when playing outside
the kinder found a dead bird
they called out to everyone to come over to see it
they said goodbye to the bird and told her that they were sad that she had died
we put a circle of pretty leaves around her to keep her safe on her journey.
—
“teach them to be kind to animals and they will grow up to be kind to people too.”
-rumi
while on our recent visit to the farm
one of the 3-year old kinder
asked the farmers why the windmill wasn’t spinning
after a short discussion about the wind and movement
he put it all together and was happy to know the answer.
when we sat next to each other on the bus for our return to school
he turned to me with a big smile and said,
“you know, i just love, love, love learning.”
and it almost brought me to tears.
—
“the capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.”
-brian herbert
—
image credit: kobi yamada, apg sales and distribution,
the kinder visited the farm today
met farmers megan and amy
said hello to the animals
had a tractor ride
saw the community garden
walked into the pumpkin patch
said thank you to the land and the plants
for making and sharing the pumpkins with us
they’ll give back
by planting the seeds from a pumpkin
to make new pumpkins at school
said thank you to the farmers
who taught us so much
who day in and day out
make all of the magic happen.
—
“we have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order, a kind of artist.”
-wendell berry
the kinder are learning about the magical powers of glue.
—
when all are watering the plants at the same time,
while facing each other,
what could possibly happen?
let’s do the probability math.
—
“be water, my friend.”
-bruce lee
today we began using scissors
and
some people really got the hang of it.
—
“who took my good scissors?”
-mom
after all of the wedding fun
finding the very tiny lizard, lizzy
thinking lizzy was gone
but finding she had hitched a ride in the car by hiding on someone’s dress
finding another tiny lizard, johnny boy
who hitched a ride on someone else’s pants
when we were looking in the trees for someone just like him
making houses for each of them
giving them food and water and air, and hiding rocks and grass
then thinking more about them and what would make them feel happy and safe
after talking, reciting poetry to them, interpretive ballet dancing
thanking them for finding us, hitching a ride, and playing with us for a little while
we decided that we loved them
and because we did
it was much kinder and compassionate
to return them to their lizard trees
to let them go home to their families and friends
to be healthy, happy, and safe
rather than try to keep them for ourselves
there were
a few tears
lots of love
and
a much greater understanding.
“true compassion means not only feeling another’s pain but also being moved to help relieve it.”
– daniel goleman
the kinder very gently touch the lamb’s ear and feel a soft surprise.
—
“there is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.”
-han suyin
when it started taking a long time, the kinder figured out how to settle this peacefully all on their own.
—
“then i reckon we got ourselves a good old-fashioned standoff…..
nobody moved, or said anything for the next few moments.
old-fashioned standoffs are mighty borin’ “
-derek landy, irish author, screenwriter and marvel comics contributor
“we see mermaids in the water!”
—
“rainbows and mermaids are proof that beauty and imagination go hand in hand.”
-author unknown
I didn't have my glasses on.... 