Your child's sweetness

I can see the sweetness inside my son's heart. I can feel his purity, I can hear the teachings of the ancient wisdom he carries. 

My son is connected to the trees and to the oceans. My son can feel my fears and worries even before I can name them myself and he senses the animals and the spirits.

My son is so sweet, caring, thoughtful, so kind.

Just like yours.

Don't get me wrong, my son goes tantrum often, just like any other child his age. Sometimes he kicks, hits, trows things around. Sometimes he gets angry, upset, cranky, it feels almost impossible to manage. It does. He does all of those things. But that is not who he is, I see deeper...

The other day we went shopping with Grandma, and as soon as we get into a market he goes: 

- It smells like fish mama. I don't want to go.

- It's ok, we will not go near.

- Mama, we don't eat fish. I don't eat fish, you don't eat fish.

- Yes, we do not eat fish.

- But... Some people eat it. Some friends like it. "Avó" likes it...

- Yes, she does.

My mum buys some fish to cook dinner for herself and guests, #tumtum looks at the fish inside the plastic bag, and he stretches to touch them:

- Don't touch it honey... Let it be there... Your hands will be smelly and you will not like that...

- But I want to give "miminhos" to the fish... They are so sad mama...

(Image from Fatima Vargas)

Oooooh my sweet baby boy, this is who I get to nurse, hug, and sleep with every day! 

I am forever blessed!!

Count your blessings,

#ommmmmmamma

#tumtumLife

#thingsMySonSays

Image from Fatima Vargas <3 grateful 

(https://www.facebook.com/bestillfatimavargas/)

Being human

Living those days I am afraid to give the crayons box to my son because I am so in love with the White Walls...

Days that I prefer not to have "little guests" in the house because I fear tumtum tantrums on sharing his toys...

I confess I am often afraid of my son's occasional slapping, of me or others, not of how much it hurts (I know he does not wish to hurt) but of what it creates in me...

This "out of herself", "angry mother" that, deep inside... Is just insecure and wants her child to be perfect - I am dropping that, we are all healing you know?

My son is not perfect.

He is, perfectly imperfect. Just like me.

Just like you.

My son has screaming sessions, and Kicking practice around the furniture, sometimes. My son says "I don't want to breathe out!! No yoga!! Don't be happy! Cause I am sad..." my son complains some days, non stop complaining. It happens.

But I have days like that too, days I prefer coffee to yoga; days I wake up cranky and don't want to smile. Days I feel heavy and get upset for nothing; days I have aches and pains and I want to play the victim; days I don't want to talk, or eat soup, or wear my jacket.

But my life is so much more than that! My son is so much more! And that is why I write here, that's why I want to collect his smiles, his hugs, his laughter.

I want to keep inside of me the hugs he gives other kids sometimes, and the gentle way he loves to talk to taxi drivers

"So they don't get scared and we don't have an accident, I speak gently... Really gen-te-ly... Mister driver... Can we go Avo's house? CASA, casa Avo."

:-D

My son? He is like a super hero, I like to think of him as the "super hearts"! He often comes to me, or to his father, just like that, out of the blue, and says 

"I have a heart for you" 

:-) He gives us these imaginary hearts, coming out of his imaginary pocket, full of real love, right on the heart chakra. 

Now that's a superpower! What is your child's?

Think about it... We are all the same.

Are we punishing children for being... Human?

#ommmmmmamma

#tumtumLife

Make space

Make space for your practice.

Any little corner can be good for this, but it's important to create an area that you keep sacred, for no other use than your yoga, meditation, affirmation practice or spiritual rituals. 

Only this. 

Try to use your yoga mat only for that purpose, do not use it to just sit and talk, or to play (I can't even step on mine without being aware of what it is), and keep a specific pillow for siting meditation, for instance.

Your corner can be simple or elaborate, a whole room or just a little reminder on a shelf. But make some space in your house (and even at your work place) just for this.

For me it works wonders, and my practice can increase 200% - it really does!!

Sounds too much? It works like magic because the space is there, so the intention is more visible, clear, already manifested, I just need to go down to the mat, sit still, (or dance, if that's what the practice is about), it is all more real, accessible, possible. 

This alone gave us this morning's spontaneous yoga practice, me and tumtum, still in pyjamas, just before chai.

Priceless! 

Do you have a sacred corner? How does it work for you, #ommmmmmamma?

#tumtumLife

Full Moon

Full Moon already shining in the sky, just breathtaking!!

What are your plans to celebrate it?

There are easy, and baby friendly!, ways to connect to the Moon, and they don't have to happen at midnight (thank goddess! I am a mama, I want to be sleeping at midnight!! :-p) just engaging in some activity in nature that is relaxing and helps you to listen to your own body and mind can be very helpful at these times. 

We love creating spontaneous mandalas with little stones we find lying around, this one was yesterday at the playground, my son was very happy to help :-D 

I like to let inspiration flow freely sometimes, and get surprised by the designs that show up; others I like to draw my favourite shapes and symbols, the ones that have always been meaningful to me - the spiral is a constant in my life, and I remember creating and drawing spirals since I was very, very young.

Channel your energy tonight and create something, in the ground or using a notebook.

Maybe you have a baby needing to rest more than usual tonight, or maybe an energetic toddler (the full moon has this effect on #tumtum) either way it is a perfect time to just sit still for some time, soak the full moon light, if possible (don't forget your crystals and stones benefit from this also!) or... one of my favourite things ever, going for a walk by the sea shore (I am here trying to convince tumtum to join me!).

Whatever way you choose, focus on sending an intention to the universe, make it meaningful, and... Magic.

Have a great full moon time, #ommmmmmamma

Balance

Look for balance. 

Even when it feels useless, silly, ridiculous, boring... impossible to achieve (especially then).

Look for it.

Last night (it's been like this for a week or so) #tumtum woke up every hour or so, cranky, needy, wanting my breast and my lap. I am tired. Exhausted. Probably cranky and needy myself, longing for my own Mother's nurturing arms. In need for connection.

I need to connect. To others around me, to my dreams and hopes, to my loved ones...

I need to connect, to feel loved, to let go and just trust, to... find balance... And writing these words, sharing with you, helps me, it is part of my healing process, of my path to find... BALANCE.

What is yours? 

Wishing you balance and ease for today and the upcoming full moon nights.

#ommmmmmamma

#tumtumLife

Trust them to Be

Raising children to be good, to be proper, to be kind, to be smart, to make a difference, to be polite, to be strong, to be successful, to be free, to be...

Today think about it, are you brave enough to just support your child to be... the way he is? Just that.

The

Way

He 

Is 

#tumtumLife

#ommmmmmamma

Breastfeeding is a superpower

- You see? I am better! Mama, I was upset... And sad. But... "Maminhas" just helped me! Tears went inside. You see? I am better!

#thingsMySonSays

#tumtumLife

#ommmmmmamma

#SMA2016

World breastfeeding week

Today it starts the World Breastfeeding week! 

We mark the date as usual, big boy #tumtum nursing on demand :-) happily and proudly following what we believe in! 

Tomorrow we celebrate 3 years and 5 months of breastfeeding, and we do not forget this pleasurable time was also made of challenges... here are some of them... 

First image is me, frustrated that it took me two hours to put on a sari, and after twenty minutes out... had to come back to the room... :-p 

In the second one I bravely nurse my child at this food stall, I was respected by men while the ladies giggle. 

This is what we believe in! 

Have a great week, #ommmmmmamma S

#tumtumLife

#smam2016

How lucky am I

Here I am, my baby sleeps, the light and colours in the bedroom... the way his tummy moves, softly, calm.

I breathe deeply. 

I am safe, I am loved. 

I know how lucky I am. 

<3 #tumtumLife #ommmmmmamma