My Maplerose Blog

I'll be facilitating the MotherCircle course over 8-weeks starting this week.It's been such a profound experience for me.

When I discovered MotherCircle 6 months ago I felt like I needed a tune up. Okay, I was struggling and I needed some support.

Mothering had become harder than I wanted it to be. And, I guess, I was also expecting it to be easier than it was. I was having trouble locating "me" in the whole equation.

Elderberry syrup has become a sweet treat to the kids. I love them to love the food I make cause it's yummy AND good for them. They have no idea that it's "medicine" they just love it. It is such a valuable immune boosting medicine. Have your tried it?

Elderberry syrup is easy to make. If you don't have a tree take a look around where you live and you may be surprised to find some in your neighbourhood just drooping with berries.

My oldest has always been keen to get up first thing in the morning and do his own thing for a while. Since he could toddle his way out of the bed he spends early mornings reading and playing. Often the sound of LEGO block searching  gets me up.

Lately though, he's been into foraging first thing and the sound of the cookie jar lid at 6:45am often wakes me up.

My way to combat this behaviour, rather than get myself out of bed, is to just make cookies and muffins so chock full of goodness they pass for "pre-breakfast" and this mom can sleep on.

It was very important for me to write Pysanky this year for so many reasons but mostly because I am free and safe and I can. Creating is very healing, calming and it's usually pretty fun. I've found it's one of the best things I can do for myself.

And while the days leading up to it were so full, Easter unfolded with such ease this year that allowed for all kinds of creativity, including making Ukrainian Easter eggs.

It was something special if I spent more than 10 minutes sitting down, doing something "just for Jenn", in a day.

When it all came to a halt, I found myself disoriented. And then I was sad.

I quickly realized it had been a very, very long time since it was just me doing things for just me. And what had that done to my sense of self? Is my only value based on what I can get done in a day? Or what I do for my children?

What was it liked to do?!

Oh, it's chilly out there this morning! Slippers are on, fire is lit and a frothy, warm, spiced drink is in my cup. Can you guess what it is? You got it  - a pumpkin spice latte. And I made it myself.

Yes, I fell down the internet rabbit hole that happens when you google "pumpkin spice latte". There are about 6 million variations on the drink but here are my criteria:

Last year we started doing a new Autumn craft that preserves leaves perfectly and they're a lot easier to keep track of.

It's a quick craft, takes very little prep and smells delightful. And with enough newspapers spread out, it's any easy clean-up, too.

Are you ready to try dipping leaves in beeswax? Oh yes, you are!

Curious kids come to sensory play quite naturally. As a child, I remember loving the feeling of putting my hand in a bag of dried beans or rice. I loved the smell of fresh raspberries as I picked them in the warm sun. I love balancing and hopping over cracks in the sidewalk and I loved homemade playdough.

Not all playdough recipes are created equally but I do believe I found the best one ever. Once sealed in a mason jar this stuff lasts for months or until it is forgotten outside or in the couch or crumbled around the house. You know how it goes :)