Tender Tracks Wed. Day 32

May 23, 2018
Waxing Moon
Lake Lagunitas

Today was a cold, wild and wonder-filled day.  Truly, the energy that came in had a lot of windy and some chaotic movement to it.  Yet, as Ruby and I looked over the whole day there were so many wonderful, wonderful times, actually the whole day when we looked at what and how the children might be experiencing the day.  So here is a bit about it but first, a small description of each of your children through, my lense:

Eamon was more quiet and less his happy hearted self.  A lot of the day Holden didn’t want to play with him and he was quite forlorn about that.  And, as always, after Holden was allowed time and space to do what was right and true for him, he and Eamon were back together again.

Holden was very much wanting to play with Cole this day and explore that relationship.  He does have a tendency to pick on Eamon even when not playing with him so there was aiding them through this all.  Yet, in spite of all that, he played and had a good time with his friend Cole and then Eamon and then all the children.

Uma came in shy, opened up fairly quickly, had less of her Monster play and, really liked being recognized for that strong part of her.  She was playing with the other girls and involved.

Luna was still in her world of “No one wants to play with me” and still having a heart that can easily be redirected to warmth, happiness and the love that is right in front of her.

Ellie Turtle was her happy, playful self. She had NO problem getting warm clothes on and was delighted to play with all.  Ellie went searching for her tree (I will explain later on). When she found this lovely little Redwood tree she put her arms all around it and just hug, hug, hugged it!

Ashley was in great spirits and alive with connection and warmth with the group.  She, like Ellie Turtle, had no problem putting warmer clothes on due to the days cold and drizzly weather.

Ellie Muenzen came in with a great deal of playfulness and was full of life and smiles throughout the day. She spent a lot of time with Ruby due to what each of us was doing with the children.  She got very engaged finding her tree that she loved and give it big hugs. She spent a long time looking for that tree and kept Ruby abreast of this. Ruby’s version of the tale was delightful.

Cole was a bit shy entering in yet easily opened up when Holden shared how they both had hats the same.  He was happy and engaged the rest of the day until he thought he had lost his hat!!  But ease was restored when Ruby let him know exactly where his special hat was. Phew!

Violet came in wanting hugs, hugs hugs from her sister yet sitting next to her friend Ashley was comforting as well as having her little, well loved, stuffy from home with her throughout the day.

Now, as I mentioned, the energy had wild and dispersed energy so, how to facilitate each individuals pattern and flow with the others? In the end, I do believe it took place. But first….

When we got to the lakes out they went and away to their favorite spots they flew.  There were warm clothes to be put on with Ruby and Wendolyn went to tending to the many wonders they were seeing. Violet was thrilled with what she kept finding and wanting me to “Come see, Come see!!”

As I was working to set up circle many requests, all at once, were being made. Oh dear! Well, slowing down, taking tender breathes came about and listening one then to the other happened.

There was a lot of talk about Moana brought in and it felt like a diversion from what would be beneficial towards their connecting more deeply to the NOW and the present moment.

What emerged from this, however, was, the Tree game.  It was shared that, “There is a tree just for you with a beautiful heart right inside of it waiting to be hugged and ready to give a hug back to you.  Just look around and you will find it. ”  So they scattered. Most lost interest and/or patience but not Ellie Turtle and Ellie Acorn.  They carried on until they found that special tree where hugs were given and received !!

When we got to circle it started, again, a bit chaotic. Their hands were cold and we brought out the mittens. But with mittens, there is a lot of, no I won’t wear these they have to be this color. Well, at Tender Tracks it is rare to fall into that.  As Cole stated, ‘today I might not get the color I want but tomorrow I might get it!!’  And that is true. This little simple thing called postponement gratification leads to resilience, patience, ease in life, and trusting of life.  And so, with a settling in of this little journey it seemed right and fitting, particularly that it is almost the end of the year, to bring back the song we sang every morning together at the beginning of the year.  “There were two little beautiful birds sitting int he circle one wearing_________ and that is???  And so two by two I would point out a color or something they were wearing and the children would call out the name of who it was and the story song went on.  They loved it and it was so fun to hear them know each others names, completely.  Then snack and then, celebrating the four birthday girls.

It was a simple story about the group and four children who had birthdays in the summer.  After the story and singing to them our birthday song came. The girls were invited into the middle of the circle and the others who were behind them could sit on the picnic table to watch.  There they each were given the bag with the Tender Tracks rocks. A story first about the Knomes and how they made these special rocks just for them to choose was told. Then, one by one they chose their stone, showed it to the group and then put it in their special little pouch.

From there we got rung out of the circle by the singing bowl and off they went.

A very, very fun game evolved first from working on building a little debris hut. When it collapsed there were larger logs found and concrete slabs. We set them up in a certain manner and then, how fun to jump on them and balance on the poles! Then a game of Jack be Nimble Jack be quick Jack Jump over the Candlestick happened. Waiting their turn was challenging for them so then the stick went high and turned into a special London bridges falling down game where when the words, My Fair lady happened, the stick went down and they had to run out of the way.  They LOVED playing this game together. It morphed into so much more which was very, very fun and then it ended with them runninggg to a tree and running back to touch the pole.

We then discovered a Merganser duck mom with 5 little ducklings on her back!!!!!  We followed and followed and followed them down the creek until the children found a Ca. Newt.  There was some roughness with this friend and  this time I invited them to sit down, take a breath and just watch their friend here without picking him up for he seemed to want to get away.

We then came back for lunch, cleaned up and went to the bus as we ate later than usual.

And, as usual, the day FLEW by.  Filled with so much!!!