HRM Parent Blog

So we never did make it to the Butterfly House on Canada Day like I said I *definitely* would. But finally today we did! And it turned out really well, because yesterday Alex found a caterpiller at the beach, which restarted his interest in the whole caterpiller-chrysalis-butterfly cycle thingamajig, so we even managed to make it into a proper educational experience. (Because god forbid butterflies should just be fun and pretty, you know!)

I should have taken a photo of the beach caterpiller because despite our best efforts (gotta love google!) we have not been able to track down what kind of caterpiller it was. And now after looking at *soooooo* many caterpillers online (I had no idea there were SO MANY different types!), I am so very confused and probably wouldn't recognize it even if I did see it. Whoops.

We really enjoyed the Butterfly House today. There's not a lot of butterflies, but it was fun watching them and identifying them using the chart on the wall. (Though I've already forgotten what kind of butterfly the one in the above photo is!) Alex also really liked the chrysalis chamber, and we watched a butterfly very slowly emerge from his chrysalis. We were also at the museum for Snack Time, always a hit with the kids, watching the naturalist feed the turtles, frogs and snakes.

The boy still has caterpillers and butterflies on the brain, so we will try to make it to the library this week for some books. Any suggestions? Has anyone raised butterflies before? Please leave a comment below!

The Butterfly House is at the Museum of Natural History until September 15. Click here for more details.

On Tuesday Alex and I went to the Dalhousie Women's Centre for their Mom and Me gardening program. It was the first time I'd been there, since I admit I always assumed the centre was for Dal students only. Turns out it's not, and is open to everyone in the community - and yes, that does include the men! Elizabeth, the centre's coordinator, will definitely make you feel at home.

The centre's community garden is a new, small garden essentially in the backyard of a house. It is open for you to use at anytime during the week, but on Tuesdays from 10:30am to noon they host a special Mom and Me time (open to dads, caregivers and grandparents too!). Along with the gardening fun, a volunteer does crafts and activities with the kids, like painting rocks for garden trim and making sprout people. When we were there on Tuesday the kids were having a great time with the sidewalk chalk - simple, but fun! The kids also loved planting marigolds and seeds, and are eager to return to watch their garden grow. Gardening with your kids is a great way to nurture a love of nature and help kids understand where their food comes from.

We try to garden in our own backyard, but I noticed a definite difference in how Alex gardened at the community garden. At home, Alex very much does his own thing and is busy 'planting' dandelions in flower beds and making 'soup' from whatever he finds. At the community garden, he wanted to join in with *real* planting and was eager to learn about the steps involved in planting a flower. Definitely an interesting difference for me to observe! Go figure, eh?

One thing to note about the garden is that unfortunately it is open at the back to the Dalplex parking lot, so if you have a toddler that tends to bolt it might end up being more stressful than relaxing for you! Elizabeth is aware of the issue and is looking at ways to create a barrier. Ideas are appreciated! At the moment they are looking at planting a barrier, but that will take time to grow.

Supplies are provided - just make sure the kids are dressed in clothes they can get dirty! The program is for kids of all ages - everyone is welcome!

Inside the centre, there is a living space, library, kitchen and playroom available for you to use anytime during the week. On the main floor, the living space has a TV/DVD/VCR and a comfy seating area, along with a computer with internet access (thank goodness - don't want to go in withdrawal, lol). The library is small, but well stocked, and there are children's books downstairs. The kitchen has snacks and cooking facilities, which you are welcome to use. The main floor is also wheelchair accessible. Downstairs there is a playroom packed full of toys and a 'green' room with seedlings and gardening supplies. There is also a picnic table and a bbq outside. It's a real 'home away from home' - Elizabeth says they want people to think of it as their rec room, a place to hang out, meet with friends, hold playdates and relax.

 

The centre's hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, but Elizabeth suggests calling or emailing first because the hours can change, though that doesn't happen often. You can reach the centre by calling 494-2432, emailing dwc@dal.ca, or visit their website here. The centre is located at 6286 South Street, the white house right in front of Dalplex.

Have fun!

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of interviewing April MacKinnon from Nurtured Products for Parenting on the latest episode of Haligonia Kids. Since Nurtured is an eco-parenting store, I thought it'd be great to get April's perspective on raising children to be environmentally responsible and making living closer to nature part of family life. It was lots of fun chatting to her, hearing about her adventures at the beach in March, balancing mommyhood, working full-time and life, and her tips for eco-living. Do have a watch when you have a few minutes - I hope you find it useful and interesting!

If you have ideas for future episodes, please email me at charmaine@hrmparent.ca with your ideas!

Here's a round-up of events and classes for you or your kids coming up soon. Have a listing you'd like to add? Email charmaine@hrmparent.ca for information.

Creating Balance in an Unbalanced World: an eARTh-based expressive workshop is for parents, caregivers, activists, helpers, healers and educators. Have you been caring and doing too much for too long? Are you missing your zest for life? Do you feel more short-tempered, more easily frustrated, more distracted, more resentful then usual? Join us on a journey to create balance in an unbalanced world.

I've been in a funk lately. I am just so done with winter. I want spring! I can hear the ice falling against the windows as I type this. But now that we are out of February, surely spring isn't too far away? Please? There are many things I'm looking forward to with spring, but one in particular is my weekly food box direct from a local farm in the valley, TapRoot Farms. Yup, I've just signed up for a CSA, and it's definitely enough to lift my spirits (until the next snowfall, ugh). I am *so* excited!

What's all this I'm going on about, you might be asking? For those of you not in the know, CSA stands for Community Shared Agriculture and is an important part of the local food movement.