TV or Not TV... That is the Question.

Being a mother of two small children the topic of television often comes up. Media every where telling the parent of young children, "it's good for them, it will make them smart, they will love it". I got sucked right into the trap. Growing up, I watched TV and look I turned out ok...right? For the first two years of my daughter's life I had let her watch TV, from baby signing time to the disney channel. I thought that it was ok if it were age appropriate. From grandparents to friends to media studies people were constantly telling me it was ok. I got a break when I put Grey in front of the TV. We had family movie night, we got to sniggle up, pop popcorn and watch a movie. I felt like the TV was our family friend not knowing it was really the family enemy. 

I have gone back and forth with the topic on hand. I stopped television watching in our home, then slowly would allow just one or two shows a day. Again, thinking it was ok in moderation. It wasn't until recently I attended a conference and one of the speakers was talking about the human brain and what television does to it. He showed some videos of children being cut off from the "box"...OH MY GOSH!! I started to sob. I couldn't stop myself. These boys were out of control. It looked like they were on drugs.My heart still hurts for those children. After the conference I attended my daughters parent/teacher night. All the parents were there and the topic of the night was television. Just listening to some of the parents I was SHOCKED! Almost everyone there thought the TV in moderation was okay for their small children. Even after the teacher gave us some literature on the topic about brain, and the dangers of television. It was then that I decided to say "no" and we have been a TV free home since Oct 27th 20010!

Not having TV hasn't been as hard of a transition as I thought. My children asked for it once or twice the first couple days. I said "we don't watch TV anymore" they asked why and I told them that it hurts our brains... "ok, mama" Grey said and they went on doing something else. My children's behavior has changed. They don't have as many melt downs. They are extremely active and creative. They read books (as much as they can being 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 years old) they color and play pretend. The best part is that I haven't lost my mind!! I thought I would have, having the children always around, in my face. They aren't though. If they aren't playing with each other they are helping me cook, clean, fold clothes you name it, they like helping!!

I ordered the book Children of Cyclops by Keith Buzzell and am on the website Touch the Future, reading and gathering more information on this topic. It is facinating to me that more people aren't bothered by this and aren't stopping it! It's been a little hard standing up to people letting them know we don't watch TV. We seem to be an incoinvience to a lot of people. It was especially hard over Thanksgiving, our tradition since I was a little girl is to watch the Macy's Day Parade. This year I asked my extended family to turn it off. Even my husband was a little shocked. He knew it was tradition, but I did what I knew was right in my heart.

I think the hardest thing for my husband is not being able to watch football. He hasn't read the things I have read about television so he in the mindset that "in moderation". That is a heated discussion Sundays/Mondays! I have to say, even though he doesn't know why yet and he won't until he reads...he is respectful and waits until the kids are in bed to watch TV.

Iroquois Thanksgiving Address

The Iroquois Thanksgiving Address

"Ohenton Kariwahtekwen"

Greetings to the Natural World
(You can hear this in the Cayuga language around 6 am (EST) every morning on http://www.ckrz.com)

The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.

Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.

Now our minds are one.

     The Fish

We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.

Now our minds are one.

  The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

   The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

    The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.

Now our minds are one.

  The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

Closing Words..........

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

Now our minds are one.

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Sweet Potato Enchiladas

I wasn't sure how my family would recieve this version of the enchilada. My children are not incredibly bold or daring in terms of broadening their palate. Perhaps I did it because I am influenced by LILIPOH magazine or perhaps it was Farmer John's fault. He appeared in director, Taggart Siegel's documentary, The Real Dirt on Farmer John. Whatever it was that conjured up the courage within, matters not. This was a risk worth taking for sure!! Best part is, we have enough to eat more tonight!! Yay for Farmer John and his fantastic new cookbook, The Real Dirt on Vegetables.

I serve this with a side of quinoa and mixed greens salad. Sauted kale or chard would be yummy too. Farmer John says you can add a little cooked chorizo after step five. ( a spicy Italian sausage. they carry it at our local Concordia New Seasons)

serves 4-6 contains: dairy and corn

3 Med Sweet Potatoes ( i used garnet yams)
3 Tbs butter
2 Med onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
2tsp fresh oregano or 1tsp dried
1tsp ground coriander
1tsp salt
12 corn tortillas
1 recipe enchilada sauce or 4 cups prepared enchilada sauce
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese ( i used mild, raw cheddar and more of it)

1. Preheat the over to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish

2. Bake the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet until soft. 40-50 min. let cool, peel and mash.

3. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, saute until translucent, 5-7 min. Stir in the farlic and cook for 1 more min.

4. Stir in the cumin, oregano, coriander, and salt, cook, stirring constantly, for 2 min. Add the mashed sweet potatoes and cook for 2 min longer. Remove from heat.

5. Wrap the tortillas in a dish towel and place in a steamer basket over boiling water for about 10 min.

6. Fill each tortilla with about 1/3 cup of the sweet potato filling and roll up. Place the prepared tortillas in the greased baking dish. Pour the sauce over the top and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted, 20-25 min.

Enchilada Sauce Recipe (worth making yourself!!)

1 Tbs veg oil
1 med onion, minced
1 Tbs chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried
8 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups pureed tomatoes ( i like the Bionature strained tomatoes in the glass jar)
salt

1. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, chili powder, cumin, and oregano, cook, stirring for 5 min. Stir in the garlic and continue to saute until the onion is soft, 2-3 more min.

2. Add the tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Cook over low heat until flavors are fully developed, 30-45 min. Season with more salt to taste. ( I pulsed mine in my food processor for a few min, when done cooking)

Candy made at home

Here is a fun recipe to make with your kids.  Be sure to wait long enough, so you don't burn your fingers!!  I think this recipe is best if used sparingly, like once annually, perhaps at Christmastime.  Have fun and brush your teeth after eating!!  : )

Here is the recipe, from Yankee Magazine:
Makes about 4 dozen pieces.
An old-fashioned candy that requires pulling.

• 2 cups molasses
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Combine molasses, brown sugar, and butter in heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, and continue boiling gently until mixture reaches 248 degrees F or the hard ball stage (when a bit of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm ball that isn't sticky). Remove from heat, stir in vinegar, and pour onto buttered platter. Do not refrigerate, but allow to cool gradually at room temperature. As soon as candy is cool enough to handle (it will be somewhat sticky) with buttered hands gather it into a ball and with the help of a friend or a hook on the wall, begin to pull it briskly. Pull until candy whitens and is cold. Cut into bite-sized pieces and wrap in waxed paper, twisting the ends of the paper to keep it in place.

Do we really know what we are doing?

I have been reading a new book, The Children of Cyclops, by Keith Buzzell. It just happened to be on the free book shelf, at the Ruldolf Steiner College. I was at RSC last week, for my early childhood in-service teacher training session. The subtitle of the book is, The Influence of Television Viewing On the Developing Human Brain. I have known for quite some time that TV viewing changes brain wave patterns, contributes to learning challenges, and most of the content these days is just not worth viewing. However, until reading this book, I have not really understood the magnitude of this increasingly horrific research. The introduction is written by Joseph Chilton Pearce. Reading this part of the book alone, has the power to stop you in your tracks. Pearce says " TV disrupted or replaced verbal and non-verbal emotional forms of communication between parent-child, already weakened by childbirth interventions and the lost intimacies of breast feeding. It also replaced story-telling, " grandmother tales" father's work-place accounts and all the verbal chatter of the dinner table or fireside. It replaced bedtime tales and turned radio from story-teller to music box. Thirdly, it replaced play. The child not played with does not learn to play and play is the overarching intelligence of childhood and all learning (lifelong). " He goes on to say " Play is the primary way all learning takes place in the first decade of life and intimately involves story-telling and or family-talk, and the corresponding development of the internal imagery which such word-flow fosters. Of all the damages wrought by TV, impairment of internal imagery maybe be the most serious. All higher forms of intelligence on which a society depends, such as empathy, compassion, love as well as the later stages of intellectual development, science, philosophy, religion, are based on capacities for abstract thought and the metaphoric--symbolic structures of mind developed through internal image-making, which begins formation in the first year of life. If you are not concerned at this point, don't worry, the implications grow more staggering!! The book continues on it's horrific path, helping the reader to see how an unused brain atrophies and the way our brain grows is by playing, moving and interacting with other LIVE humans. Beyond the fact that our societal brain is shrinking due to lack of use, the shock affect TV produces in the brain causes a constant saturation of cortisol in the primitive part of the brain, which tells the body it is in constant emergency state. Cortisol in large or constant doses is toxic. Besides causing nervous, anxious and depressed children and adults, being constantly in the state of fight or flight is a direct cause of cancer and heart disease, this research from University of London's medical school.

The question that looms in my mind is; With out the society building and continuing factors such as love, appreciation, compassion and empathy and with our brains literally shrinking due to under-use, do we really know what we are doing? I think it's time to explore the answers to this questions, ready or not. I have a good feeling our future depends on it!

Here are a few links to check out:

NY Times article on children and TV

Keith Buzzle book on children and TV

Look for Shannon's post to follow and some more helpful links to information to begin or add to your own file cabinet!

Love and Light,
Stephanie

Stephanie's Journey

My journey starts exactly the same as Shannon's! Imagine that! However, I did decided to leave that path and forge a new one, starting with the expulsion from the house of my parents, in 1995. I left home, because my new, emerging lifestyle choices did not fit within the parental boundaries! And now that I am a parent, I completely understand why! Guess what?? My parents were RIGHT, about almost everything!! This new found freedom, before I had even graduated high school, led very quickly to a serious lack of freedom; that which is inaugurated by becoming a parent. Within three months of moving out of my parents loving home, I found myself pregnant with my first child. Surely, abortion was the first thought in my mind. I was shocked ( let me now emphasize my extreme sense of invincibility, for the act I was engaging in is exactly the way children are conceived!!) Raised in a fairly conservative Christian household, coming from a long line of conservative, republican lineage, I had learnt why abortion would not be an option for me. We took a trip to march under the Washington monument, in D.C., advocating for the unborn, supporting the pro-life movement. It all made perfect sense to me. Plus, the images of those aborted babies in the trash would not leave my mind( I now have a different view of abortion and still wrestle with what I learned as a child and what I have heard, with my heart and soul from those who did choose this, there is no condemnation. I am not pro-choice or pro-life, rather pro-support, pro-non-judgment, pro-compassion). I did look into adoption, just so I could claim responsibly checking out all of my options. In my heart, however, I knew that this baby was mine to keep. Then, I faced the stark, sobering reality......I was going to be a mother. A teenage, unwed mother. My entire family would know that I had decided to have sex before I was married! This was almost more painful than the thought of ending my fun and straightening up, oh and mothering a child! Though I had tested the limits before, in increasingly bold and foolish risks, this was surely the cherry, and the beginning of the rest of my life. I should have guessed then, my choices would continue to be unconventional and against the grain. Surely, this is exactly what cascaded, as my mothering journey took me deeper and deeper into the dark spiraling center of my soul. One thing I can claim is the constant opportunity for growth and transformation this journey has bestowed upon me. I often wonder how it is that I was lucky enough to wake up and unplug from the matrix. I often wonder if I had a little angelic help, perhaps someone who was looking out for me did the actual unplugging. Not sure. But I am so grateful! Don't get me wrong, it has been a very difficult path, riddled with traps and temptation to close my eyes, pretend to be asleep and hop back onto easy street. The more I learn, the more I seek, the less of a possibility that is for me. So here I am, with my beloved Sister, treading lightly and sometimes quite heavily down the mothering road. I am so glad we are on this path together!! I am proud to say, I am growing less and less afraid of the dark! There's something to that old song, " This little light of mine".

What To Look Forward To

Every Friday, or every other Friday will be Frugal Friday. I will post deals I have found on the web. This will include things from cloth diapers, clothing, vitamins etc. I am constantly looking for bargains and I look forward to sharing them with you. If you have a suggestion or something specific you are looking for and would like me to help, please let me know!

Every two weeks there will a "Topic of the Week", like circumcision, television, waldorf education and so on. I would like to say every week, but we will start with every two weeks and go from there. The bigger and more controversial topics like vaccinations, we hope to have an expert join the discussion.

We will have Recipe Wednesday. My sister and I both will put one or two of our favorite recipes we are using for that week. A lot of hte recipes we use are gluten free and yummy. We will also let our readers know where we got the recipes from.

Everything in between will be what Stephanie and I are dealing within our own mothering journey's. We don't want to sugarcoat who we are and what we are going through..we will be as real as we can!!

Shannon's Journey...

I grew up in a typical american family. I was raised on conventional medicine, ate at Mcdonalds, watched TV and was vaccinated. My parents did the best they could with the tools they had in raising their two daughters.

My journey began when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby May 27th 2006. At this time I was living life just like I was raised. I was not aware of anything outside of conventional medicine or even what organic was. My husband and I were planning a hospital birth just like most births in America are. I had no questions, I was plugged into the Matrix. I was a woman who just trusted everyone, had no questions and went along with what I thought I had to.

My sister, who at this time was a midwife in training let me know I didn't have to give birth in the hospital, there were other options. She gave me some resources and I started to dig. The first 4 months of my pregnancy my husband and I fought about home births, vaccinations and circumcision. He didn't feel comfortable with any of those ideas. He too was plugged into the Matrix. He told me his dream was to run out to the waiting room and share to good news with our family and friends.."It's a boy!" or " It's a girl!". To me that wasn't a good enough reason not to look at other options. After many words exchanged and tears shed my husband stuck the white flag up and surrendered. I quickly found a midwife in the area and we started the home birth planning process. Even  though my husband and I both decided to have a home birth, he still was hesitant..I kept reading, asking questions and researching, while he sat on the side lines and watched. I felt very alone in this process, he wasn't fully on board with our decision.

This would be not only the birth of our first child, but it would be the birth of who I was created to be. Grey's delivery into this world was the first step down a new path for me. Since then I haven't looked back!  Now we planned a home birth, but I was transfered to the hospital. It was a long, traumatic experience for my husband, Grey and I.  I took her birth as a learning tool. I didn't feel like I failed b/c the birth wasn't what I wanted it to be. Her birth story gave me the courage and strength to make sure that my second baby would not end up coming into this world like she did.

  I came to my sister with this idea of a blog. I wanted to create a safe place for other women and men to come to.  My dream is to have  a support system, a community for others. This is a place to give parents ideas, tools, recipes and resources on topics like circumcision, vaccinations plus much more.  With the support and love from our family and friends, Steph and I can do that!

May you enjoy this authentically raw and organic mothering journey of two sisters.