There's love in the everyday the everyday dish washed the everyday table set the everyday meal cooked
There's love in the everyday the everyday bed made the everyday diaper changed the everyday hurt kissed
There's love in the everyday the everyday encouraging word uttered the everyday lesson taught the everyday helping hand offered
There's love in the every day the everyday load of laundry done the everyday bath given the everyday hand held in the dark
There's love in the everyday the everyday book read the everyday nose wiped the everyday game played the everyday bump and bruise, hunger and thirst nursed away
There's love in the everyday, I say!
It's powerful and monumental Yet readily overlooked
It's a love that stays at home Building, ensuring Peace, Warmth, Stability
It's a love that knows how to give totally Because it's one that doesn't exclude You
It's a love that's true That identifies with other truths
It's a love that's committed Despite ridicule Despite mockery Despite everything
It's a love, I tell you That manifests daily Greatly In the mundane In the ordinary In the easily taken for granted
It's a love that shines most brilliantly through with around and in The Everyday.
Photo "Heart Candle" by Heartlover1717 on Flickr.com
So, after lots of thinking, weighing the pros and cons, it's finalized: we are going to be a homeschooling family. It's been a complex decision and I've had to take a lot of things into account. Negativity from friends and family has been one thing that has led to my reluctance to fully embrace homeschooling but I'm finally comfortable and secure in my decision. There are a myriad of reasons:
I don't agree with the philosophy of public schools and I can't afford or don't have access to private/charter schools whose philosophies more closely match mine.
I could overlook philosophical differences more easily if the public schools offered top-notch educations but in my town, unfortunately, that is not the case.
I am willing (and able) at this moment to homeschool. We are able to make ends meet on one income right now and hope to be able to do continue. Utilizing relatively free resources (library and internet) and making wise curricula purchases, we can keep the budget for homeschooling low.
I know I can offer my children the type of education I want them to have, maintaining their love and joy of learning and exposing them to things that they might not otherwise be exposed to (African and World Histories being a top priority).
I can address my children's specific needs and honor their gifts and talents while maximizing their time and mine. I believe that way too much time in school is wasted. And while I'm devoted to my children, there are areas of myself I am looking forward to developing as the children get older.
So now that I've accepted that we are a homeschooling family, I just wanted to share some of the resources we've been using.
Starfall--excellent site that teaches reading readiness (letters and sounds, etc)
Letter of the Week Preparatory Curriculum--This is the *free* curriculum we are currently using. We are on Week 13 currently. Sometimes we take longer than a week but no more than two.
Fisher-Price--nice collection of educational (and strictly fun) games which help build motor skills, hand-eye coordination
NYS is one of the strictest states when it comes to homeschooling: the kids do have to be tested yearly and I have to submit paperwork quarterly. I've already gathered resources to make sure I am doing things legally. I want to be on top of things.
I'm still hoping to find a homeschooling group for support and social stuff. I know I will.
One question: since I pay school taxes in my town, why is it that if I choose to homeschool my town refuses to provide services to my child (if he needs it) and refuses to allow him to play on sports teams (not that my town sports teams will actually exist in two to three years the way things are going fiscally for this town) or be involved in any extra-curricular activities? Maybe I'm missing something that would help me understand.
Photo Credit: "Homeschool" by ForeverSouls on Flickr.
To find all the electricity had gone out. We'd had terrible winds all day and some power lines must have gotten knocked down.I immediately thought about two blog posts I had read in the morning. Needs vs. Wants: Do you know the difference? by BlackGirlinMaine and especially Drowning in Problems by Keep It Trill who in that post wrote that given the current economic excrement heap we find ourselves in, "a third to half of us may be lucky to have Internet service next year."
I so totally recognize so many of the luxuries we have been mindlessly enjoying living in America. When I came home to find out that the electricity was out, I didn't think about the food in the fridge spoiling or the boiler and water heater not being able to work (actual necessities)--I thought about THE INTERNET not working.
I had a good chuckle at myself. I hadn't thought about KIT's words until I came home and there was no internet. I *just* paid a HEFTY Con Edison bill (electric and gas). The last thing I was looking for was interrupted service. I almost got out my corded phone to call somebody and demand answers. So could it be that we could go on paying our bills, our taxes and just one day *poof* those services disappeared? Who could we talk to? What could we do? As it is, Con Ed has us by the nutsack. How can you dispute what they say? Can you physically go out there and fix things when they break? Nope.
I remember learning when I visited Nigeria last that paying your bills was no guarantee that your electricity would work and that going to work was no guarantee that you'd be paid. Being in Ghana taught me that there is a fundamental difference living in the U.S. and living in "the third world": realness. In Ghana, when the electricity got caught off, I immediately thought about my food that would most likely spoil in the fridge. I noticed how little folks actually relied on the fridge. Food was cooked daily and hardly anything was stored in the ice box. I noticed that I started to buy food that wouldn't spoil easily and food that I actually intended on eating very soon. That's real. I noticed so many unfinished houses and rickety, hooptie cars. No, roads weren't filled with late model cars and I certainly saw no Hummers. But folks really owned what they live in and drive. In Nigeria, I learned, being wasteful with water would mean you were at the mercy of whoever delivered the water to cook, bathe, etc . . . real. That's what's lacking most living here: instead of being focused on real stuff, we worry about illusory things like the internet.
Anyway, I don't have cable. I don't have fancy clothes or many fancy things. In most ways, I'm very practical and I live as humbly as I can. I often think I'd be okay if my family and I had a roof over our heads, food to eat, clothes to wear and a little tiny extra to make life special sometimes. But I sure do love my high speed internet. I'm too attached to it. Even sometimes I think addicted. I need it. I know it would do me good to do a week long detox. Even the one day break I take on Saturday is not enough. I need to purge a little more than that. So that in the event that internet gets cut off, I won't have to go through forced withdrawal. I want to be able to take note, miss it, and go crochet or knit (activities that I often neglect in favor of the net). I feel the same way about my car but to a lesser extent because with small children, not having a car would really challenge my mobility especially in the winter. But still, every so often I walk a distance that is a little less than comfortable, that would be much more easily done driving, just to remind myself.
I don't really talk about politics too much or get too up in arms about what's going on in Washington. I know, though, that the "bail out" is not going to get us out of this. Certain things I just have always known and don't surprise me--like that they were going to try to do a bail out. When a ship is sinking, you have to be wise enough to put on your life jacket, blow up your inflatable raft and abandon ship. Sometimes talking about politics and personalities is just a distraction from getting your own stuff together--figuring out what to do now that you know the ship is really sinking; devising a good plan that will potentially work no matter who is in office or how hard others are bailing water and pretending the thing is not sprouting holes everywhere. Preparing for the worst while hoping for the best--even if the only best that can be hoped for is good food, clean water, a roof, and some clothes.
And the hubby and I agree: if things get so bad, if the U.S. turns back into a developing nation, we'll be on the first thing smoking back to Nigeria (or Ghana). Because without the opportunity the U.S. offers, there is nothing, just nothing for which to stay here. If the dreams of all these racist folks who hope Obama fails come true, they can certainly have what's left.
These are challenging times we're in and that means that we have to be willing to personally challenge ourselves? Are you up the challenge?
I wrote this affirmation a few years ago. In that year, Z1 fell down stairs and broke his clavicle (collarbone). He also ran his first really high grade fever. To bring it down, I put garlic on his little feet. I guess I didn't put enough oil on his feet first and the garlic blistered them. The fever came down but he was so uncomfortable and didn't want to walk. No mother guilt--I was doing the best I knew how or else I would have done better. Anyway, the kids and I are all fighting off a cold right now (cough and congestion). We're taking our Vitamin C, Zinc, thyme/honey cough syrup but I'm also affirming our quick recovery.
An Affirmation for My Child's Health
My child is a radiant, beautiful, spiritual light being Housed in a healthy and strong body His body has the awesome ability to heal itself I know instinctively how to promote and encourage that healing His immune system is supported by my powerful thought energy It easily and effectively fights off dis-ease and illness Jah within guides me on how to feed him, discipline him, medicate him I listen. I focus on nothing but his perfect health. I block out all fear. I don't base my reality on what I see but on what I know inside My child is a radiant, beautiful, spiritual light being Housed in a healthy and strong body
Four Hearts in One Picture by Nicole. on Flickr.com
As I was leaving the library the other day, I caught sight of a book by Deepak Chopra called Perfect Health: The Complete Mind Body Guide. I borrowed the book not because I was deeply interested but just out of curiosity.
The first chapter starts:
"There exists in every person a place that is free from disease, that never feels pain, that cannot age or die. When you go to this place, limitations which all of us accept cease to exist. They are not even entertained as a possibility.
This is the place called perfect health."
I suppose Chopra believes his book will be the guide that will lead readers to that place.
I couldn't help the feeling. Bordering on anger but more so skepticism. Vigorous skepticism.
I haven't read through the book so maybe I'm not being fair. I'll accept that.
I need to know: are we talking about real perfect health physically where I don't have any ailments or issues or are we talking about experiencing perfect health in spite of our issues? Are we talking about perception here? I can get with that. But from the back of the book, it seems Chopra is talking about really transcending our "ordinary limitations" and achieving perfect health, i.e. actually having no disease/illness at all.
I thought to myself, why the skepticism? Don't you believe that you can be perfectly healthy?
And then I realized that I don't. This might be defeatist thinking at it's finest but I just don't.
The hubby thinks it's possible if you can figure out the foods you are supposed to eat and then go live where those things grow locally. He thinks where those foods grow is probably where you'd feel most alive and you'd be able to heal quickly and overall enjoy perfect health. I can get with that.
But I guess at this point I'm tired of the "gurus" telling me how to achieve this or achieve that. It seems too complex, human beings are so different and so unique that, it seems, there's no one way to health. Even though Chopra breaks down four different groups that we all could fall under, I found that I didn't quite fit neatly into any group. If he's basing his recommendations for perfect health on what group you belong to and I don't fit into any group, what then?
Okay, I haven't read the book yet so I might be unduly critical but still. Sometimes I feel this is all a game using people's desperation to be well to make these "health experts" wealthy. It's kind of a dark place for me to be in but I've been on this road to illusory perfect health for years now and, alas, I feel further from it now than I was when I started down the road.
Anyway, I don't know if there's such a thing as perfect health while we inhabit our human bodies. We don't live in a bubble. We live in a world that can sometimes be very toxic to us. Even the air we breathe. We contend with our genetics that pre-dispose us to certain chronic conditions. We have handicaps and disabilities. Would a wheelchair bound individual still qualify as an example of perfect health if he follows this book to a tee but never walks? Is that perfect health? What about someone who is deaf but never regains her hearing? Perfect health there? And furthermore, I tend to think that the set of challenges we face genetically or through circumstance help us to reach a higher place. In terms of reincarnation, if you believe in it, we work through and resolve issues to break the cycle. Is this higher place what Chopra means? Does he think we can experience that right now?
I guess I want to believe that changing diet and eating better (better for your own specific body) can reverse certain illnesses/conditions. Maybe I haven't found the right combination to make me truly believe. I don't have a testimony. What I can honestly attest to is that I.am.pooped. And almost at my wit's end. I almost feel like I just better learn to live joyfully and vibrantly in spite of the issues instead of obsessing about getting rid of them.
So I guess I don't believe perfect health can be achieved while in the flesh. I like to think we can work to try to get as close to perfect health as we can. And of course what I consider to be as close to perfect health might not be what another person considers perfect health.
So I was conversing with my sistren on her blog entitled "I'm Confused" about the current economic times and possible solutions. As we discussed, she brought up a very valid point: "Our education system sucks. We don't teach financial literacy in schools."
I wonder when parents send their children to school what they think the school is responsible for doing. I had a professor once who likened school to an emergency room. You, the injured person should not have to be a doctor to get world class, professional treatment. Likewise, parents shouldn't have to do anything special to get their children a world class education. Back then I totally agreed. These days, however, I am more inclined to think that school is more like going to your regular doctor and not the emergency room. I personally believe that if you are ill, you should have at least some idea going about what it could be. When you are diagnosed, you should be very aware of the treatment options and the side effects of each option. You should be free to say this is not working or I'm not comfortable with that treatment. And you should be free to go to another doctor without penalty or guilt fairly easily. You should have a say and power in your own health and treatment.
The same goes for education. Most of us don't vote on curriculums or dictate what should be taught. Even though so many of us agree that having Black history relegated to the shortest month of the year is an affront, we can also agree that unless we're willing to go to Albany with a brand new curriculum we drew up, that's not going to change. If you want your children to know Black history or any other history aside from the standard spiel, you're going to have to do it. Now, I will say that many parents do take an active stand to ensure the quality of children's education. In poorer neighborhoods, however, this is rarely the case. I know, I know, these parents sometimes work 2 and 3 jobs. Many mothers are single and all that. I get it. But I'm going to be a little hardline here and say one word: priorities. You may not be able to make every single PTA meeting but you can make some and you can call and ask for the minutes of the meeting. You can drop in every once in a long while or call or e-mail to let the teacher know, "Look, I'm busy but I care." My local school here of over 500 students has a hard time pulling 25 parents for the PTA. Will my sons be going to that school? No way. But I digress.
What exactly do we expect schools to teach our children? What did it teach you? Yes, I learned to read and write but not everyone who graduated with me could. Did I learn to think critically? No. Did I learn any valuable life skills? No. I graduated from high school to go to college. Graduated from college to get a job. When I didn't get a good enough job, went back to school to get another job. Even graduate school where I was supposed to be getting trained specifically to be a teacher did not prepare me for teaching. I would have been much better equipped to have spent those years learning from a master teacher. Because there's more to teaching than curriculum and lesson plans. How does your child psychology class translate to when you're in front of 30 kids?
So, it's safe to say that school kind of prepares us to get jobs. That's it. The rest, well, it's up to you.
I'm not the originator of that idea either. If there's nothing else I got out of graduate school, it was that public schools were originally conceived as places where everyone could get blended into the fabric of American society, in other words, Americanized. Get with the program. Being Americanized meant embracing the American dream, the idea that you work hard, so hard and then you enjoy. We all know that's not necessarily true but it keeps the system running nicely. Keeps those on top securely on top and those on the bottom securely on the bottom. School has always served a political purpose. And politics go hand in hand with economics.
So why would schools then start to teach us financial literacy? We can't even get schools to teach the histories of all peoples, to empower students in that way. If schools all of a sudden started teaching people how the economy really works, how to be financially literate, how to make sound money decisions, who would this system prey on? Whose blood could it suck? If we all knew a couple of years ago what a bubble we were in and all decided back then to remove ourselves from the bubble, start spending real money, start sowing in order to reap, it never could have gotten so out of hand. But we didn't. Most of us have never learned because that's not what school was set up to do. And we've never critically looked at the school structure to determine exactly what the point is, to realize what it can't and won't do for us.
I don't believe that school truly educates. We learn there. We learn facts. But we are not educated to become thinking, critically thinking adults. It's why Fox News exists. It's why all news that shamelessly distorts the truth or makes glaring omissions still exist. And why most of us suck it all in without a second thought. We've never been educated to understand that everything, big and small, needs a second thought.
I'm certainly not anti-school because my sons may need to go to school one day. I'd prefer a charter school or another type of private school with a different focus and a different, clear mission that I agree with. But if it is that public school ends up the only option, I know that I have my work cut out for me in terms of educating my sons. I tend to think that folks who never did well in school didn't do well because they couldn't be boxed in, couldn't get with factory schooling, i.e. put "x" into a child and get "y" out. For young Black boys, especially, this formula has been failing over and over again. I cannot simply depend on schools to teach them what they need to be successful in this world. No one should, really.
So whose job is it to teach you what you need to know? It seems like today we are realizing quite painfully that ignorance is not an option anymore. Each one of us is responsible to a very large degree for getting and assimilating the information we need to make it. We know we've been used as pawns in this system. And we've allowed ourselves to be for the promise of the American dream. But today we have to refuse to be victimized anymore, look at everything with intense scrutiny, open up our minds and for once, not be afraid to think. Not be afraid to embrace critical thought. Even if it's painful and even if it hurts our pride.
It's our job to teach ourselves what we need to know to survive.
Fledgling* was a great read. Certainly not the best from Ms. Butler, in my opinion, but definitely a masterfully written book. I don't know that I'll do a very good summary of the book because of time constraints so I'll direct those interested to read the Amazon.com reviews of the work in addition to what I write here.
As usual, Octavia Butler tackles the issues of racism in unique and thought-provoking ways. In this book, racism crosses over species in that vampires are a completely different species than humans but still have the same human problem of discrimination against darker-hued people. But I think the issues of racism and species purity got conflated a bit. Shori, the main character, is a genetic experiment who through genetic modification has darker skin and therefore can be awake and alert during the day. This is bothersome to pure "Ina" (vampires). And I couldn't say I blamed them. If it's true that the fittest survive, Shori represented the ultimate "evolution" for the Ina and in time, I could see how Shori's offspring could eventually wipe out pure Ina. As an Igbo girl, I grew up knowing that my folks would like to see me with an Igbo man so that the tradition, culture, language and Igbo understanding could go on in my children. By marrying an American, there is no guarantee of that. Now, the fact that the modification is that she is Black, I think, complicates things in an interesting way. This aspect of the story stays true to Ms. Butler's style and motivation. And honestly, it is quite nice when the protagonist is Black but doesn't really need to be for the story to potentially work.
I guess this is the question that begs to be asked: Is Shori really Ina? She's been genetically altered, her genes mixed with human genes? What percentage of you has to a certain thing for you to qualify? Half? 1/3rd? 1/8th? This question has been posed time and time again in U.S. history as African-Americans have struggled to find their place in this society. And as this society struggles to place (or displace) those of African descent, i.e. Black people. How do you perceive and categorize someone who is a mixture of races? Especially if your treatment of people depends entirely on how you have perceived and categorized them?
I liked the story for other reasons: Ms. Butler works hard to break up the mythology of vampires and re-makes them as the victims of bigotry, hatred and misunderstanding. It's interesting then, that any Ina would then engage in the same kind of thing toward a darker Ina and I wonder if Shori had been pale like most Ina yet still had the same ability to be alert during the day, would the Ina still have objected so violently? I think so. It's also interesting to note the varying attitudes the Ina have toward their symbionts, that is, humans who they have bitten and need in order to stay alive. When humans become symbionts, they live much longer than ordinary humans and also do not get sick or hurt as easily. Symbionts, in my opinion, do not get a real choice because once bitten, most get hooked psychologically by the Ina venom and then eventually they get hooked physically. If their Ina dies, they will most likely die too. It seemed to me a form of slavery where the enslaved didn't seem to mind too much because of the pleasure and perks they derived from being symbionts. However, some Ina are condescending to or think nothing of symbionts and this brought up many issues and questions in my mind. This is what I love about Ms. Butler.
There were two little things that bothered me in this novel though I must say. Shori supposedly looks like a pre-pubescent girl. Yet grown men are sleeping with her. Now, I know she's Ina and actually 53 years old but still . . . a little disconcerting to me. The other thing that really annoyed me with this novel is that is poorly, poorly edited. There are missing words galore. Well, maybe not galore but to me, it was enough to get an eye roll.
All in all, this was an excellent (and quick) read like all of Ms. Butler's work. I am yet to be disappointed although I don't think I ever will be. I'm even recommending it to the hubby who is not a reader but loves vampire stories (he's a Blood Banker too which is hilarious and also a little . . . ummm . . . )
*I've linked to the full text of Fledgling. Also, check out Bloodchild and Other Stories. Bloodchild was the first Octavia Butler work I read.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Today is The Honorable Robert Nesta Marley's Earthlight. He would have been 64 today. I can't tell you how influential Bob has been to me personally. On such a deep level. He means so much to many others too. It's amazing how his work is still relevant, very relevant today. His music, though decades old, is not dated, doesn't sound at all like 70s music. It's timeless. Still hip. Still cogent. I am grateful that he graced the Earth even though it was such a short time. He came to do what he had to do, what we needed him to do and then he was gone.
Z1's favorite Bob Marley song (and one of my faves too--the base line is just so sexy) is Stir It Up!
. . . To avoid blogging about something that will take some time and thought.
This morning I tried to do Billy's Bootcamp Live. It was . . . frenetic. Billy moved from one step to the next so quickly and, honestly, I don't have enough space in my living room to do everything comfortably. Not to mention, you need the special Billy Bands to do a large portion of it. I had hoped there would be some modification and I even tried to use weights--no go. I didn't finish the DVD. Any workout that requires some kind of specialized equipment won't really work for me. I don't have the space or the extra money. I also felt weakness/bordering on pain in my knees (from the jumping jacks yesterday, no doubt ) and so I'm glad that tomorrow is yoga and not aerobics. I need the break. But, I'm proud of myself--I still exercised today using Denise Austin's Blast Away 10 Lbs. I did the second workout, the interval with weights, because it is much more low impact than the first interval on the tape. So, Billy's Bootcamp is out and I don't even know if I want to try another one of his. Frenetic!!
-------------------------------- It took a lot for me to start up eating fish again. I really, really believe that I shouldn't kill things to eat especially if I don't have to but I figured I was sacrificing my health for ideals and that I should try and see if it would correct some of the issues I'd been experiencing. It's almost been a year since I started eating fish again and I have noticed no improvement. I'm ready to cut it out again but I won't say permanently. I do realize that because I am eating fish, I am naturally eating less carbohydrates so if fish comes out, I have to be especially mindful of that. Also, I started Z1 on fish too (he goes mainly for fish sticks) and it's one of the few foods he likes and will request. I would have to think of a replacement. ---------------------------------- I was running out of yarn for Emma's Sweater that I'm knitting. I found a cheap source online for more matching yarn and I now have enough to complete the project although I've lost momentum. In the meantime, I've been using some really rough wool I have in my stash to make a yoga mat bag. I got it at a thrift store with my sister-in-law well over three years ago. Initially I thought it was hemp but after washing it, it felted and so I knew it was wool. It was spun onto a cone and has little twigs and stuff woven into it--rough. But it's what I've got and it's strong, durable, natural fiber yarn. I was going to use an intricate stitch pattern, but who was I fooling? When the boys are awake (usually when I knit or crochet), I can't focus enough to do anything complex. So I'm doing a basic pattern with little bobbles to make it a little more interesting. I should be done soon. ----------------------------------- Anyway, we're in the midst of a deep freeze and emotionally I'm feeling it deeply. I wish the sun would come out or I could go somewhere warm so I could feel better.
. . . A gardening method and a workout DVD that are everything I've been looking for!!
First gardening: I've been reading different books trying to figure out which gardening method/layout would work best for our garden. We don't have lots of space for the garden because we'd still like to keep most of the backyard free for the kids to play. The problem with a lot of these gardening books (including one I foolishly bought and I am thinking of returning) is that the methods require a lot of of room. So I was absolutely thrilled to come across Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Just as I was about to order the book from Amazon, I did a quick Google search and found all these links:
These links along with the book borrowed fairly easily from the library will get us off to a great (and frugal) start. We had originally cleared land all the way in the back of the yard but the method requires as much sunlight as possible which means we will be doing the gardening very close to the house. I know exactly where. We'll re-seed the clearing we made in the back with grass or figure out what to do with it.
Anyway, this method is very simple to do and boasts that it is not labor intensive at all. The investment in terms of supplies and tools to build the boxes is minimal and what I've come to understand from reading different gardening books is that raised beds are a superior way to garden. With this method, there's no digging in the ground so there's less chance of me encountering a snake. I am so excited. The next task is to find a seed supplier.
Secondly, the workout DVD: I just finished Level 1 of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and it was fabulous. There are three levels on this DVD, that is, three workouts of different intensities. Each one is 20 minutes long and consists of - one two-minute warm-up - three 6 minute circuits (3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, 1 minute abs) and - one 2 minute cool down.
I worked hard. The routine is extremely varied which means you don't get bored or tired of the same move. And since that was Level 1 I did today, I am pleased that it leaves me room to grow and challenge myself. And while I absolutely hate jumping jacks ( a major part of the cardio circuit), with my Enell bra, at least they are not painful to do. I was also very pleased to realize that the ab workouts on Level 1 did not really challenge me since they are very similar to the one on my Crunch Yoga DVD. I am almost sure I will purchase this one.
So I was absolutely thrilled to find "The Black Herstory Series" by Anxious Black Woman, the author of Diary of an Anxious Black Woman, one of my favorite blogs. ABW put so much work and effort into this series to deliver a quality collection of essays about Black women in history that I can only hope is still available when my children are old enough to understand and learn. Links to individual posts in the series are on the sidebar of her blog.
Perhaps the best way to reap the benefits of medicinal herbs is through teas. Tinctures are great too and a convenient way to take herbs for those of us who are sensitive to taste, i.e. picky but it's true that tea is the easiest way for your body to make use of beneficial herbs. This book, 20,000 Secrets of Teas by Victoria Zak is a great resource.
From the book:
sage tea in the middle of the afternoon will make you fell like your day is just beginning
peppermint tea eases pain, headaches, and is a general cure all (I can personally vouch for that)
rosemary tea on your scalp can help stimulate hair growth (and soothe your scalp--I can vouch for that too)
thyme tea, considered the most powerful antiseptic herb, helps to heal infections, infectious diseases, and septic conditions (and when paired with raw honey makes a fabulous and seriously effective cough syrup)
chamomile in your bath (or on your eyes with a soaked washcloth) will totally relax and do wonder for your skin
When I was pregnant, I would make iced raspberry leaf tea. Raspberry leaf is a powerful uterine toner and I believe it helped tremendously with both births. For morning sickness, tea made from freshly grated ginger multiple times a day was my savior. I still can't believe how effective thyme tea is for breaking up coughs.*
I'm on a quest to perfect health, working through my own health issues and bodily weaknesses. For a long time, I've neglected this book. There's a small shop nearby (owned by a sista) that sells a large variety of organic dried herbs. I will be reading this book, taking notes, and making a visit to her store.
I'm happy I was moved to talk about teas yesterday because I was reminded of what a great book it is. I'm also reminded that everything happens for a purpose. There I was yesterday feeling blue because of the snow so I made some tea. Z2 was sleeping so I blogged about the tea. Then I was reminded of my book.
I'm going to be trying out different teas over time and I'll certainly share the benefits I am receiving from drinking them.
*I first learned of thyme tea for coughs from Gentle Healing for Baby and Child by Andrea Candee. This is another must-have book for those interested in natural ways to help children heal injury and illness. This book alongside Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child have been so invaluable to me. I will probably do more in-depth reviews of these books eventually but I highly recommend them.
Having tea is a fond memory from my childhood when my mother and siblings would drink Lipton tea. We'd have ours with evaporated milk and lots of white sugar. She'd have hers with honey and lemon. Tea was comforting to me, giving a warm full feeling in the belly on a cold day but also as a way to connect with my mother.
As an adult, I thoroughly enjoy drinking tea and have a cup nearly every day. The key to a good cup of tea I believe is that it should be 100% natural. That means, all the flavorings are real. No "natural flavors" or anything like that. Real tea leaves. Real flavors.
There are a number of teas that fit the bill. There's Numi Teas and my favorites from that company are Golden Chai Assam Black Tea and Red Mellow Bush Rooibos (rooibos is technically not a tea). Tazo Chai fits the bill too and is also quite tasty. You can find Numi of Tazo Teas at any health food store or in the "natural section" of your local grocery store.
What I really want to share with you, though, is a gem of tea company called Not Just Tea. At the annual African Street Festival in Brooklyn, we came upon a beautifully display of all sorts of teas. We were able to have a sample of those teas which handblended by a wonderful and warm sister, the owner Jennifer Jackson. We were totally convinced. Her teas are of superior quality, uniquely blended and delicious. And I love that when I buy from her, I'm supporting a sista, supporting Black business. My favorite tea from Not Just Tea is Peppermint Patty and let me tell you, it is the absolute bomb. You can buy all kinds of tea making supplies on her site too if messing with loose teas is not your thing (you know I just use a good old Pyrex measuring cup and strainer to make my tea especially after one too many tea infuser mishaps). The owner has a few retail partners so if you live close to any of those locations, you should absolutely drop by and give her teas a try. If not, don't hesitate to place an order. Delivery is quick and for any tea lover, her teas make a nice gift.
Anyway, I'm sitting here watching the snow fall and enjoying a cup of peppermint patty. While I love my tea, I still can't wait till summer.
Photo credit: "After the Tea Party" by Soaleha on Flickr
I must admit that there's a fear that's been nagging me since the moment I found out I was pregnant with Z1: passing on the genes that have challenged me throughout my life.
Sounds so crazy, right? But . . .
Acne ran me through as a teenager and still gives me a run for my money.
Severe allergies have often kept me from doing what I want to do.
I've worn glasses since I was 8 and at 27, I'm completely dependent on them.
Since my children are not old enough to deal with acne and don't seem to have any symptoms of allergies, the last bullet is the one that right now has me the most worried.
Z1 is constantly saying that he can't see. Now, I don't know if he's saying that just as an excuse to press his face close to the computer screen or television or if it's true. But it is seriously bothering me. I'm going to have to take him in to my optometrist (or should I find one specially for children?) to have his eyes checked. But honestly, I'm not willing to put glasses on a three year old. I've been wearing them since I was 8 and even though they are called corrective lenses, they don't correct the fact that my eyes are damaged. Glasses are truly an outgrowth of Western medicine: ameliorate the symptoms but don't address the underlying cause of the disease/sickness. In other words, glasses don't heal your eyes and year after year, the prescription gets stronger and stronger. I am now refusing to get a stronger prescription for my glasses. I don't know what I'll do if my vision gets worse but I certainly don't intend to make up for it with stronger lenses. And I certainly I don't want to start my three year old on this road just yet. But oh, do I remember the eye strain headaches and the general disoriented-ness that comes when you can't see more than a few inches in front of you.
So of course, I'm interested now in natural ways to really correct eyesight and heal eyes. Myopia and astigmatism are the vision issues I deal with so I'll be on the lookout for how to treat these things in myself and my son through diet and supplements. I'm not opposed to surgery for myself. I've tried eye-exercises before and that was a bunch of tomfoolery but who knows? Maybe I just didn't give it enough of a try?
See, I've come to the conclusion that every challenge we face in life is for a reason, to take us to another level of consciousness and understanding (if we choose to see it that way). My eyesight is precious to me and I can't say that underneath all my other worry is the profound concern that it won't stay with me. I'm hoping, really hoping that in this particular area of my life (and my children's lives) I can find a way to become fearless and empowered.
So this summer I'm determined to go at least 50% raw. I already have a green smoothie nearly every morning and I'm eagerly anticipating the return of farmer's markets and getting our garden going so that I can incorporate organic, locally grown produce back into my family's diet. Right now, we're mostly conventional except for frozen organics. We are still eating plenty of fruits and vegetables but I couldn't swing the cost of organics from Whole Foods right now.
Anyway, in thinking about going raw I realized that I never shared my recipe for Homemade Lara Bars. Lara Bars are simple (you will recognize every ingredient) but delicious and surprisingly filling. Because the ingredient list is so simple, they are easy to replicate at home.
Pineapple Coconut Homemade Lara-Type Bar You'll need: 1/2 c raw almonds (I get mine at Trader Joe's) 1/2 cup dried dates (about 6-8) 1/2 cup dried shredded coconut 6-8 dried pineapple rings, soaked for 15 mins. 1-2 tbsp soaking water
Grind nuts in food processor till fine. Add dates, shredded coconuts, pineapples and process adding water (start with 1 tbsp) till the mixture comes together. Roll into balls or press into a pan and cut into bars.
Apple Homemade Lara-Type Bar You'll need: 1/4 cup raw almonds 1/4 cup raw walnuts 1/2 cup dried dates 1/2 cup dried apple rings 1/4 cup raisins (optional) dash cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger powder 1-2 tbsp. water
Follow the same process as above, making sure to grind the nuts first.
These will keep for a couple of days in the fridge and are a really great, handy, satisfying snack.
The variations are endless but the basic formula includes dates and raw almonds. Commercially produced Lara Bars come in a myriad of flavors and is a great starting point for your own experimentation.
I hope you enjoy my musings that I share with you here on my blog. If you would like to use any written content on my blog, please ask and/or reference my blog correctly. Thank you.
There's love in the everyday
