It's raining, it's pouring...

It has been raining here non-stop for over a week (which is a long, long time, by Queensland, otherwise known as the "Sunshine State" standards) and my 'indoor activity' ideas for toddlers, are quickly running out.

• We have exhausted all the local libraries for Rhyme time and reading time 
• We have visited our local indoor play centre, Rowdy Rascals
• We have gone to our local Museum & Art Gallery
• We have visited Grandma & Nana & Poppa (numerous amount of times...)
• We have played on every merry go round & motorised car in our local shopping centre
• We have coloured in, build with blocks, nursed "babies" (her dolly's), played with all the pots & pans & Tupperware, played with the measuring cups & spoons with rice, helped mummy bake, played hide & seek
• We have read & read & read every book in the house

What I hadn't considered, was to simply let Ebony play outside in the puddles, in the rain. Day in, day out our little toddlers face has been squashed up against the glass sliding door, watching this stuff fall from the sky. Some days she would yell across the room "rain" (just in case you had forgotten it was raining), other days saying it quietly to herself, as she stood their staring. Unbeknown to us, this little girl, with big ideas, was planning an escape, biding her time to play in the puddles... It happened within seconds, one moment I was carrying boxes to our garage, the next, Ebony (all clean & dressed, ready to go to Grandmas' mind you) had scooted out the back door & found the biggest puddle in the garden to walk, jump, sit & finally, belly flop in. Fully clothed, shoes and all... In true Ebony style, this girl loved it. I ended up letting her play in this single puddle, then eventually the whole back yard, in the rain, fully clothed.

Now i'm waiting for the rain to let up, so I can wash all of her clothes :o)

Meditation, Nature & Toddlers

i know what your thinking meditation, nature & toddlers all in the same sentence, it must be a typo? sure nature & meditation make sense & toddlers & nature fit but all three together? okay, maybe not meditation in the capacity of nirvana, as in the imperturbable stillness of mind (got to keep an eye on these toddlers!) but meditation merely as a form of relaxation can certainly be achieved with nature & toddlers. in fact it seems to be one of the few places i can completely switch off from my care as a mother & companion & undividedly enjoy my time with Ebony, without any distractions. (did my washing machine just beep - back in a moment)...

i have always had a great affinity with the outdoors. from a young age my three sisters & i would be off exploring our local surroundings, whether it be our next door neighbours farm in NSW or the countryside in our backyard in QLD. we have always had great opportunity's to get outside & appreciate nature. climbing trees, playing games as a family, exploring local cemeteries, family road trips to the beach, picnic's, you name it we did it outside & we loved it! growing up as a teenager & young adult my love for the outdoors grew. from bush walking, hiking, rock climbing, canoing, camping, travelling, canyoning, white water kayaking & rafting i found myself most relaxed, most happiest, my most comfortable outside. i am present.

it wasn't until i started meditation classes just recently that i  understood my affinity with nature lies much deeper than a love for the outdoors.

according to meditation philosophies our very being resonates with the sight of a flower, sound of birds, feeling of the breeze. These experiences wake something up inside of us, and help to set our lives into a more natural rhythm meditation oasis. meditation i have learnt, can be done while sitting, standing or walking, with eyes opened or closed. Buddhist monks involve 'awareness' in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training in an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way.

the benefits of meditation are countless & significant, the results are profound. but i am hardly a guru in this area, quite the opposite in fact. having just started my journey with meditation i have a lot to learn & discover. tip of the iceberg comes to mind... i have gained however, in such a small amount of time, a broader perspective on events in my life & found that living better is easier with the rhythm of nature.

i love the affect nature has on my family. when Ebony is irritable or inconsolable i remove her from her indoor environment & simply take her outside for a walk or play in the garden. the effects are almost instant. the sound of the trees, birds, natural hums & vibrations provided by mother nature calm her little soul, & everything in her world (& mine) is at peace once again.

have you had any experiences with meditation, nature & toddlers? or perhaps one of the three? i'd love to hear from you, drop me a line below x