Tuesday, May 1, 2012

What Kind of Parent Are You

I know it's been kind of quiet over here lately. I've been working on a new project, writing some guest posts, and generally trying to keep my head above water amongst all the appointments and therapies.

It's a funny thing - clearly, I'm both a Pagan parent, and a parent of children with special needs, but a lot of times....I'm just a mom. We get the children ready in the mornings, make sure they're fed and diapered, try to figure out what to do about potty training, play on the swings, and bathe and pajama and do bedtime, just like everyone else.

And some days, that feels like it's plenty - like just being a mom doesn't leave time for being a special needs mom or a Pagan mom. It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

Some people think that Pagan parenting means teaching your child to write in the Enochian alphabet with the same ease they write in English (and frankly, if I was going to go that route, I'd go with runes - a high school friend used to take class notes in German using runic characters, just to mess with teachers, and that's way more my style anyway). Some think it's taking children to Pagan festivals. Some think it's having a little altar, or reading mythology or having a preschooler who knows more Pagan chants than typical preschool songs.

I don't know that it's any of those or none of those.....but I think there has to be a balance. A balance of living in the mundane world and teaching about the Gods and the energies around us.

And right now? Balance is not our strong point here. There's too many appointments.

*****

This past weekend I had 2 guest posts:
http://www.thepaganvillage.com/2012/04/beltaneplans/
http://thepaganhousehold.com/guests/energetic-household-cleansing 

I also started a project that may or may not help me out on this search for balance. Actually, it probably won't help with balance in the short term, but will likely help in the long term with adding Pagan things into our day. I'm starting a website for Moon school lessons and plans for children's workshops for festivals. The website isn't up yet, but you can read more and get updates on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Your-MoonDay-School-Adventure/233327923442045

1 comment:

  1. Everyone has their own ideas of what a "real" parent does, whether it is a parent who is pagan, has a special needs child, is a nature is the only way parent, etc. I think you have hit on what is most important and that is to have balance and do the best you can. No one has the answer because every child is different, every parent is different and each day is different. When the parent gets off balance, it is more difficult to care for the child and to focus on the child's needs. Balance is a difficult act because we don't necessarily know what it is - but we do know when we don't have it, and once we achieve it or even get close, it does not stay. As long as you strive for balance, you have a better chance of keeping yourself fit so that you can do the best for your child.

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