker
Laura

Schools of Creativity

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:12:14 GMT

I direct you to the blog entry of "Joy Bringer" entitled "Sir Ken Robinson says Schools Kill Creativity".

After watching the video I find my thoughts going to the book "Awakening Earth" by Duane Elgin, and another TED video that is connected by Juan Enriquez brings his take on the evolutionary transition we are going through . . . so whether you call it "homo sapien sapien" ("man who knows he knows") or "homo evolutis," it is the same thing. The next evolution of human beingness is the mind as it is wholistically linked to the cosmos, the soma, the breathe, etc.

The mind is controlled by the free will decisions of the BEing that it is connected to through the amazing physicality of the soma or body. It is through education that the mind becomes trained for its evolution. The issue of education is fundamental for the transition to the next phase of our evolution.

Thank you Laura for the very informative blog posting!

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Wanted: Mom's

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:32:02 GMT

This is taken from my blog entry "Position or Title: Mom"

"Its just time that the "mom" in each of us, give voice to the "mom" in the details of the [patriarchial] structure.

So,
if you think you may be right for this position of "Mom," feel what is
wrong and begin to look for the detail in the structure that will fix
it. To apply, please respond to this blog with the "wrong" you feel,
and together we can find the *detail* that gives Mom the voice in the
structure, and together we can support one another and embolden the
voice of "Mom" throughout our world. If you want, you can join the
Electric Moms Pod and build a network of support and resources to help
you and every mom you know share their voice for a better world for our
children."

This is the place for it. Share with us your "details" and any way other mom's can help you help us all raise the voice of the Mom on our planet.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Re: introductions ...

http://steelflower.gaia.com — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:14:45 GMT

Well, hello. How fun to read all the intros here. I am a new unschooling mother of a 7 year old. I'm a solo parent though I too am looking for a man to co-parent with, whether he has kids, will love mine or wants more- in the mean time I am learning how to do it myself, and celebrating the unique opportunity i have to be in such an intimate relationship with someone who needs that solidarity.

I run an alterations business and design and make my own clothes. This coming semester I will be completing a bachelor's degree in fine arts that was detained for 3 years due to a life altering event in which I survived a rather brutal assault- yet, we have thrived, and 3 years later I am so thankful to be where I am.

we live in a really old old cottage in a wooded area and we do what we want- it's really only the beginning of my dreams come true, as well as the beginning of a phase of life in which I have to do what I have to do. I don't know what that will all be I just know that I am someone here with a higher calling and I am letting my intuition and higher self guide me. It's an exciting time- and being a parent is such a critical part of it. The relationship with my daughter is so valuable, being able to raise her how my heart says she must is so fulfilling.

So, the adventure is on, here we come.

Anna

Re: Unschooling

http://steelflower.gaia.com — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:48:12 GMT

I have always and only wanted to homeschool and spent my daughter's first 3 years in school feeling sick to my stomach every morning I sent her to school. I felt so wrong about it. The 'forcedness' of school and any institution makes me ill. It is so wrong to put anyone in a box or to assume anyone must do what others do for sake of social peace or social standards. Status quos are meant to be broken- that's my perspective.

So- on that basis, I see this unique and creative child and I cannot force her to comply and compromise and especially when I see it breaking her down. It kills me even more when I see myself bending to the pressures and asking her to comply when deep down i know it is bs. I always wonder where that comes from. I know that I want to live a life with her in a way that we are free, to grow and expand as we do naturally.

The problem is, the system- I have a disparaging relationship with her father that has been volitile at times and when others put the fear of what he could do to me I get nervous and I think, well, the system won't respect that I am doing what I'm doing because my instincts are guiding me and I just know what I am doing is right.

Well, nuff said for now. I just know that I want to learn how to grow and feel comfortable unschooling and to be confidant in it also. I need to learn my rights I guess.

Anna

Infant Psychology

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:01:30 GMT

One of my friends here in the Gaia Community, Jeff Mishlove, posted this blog on Infant Psychology that I thought I would share here ... its a great collection of resources. I have not gone through all of it thoroughly, but some of it seemed very right on from my memories of those days that seem to have been so long ago and that went soooooooo fast!

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Re: It's Not You, It's Not Me - It's Both of Us

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:56:54 GMT

perhaps the thing i learned most from my daughter is that i too forgot how to play. it is a re-training that happens as we respond not in the practical world of "get it done" but rather, "what game can i create ... and get it done." they are wise, these little ones ... crafty and clever too. i love when i finally have one of those 'a-ha' moments like that one!

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

"My Daughter is Acting Up"

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:54:07 GMT

I was speaking with a friend who mentioned this to me this week. Her daughter is 4 years old and has a very congenial nature, and a high level of communication skills. For her to be 'acting up' for over a month is unusual. My friend needed a different perspective.

When I looked at the chart, I noticed three things:

1. The girl had Pluto retrograde in her natal chart.

2. The North Node/Chiron conjunction was transiting her first house and Neptune.

3. Her natal Neptune is quincunx (inconjunct) to Saturn.

I asked her mom, 'did this started at the beginning of September.' Yes, it had. That was when Pluto went direct.

Having a Pluto retrograde child, they will be most comfortable with the way they process life while Pluto is retrograde. These are long retrogrades and the transitions into and out of them are sometimes very dramatic. While the transition into retrograde likely won't be a challenge for a natal retrograde child, the transitioning back to direct motion can pose an energy challenge because its not their natural way of working with the energies of the world.

First, there was a new school environment and her daughter wanted her school her way. At first it was ok, but then "all hell started breaking loose. She even kicked the teacher." Pluto direct does not allow for 'facilitating' or 'transitioning' transformation (as you will find in retrograde motion), it just brings change and transformation on NOW, in the immediate. Also with Pluto, the power struggles are no longer open for negotiation as they are when in retrograde. After explaining how things are now, there's no renegotiating, it is just simply this way now.

So, how can she help her daughter make the transition to this new flow?

Besides talking to her about the fears of the new school situation, the missing her old friends, teachers and expected experiences, which her mom has been sensitive to and discussing those issues all along with her daughter, there is more she can do to help alleviate the frustration of this transition.

Looking at nos. 2 and 3, the questioning transition is the place I looked to as one that can give her daughter the expansion space she needs to deal with the world the way it is operating now, with Pluto direct. Giving her a bit of that feeling of Pluto retrograde type of transition, even though Pluto is no longer retrograde.

Neptune opens up all the possibilities that do not exist to Saturn (the structure that is), and the quincunx shows she has no 'natural' relationship between the two. It is only through conscious deliberation and/or external assistance, will those two energies begin to work with one another.

With her North Node and Chiron working with Neptune, asking her daughter to seek her own answers, through "why" questions -- and not "why did you do that?" but "why can't you do this?" ... that opens up the discussion for how she perceives she cannot change and/or reveals her desires or wants that she sees in confict with what others (specifically authority and structure) want to impose on her.

Following up with questions such as, "what else could work for you?", "what else could you have done?" "can you ask for what you want?" can give her tools and tricks when her daughter feels the build-up of frustration and blocked energy (which often is all it is when you are in the process of transitioning).

The tool of asking her questions so she finds her own answer rather than explaining that "this is how it is done and this is how you need to do it," can help her in the immediate shift her gears rather than entrench the frustration even deeper.

Just as a child needs tricks and tools to learn how to easily transition from mom to a different caregiver, or leave the Chuckie Cheese or their best friends house, energetic transitions for all of us can manifest in frustrated, blocked or low-level behaviour.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

The Astrology of the Child

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:18:13 GMT

My brother and his wife just had their first daughter this week. She was born during this time when we adults would say "all hell is breaking loose" (that is, if you watch the news). I, of course, ran her chart right away, knowing basically what it would be like given the current transits of the planets. He, of course, could have cared less about it.

And, that got me thinking about how there were times when the most important thing, after making sure the baby latched onto the breast, royalty and the power brokers of the past did, was check the astrological chart of a new baby.

There are innumerable books for adults and how to view the horoscope, but so few for children ... books to teach how to help create potential ... and not so much to "create potential" as to "receive potential". So, I thought, if we want to, we can do that here, together.

As an astrologer and a parent, I do not believe in giving an answer to a parent based on astrology, e.g., like those defined personality profiles you can order through many astrological houses. I believe its a matter of learning to see the potentials, through the context of their environment, that gives the real picture for a parent and child to use (as I believe if you want to use astrology, it is a tool a child can learn for themselves too).

If you want to participate in this, send a private email (to keep all information confidential), and we will discuss the "generalities" of configureations (e.g., Sun in Taurus, Moon in Gemini, planetary aspects, etc.) on this board, so that others who have similar astrological signatures can use the information within their own context.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Unschooling

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:56:05 GMT

Unschooling is different than homeschooling.

You can be a homeschooler that "unschools"; you can even be in school and still "unschool."

Here is a blog from a young man who has been unschooled his whole life who went and attended his freshman year in a "real high school." It is a very interest perspective.

"Unschooling" is the philosophy that we teach (and learn) through the process of un-learning the programmed behaviour(s) of our society, norms, etc. It is not that we do not NOT teach how to learn, but rather through teaching our children (ourselves) how to learn and think freely, we discover where we've been "schooled" or "programmed" into a box of limitation of definitions for our beliefs ... or something like that.

I love coming on to Gaia because they always have so many "schools" or seminars or cruises or product offerings to help us "unschool" so many areas of our lives.

I am quick to caution not to simply go through the process of replacing one "school" with another one. And, as you unschool yourself more and more, those offerings that are of the old pattern are very obvious.

Because, truth be told, most people want that box of defined existence or truth to become their reality rather than create their own reality. We are addicted to the ease of being that external truth gives us, and, I would say, we are addicted to the discontent we feel ... after all, that discontent gives us the urge to change, grow and learn.

Truly creating an 'unschool' is the essence of the nursery rhyme: "row, row, row your boat gently down the stream."

There is no longer the struggle to change
but merely the receptivity to change
the flow of life brings us.

That is what I am learning right now: That different process of change.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Re: introductions ...

http://wiselittleraccoon.gaia.com — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:58:08 GMT

Hi! Shiny group!

I live at Heathcote, an Intentional Community in rural Maryland. I run Heathcote's Open Classroom, an unschool or freeschool for local homeschoolers. I'm not a mom yet; I'm looking for a man to coparent with me. I have details about that, and my various projects on my profile. I'm a filmmaker & poet. I'm starting a site/blog called HippieChickDiaries.

That's me!

Thoughts on Surviving ... 2nd Grade ... episode 2

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:16:49 GMT

This year has been quite the challenge ... a challenge that I this week take to the Clark County School District Board of Trustees.

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I would LOVE for my daughter to be able to go to school and be treated with high levels of respect. She deserves it.

Not taking a "back seat" this year has had its issues and challenges, but mostly we've had the growth from the experience. The issue of how children are treated in the classroom is a serious one ... they refer to it as "climate" ... fancy word for how the school "behaves" or "feels."

I went to the State of Nevada's Governor's 2nd Parent Involvement Summit earlier in the month. My daughter's school is a "Fortress School" ... my opinion. The climate is uninviting to parents ... unless, of course, we are shamed or guilted into doing so, because WE ALL KNOW that parents are the most important teachers in our student's lives. Well, so long as they don't act like parents, that is, and let administration and the school district do whatever they want to do.

OK, whatever ... can we continue once again?

BE INVOLVED in your child school ... the first time you feel its wrong, IT IS. take action then, nip it in the bud, as they say. when involved in issues with the school, your child is AT LEAST EQUAL to the teacher and administration in what is "right" for the child. Listen to both equally until you learn for yourself which one is most trustworthy.

So many parents have come to me and said, "I just thought it was my child" or "I just though it was his problem," or "I know how my child can be, and they are the professionals so they must know better!" Trust me ... they do not know better than you. You, after all, were given the charge over your child's education. That is the underlying authority.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Re: Thoughts on surviving first grade ... episode 1

http://janzeiger.gaia.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:29:40 GMT

I also believe in letting my child choose to go to school, but not until later on. At this point, he just has no clue about what school really entails. I think he asked once or twice and it turned out he just wanted to be "dropped off" somewhere. So I took him to gymnastics camp once a week over the summer..

I know this isn't helpful in terms of your school situation, but I'm wondering if maybe she wanted to go to school because she needs daily interaction with other kids?

Re: Thoughts on surviving first grade ... episode 1

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:18:54 GMT

"no, i never had to say that to our principal, but because i know this and hold this thought, she knows this to be reality. finally, in the last weeks of school, she got it. i don't know how much of it she got, but she got the basic message."

more on this. because this is something i struggle with, a lot. not always needing to say the things that put people on the defensive. because i am already in this posture (e.g., this is my reality), my mere presence puts her on the defensive if she or anyone is going to feel that my reality threatens their reality.

i am trying to create it so that everything that happens i can accept as 'good', but there is a threshhold of minimum standards that must apply first . . . otherwise, the situation is unacceptable and we should not be a part of it. but what if you are working on the basics? how much bad behaviour should you accept? when it is too much work for you?

first off, i think if you do not have allies or people who think you are NOT crazy for thinking how the school "should" be. the way the paper defines how the school should be. if they say, this is their mission, they "should" be following the mission.

but without allies -- true allies willing to do the work on the basics with you -- the battle is likely a self-sacrificing martyr situation. that's not my journey, so i have learned to stay away from things when i have no allies. and DON'T assume you have allies, just because people say they agree with you. allies are proven through their actions -- how consistent are their actions and their words. are they willing to their own battles for a common purpose?

secondly, i think you need to consider your child. actually, this is probably the first one, because if siobahn did not want to go through this, than allies or not, i wouldn't do it. really listen to your child and hear what they are saying, what they are doing, whether there are inconsistencies that need to be remedied. inconsistencies are what confuse children the most ... these are the words, but this is how they treat us.

finally, i would say, if you are going to undertake transformation of an institutionalized energy body, that you do so only in short "chunks" and then reevaluate. sometimes, you only need to be the catalyst for the moment. you need to be surrounded by a strong community, you don't need to be the strength of the community. if you are the only strength within your community, you will be burned out, and who's choice would that have been?

anyway, my thoughts continue.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Summer School . . .

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:00:01 GMT

as i child, i loved summer. i was free to be alone and go almost anywhere i wanted. ok, so usually i had at least one brother, a sister, a cousin or a friend with me, but we were free to explore the mountains and rivers, the barn, the animals, the creeks and the crevices of our natural neighborhood in rural oregon.

we don't have that here in las vegas! so what are we doing? well, our new house doesn't have a pool so we are not spending it in the pool this year ... so, in lieu of that:

lots of writing, drawing and painting. lots of playing with words and rhymes. mental exercises like telepathy, and going on late evening walks.

what are you doing for summer?

Thoughts on surviving first grade ... episode 1

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:55:35 GMT

if i had my way, we would still be home schooling. but, i had to choose the sudbury valley philosophy for our 'home schooling', so when my daughter said, "mom i want to go to a real school," i had to stay true to our home school philosophy and support her choice.

and she chose her school. by way of vision and magic (complete with a magic spell and a flick of her wand), her late application to a public magnet school, "we use a lottery, have a waiting list and we've been full since february," two weeks before the school ... they had no chance. siobahn was enrolled in "a real school" a week after school started.

going to school is a family affair. although i found that most parents do not think about school that way, which is, perhaps why public education is in the state of being that it is today. it was shocking to me, that out of 500 students, there were, at most, 10 families involved in the PTSO (parent-teacher-student organization). the complete lack of parent involvement was, as i was to learn, the reality of the school administration, despite lip service to the contrary. and, in fact, was told, "perhaps this isn't the school for your daughter."

yes, i would agree, THIS is not the school for my daughter, so you better become THE school for my daughter. you see, i am different than most parents. i know i OWN the school. i know that you work for me, and, if necessary, will see that you are replaced with someone who will follow the mission of the school so that it is THE school for my daughter. more than that, i KNOW i am sharing with you my star -- i am giving you the privilege of learning from and teaching my daughter.

no, i never had to say that to our principal, but because i know this and hold this thought, she knows this to be reality. finally, in the last weeks of school, she got it. i don't know how much of it she got, but she got the basic message.

if you are a parent, especially if you are dealing with a public school, where the layers of negligence and blame are so thickly woven within the layers of complacency and hopelessness, your frame of mind is very important when interacting with those people in "authority" over your daughter. the sudbury valley school teaches that there is only one authority, your own: you are free and responsible for your own decisions. the public school my daughter attends magnet program is, "school of leadership and global communication."

if there is one place "the squeaky wheels get the grease," it is in the public service sector that has elected officials on a local level. i would suggest that more than a squeaky wheel, you be a octagon shaped wheel that forces the system to stop until you say it may go again. more on some of my "why's" next time.

peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'

Re: "What Should I Wear?"

http://businessvoodoo.gaia.com — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:32:29 GMT

thanks ... definitely a great idea for new moms!