It's hard to capture the magic of Taproot in a blog post. The feeling of support and connection, and dash of refreshment, that it brings. Being in the presence of friends and parents who all share this sweet and marvelous, and sometimes difficult, journey of teaching little and new, and growing and blooming, people at home, all coming together from around the world. It's always such a lovely weaving of shared struggles, worries, gifts, accomplishments, dreams. A needed mixture of smiles, music, laughter, mishaps, jokes, art, nature, play. For a brief yet beloved weekend, you set aside your teaching hat and wings and become once again the student, hopeful and eager to jump into that deeply nourishing and encouraging ring-game of how-tos in life, education, and parenting. We gather... Although the conference was zoomed again this year (no bunk-beds, campfires, room-filling circles, late night fireplace knitting and tea, morning bare feet in the lake, and wooded hikes to the dining hall), we had the gift of a dear friend's presence for the week. Jodie, our longtime music-fairy mentor, who I met on the way to Taproot years ago, and who brought the experience deeply home again this time. In a recreation of in-person camp, we played games, made music, ate pizza, and watched sunrises. Treasures from Miss Jodie! Not wood-fired, but there was pizza! It's been so long since we've been in front of the camera together. Thanks Jodie! :) Sunrise coffee and early morning bike rides as group nature walk substitutes (I can't wait to have those again) For a few beautiful days our home was also filled to the brim with music- the flow of piano keys, the strum of guitar and ukelele, the flutter of pennywhistle, the melody of voices. This is a piece of Taproot that once you've experienced, you never forget. At the in-person gathering, you rise and begin lessons, change classes, and hike to meals accompanied by song or flute. You sing and dance and make music amidst learning to draw, paint, create shadow theaters and table dolls, tell stories, play math games, perform history plays. skip rope, and place poetry to nature. Something I always look forward to each year are the new verses and rounds that I get to bring home and imbue our circle times with for a long time following. This time we had the chance to learn one together as a family, live. Maya, tucked into my shoulder for our gathering song, grew brave enough to spread her arms and join in, and Lucas has been humming it since. It's definitely found a home in our circles to come. Standing like a tree, with my roots dug down, my branches wide and open. Come down the rain, come down the sun, come down the fruit to the heart that is open to be... Another beloved aspect is the inner work. Candle-lit poetry, rhythm-mending, yearly planning. It was also such a treat to have the kids alongside for this process, too. The mystery of what Mom does when she's away was revealed, stepped into, and taken part in :) Found Poem, illustrated by Maya, and composed from 'When I am Among the Trees' by Mary Oliver Shine. Stay. Call. Be filled. Do this. Slowly. Hurry goodness. Almost. Flow. Trees stir, Have gladness, Which they say Into their leaves. You too have branches, Honey, hope, hints. Light. Almost. The world. Go, Off such light. Again. It's simple. Something else we created together: our family's rhythm wheel. With a little bit of each of us in, and using the watercolor blending and splatter techniques from class. Painting catches all of our hearts :) This is our year! Festivals, celebrations, birthdays, the times of schooling and breaks. On the night of the second day, Jodie and I slipped across town to finish the conference at a local hotel. There were lots of snacks, walks, and a brief but lovely dinner visit with a dear friend. This is another thing that Taproot so deeply offers, and can't really be recreated completely. But, we tried in our small, special way, and it was a perfect touch of renewal to nest the experience into. Sometimes a small step away from home serves as the perfect bookend for these cup-filling occasions. Saturday classes were on child development, the arts in education, and nature table creations. Here be our dragon and fairy made with collected nature bits the kids gifted us on our departure. And Taproot wouldn't be Taproot without time in nature. We rose early on Sunday to check out and pick up the kids for a morning hike. This is our favorite little place. As seen and photo'd by Jodie :) After that she was off, back to her own sweet family, leaving us with all the charming music and fairy dust. <3 We've been settling back into our own usual summer days, refreshed and ready for the next school year to start in a few weeks. Let me send you off with a beloved Taproot farewell song: Here it is taught by Jodie! Just click on the grey button link below :) May your journey be safe and your worries be few...
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AuthorsHello! We're Maya, Lucas, and Miri. Welcome to Whimsywhispered, where we share our days as a Charlotte Mason and Waldorf inspired homeschooling family living and growing in Alabama. We hope you enjoy your visit and return as often as you like :) Archives
January 2022
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