SPOTLIGHT ON.... Sheaffer! « Back to Group Discussions

[Knitting Mama]

Sheaffer, this is your spotlight thread! 

People can ask you questions, and you can answer (or not, your choice). Or you can just share if you want to. It's up to you!

To get the ball rolling, here are a few starter questions!

1. Backstory! Tell us about you, where you came from, how you got to where you are now. 
2. What are you craving right now?
3. If someone handed you $1000, no strings attached, what would you do with it?
4. What's your favorite type of soup?
5. Talk about your house a little-- are you happy where you live? Best part about your house? Worst?

[sheaffer]

haven't been checking in a ton lately, but now it's my turn to put myself out there!

1.  Geez, where to start?  I was raised in Orlando, finished high school in Virgina, and began my travels immediately after graduation in 1996!  Yikes!  Lived in the midwest, the Oregon coast, Colorado for 10 years, and just recenly (a yr ago) moved to Humboldt County in No. Cali!  I have 2 daughters (8.5 and 3.5) from a previous and extremely unhealthy relationship- if one can even call it that.  Anyway, I moved on, met the man of my dreams, got married, and we are expecting our first baby in August!  He's the man i asked for my entire life- down to the very specifics...manifestation at it's best :)  In Colorado, I trained to be a Montessori teacher, and worked in pre-school and kindergarten for 4 years, ran an in home child care, and raised my daughters!  We live a simple life in California, spending time in nature, traveling, in the kitchen, and in the garden!  My husband built an amazing greenhouse, so we are busy planning and planting!  Our goal is to feed ourselves well!  We eat a mostly vegan diet- but can't seem to live w/o eggs and fish.  We are into natural parenting- breastfeeding, co-sleeping, herbal medicine, and homemade cleaning products.  Our oldest daughter is a beautiful gymnast, and the little one a spit-fire story teller and actress ;)  Both of our families live on the east coast, so we spend all of our time together, working on creating a community for ourselves in our new home!

2.  I'm really craving comfort type foods- especially since it's cold and rainy here right now.  Cheezy cauliflower bake, pot pie, stratas...warm and fuzzy goodness!  I do like salty snacky things too...seaweed, pits chips, nuts.  I eat yogurt every single day because i LOVE it, and it's so easy.  I'll get back to smoothies once it warms up a bit.  Oh, and a late night bowl of cereal or granols always hit the spot!

3. If I received a grand, I would def pay our midwives.  It's the one pressure we're feeling in the budget right now. 

4.  My favorite soup today is coconut lemongrass with tons of veg.  Although, I do love lentil, chili, creamy potato and broccoli...

5.  We rent a 3 bedroom.  It shares a driveway with the neighbor, which is fine since there's a sweet little family that just moved in!  Our backyard is fabulous and our street is SUPER quiet.  It's very safe, and friendly, and it's perfect for now- price especially.  We pay 900 a month, where most 3br in the area go for 1300+.  The kitchen is way too small, and we only have one bathroom, but a small house is easy to clean!  We all have our own bedrooms, and like i mentioned a great yard, so the space works.  Ideally, we would live somewhere a bit more sunny, but that would mean way more driving to the grocery school, activities, etc.  It's the great balancing act.

[LeAnn A Doula]

The cheesy cauliflower bake and coconut lemongrass soup sound amazing!

I would love to have a greenhouse!  We're just getting our feet wet growing our own herbs over here! What are you growing in your greenhouse?

Where in the midwest did you live? Where have you most enjoyed living?

Did you enjoy being a Montessori teacher? Do you plan to send your kids to a Montessori school? I am contemplating Montessori and Waldorf education, both for myself and LO. :)

[rebecca10]

What has been the most rewarding part of raising your two daughters? the most challenging?  Is there anything you plan on doing differently this time around?

Where have your recent travels been to?  

[Knitting Mama]

What movies have you seen lately that you really enjoyed?

Have you ever spent time as a vegetarian/vegan?

What is your #1 hot topic and why?

What kind of car do you drive and do you love it or hate it (or are you ambivalent about it)?

What is your favorite TV show of all time?

If you had to choose one childhood toy you adored, what would it be?

[sheaffer]

LeAnn  Oh my gosh, what aren't we growing?!!?!  Seriously everything... veggies, herbs, and medicinal flowers.  Cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, and peppers for canning, Kale, chard, lettuces, carrots, onions, zucchini, spag. squash, pumpkins, melons...basil, lavender, rosemary, cilantro, oregano, marjoram...calendula, mugwort, hyssop...i can't even list everything!  We are really excited, and are looking forward to all of the projects it will give us!  We are on the path to becoming as self sustainable as we can, in terms of foods, and medicine!

I was born in Iowa, lived in Michigan, and S. Ohio/N. Kentucky.  I loved Oregon, as I did a stint on a crazy hippie commune- it was eye opening to say the least!  Loved Colorado, but really love No. Cali- it's just my pace, kind, and the outdoor adventures around here are really endless- beach mountains, rivers, REDWOODS!!!! 

I loved Montessori!  The training was really inspirational, and the teaching experience was wonderful, especially for my own parenting.  It was quite difficult to be my child's teacher, but the skills I learned are so valuable.  I especially love the peace education curriculum, and the fostering of independence.  It's way more structured than Waldorf, but my kids respond well to it.  It's not something we can afford right now, but I will prob go back to teaching after I'm done raising babies :)  I enjoy being home with 'em, and try to implement as much as I can in our home.

It just stopped raining- I have to go for a walk :)

[sheaffer]

Rebecca10

 I guess the most rewarding thing about raising daughters is to be a witness to their strength and their sensitivity.  They both have strong personalities but in different ways.  For instance, my oldest daughter is very mature, and bright, and stoic. While my youngest daughter- who also is very bright, is very boisterous.  They both are very silly, and intuitive, and nurturing.  It is also very rewarding to hear them play nicely with each other!!  That may sound crazy, but they have a five yr age difference, so getting along isn't always the easiest ;)

After having two, and realizing how differently you must parent each child, I want to remain open to listening to their needs as we bring another baby into our family.  I also want to remain vigilant in hearing the needs of our new babe!  I feel mostly proud of my parenting, and was a single parent up until a year ago.  Co-parenting with my amazing husband has had it's ups and downs.  I hope to became a better parenting partner as we enter this new phase of parenthood.

Our last major traveling was last summer, and we went to The Gorge in Washington state, Lake Tahoe, and up and down the California coast between Humboldt county and San Fransisco.  We try exploring state parks, and national forests as mush as possible, never staying in the same place twice- unless we really love it!  This summer we have plans to visit our families in NC, SC, and to catch some phish shows on the east coast :)

C's Mama

1. We just saw The Lorax over the weekend- adorable!  I also saw a hilarious quirky indie film that I cannot for the life of me remember the title.  It had Colin Hanks, and Ann Margaret. 

2. I did spend about 5 years as a vegetarian in my early twenty's.  Went back to eating everything.  Back to vegetarian, now I am mostly vegan except for eggs and fish!  That prob sounds crazy to any hard core vegan, but I rationalize it (in my mind) by buying eggs from a farm up the road where there live very happy chickens, and only buying wild, line caught fish.  My semi- veganism is based partly on animal rights, and partly on how my body feels the best.

3. It's hard for me to pick a 'hot topic' since I am not that vocal about my belief systems and how they may be better than another. I disagree with modern medicine unless it's absolutely necessary, fear based religion, and hitting children.  I feel strongly about human rights, breastfeeding, knowing where your food comes from, setting boundaries, and seeking spirit within :)

4.  We have one family car- a Ford Explorer.  I hate how much it costs to put gas in, but I love that as we grow our family we have room for everyone (plus a friend or two)!

5.  Fave TV show of right now is Modern Family.  Although, I do love some ridiculous reality crap every now and then!

6.  I can't think of one specific toy from childhood.  But I would still love to have my blankie!  My mother took it away when I was still very young, and I still remember how traumatic that was :(  I am now a firm believer in following the lead of my children, and allowing them to wean themselves from whatever, whenever!

[Sol_y_Paz]

What is your favorite movie of all time?

What is your favorite food for a snack?  For breakfast?  Dinner?

Do you have a cat or dog or any other animals? 

If you could go anywhere for a one week vacation right now where would it be?

What are 3 random interesting facts about you?  

[intime0]

LOVE Modern Family.  They took it off the air when they discovered that it had a lot to do with a gay family.  LOL.  Until then, they were editing the weirdest things.  Oh well.

I have an Aspie but before I knew it, I "let her" give up her blanky when her new sister was a few months old.  I say let, because I encouraged her.  In hindsight, I wish I would have just let her keep it.  Without saying a word.  I didnt know she had AS at the time, not that that makes a difference.  Nowadays I just try to let them take the lead.

What were your previous births like and what do you hope this one will be like?

What do your daughters think of the new baby coming?

What do you think will be most difficult with the new baby and melding the new family?  The thing you are most looking forward to?

[sheaffer]

sol y Paz

I can't choose one fave movie of all times!!  I have to say ET, and What Dreams May Come.  Also, Dumb and Dumber for a good laugh :)

I'm a total foodie, so I love all things edible!  I love to snack on pita and hummus, and cereal.  Breakfast-my fave treat is french toast.  And dinner- loaded burritos!

We don't have any pets right now.  Our oldest is almost ready for the responsiblity of a hamster- maybe...we love to travel, so having a pet would make that much more difficult.

If I could go anywhere right now, it would be someplace remote and tropical.  Maybe Costa Rica, maybe the West Indies???  Somewhere where I could go skinny dipping in a warm ocean!

3 random and interesting facts about me:  I have two giant tattoos- an octopus half sleeve, and a scorpion and a crescent moon (making a full circle) on my back.  Phish is my favorite live music experience.  I enjoy making driftwood art!

[sheaffer]

Intime0

Modern Family off the air???  You live out of the states, if I'm correct?  What a shame.  I think it's a well adjusted (and super hilarious) look at families today.  Wow- to not embrace gay families really gets me fired up.  We watch it on Hulu, cause we don't have reg TV.  Maybe you could give that a try?!!

My first birth was midwife attended, although it was more like OB treatment- she came in at 'push time' to catch the baby.  Really it was the nurses and my mama who coached me and cared for me.  But it was a loooong (26 hrs), natural vaginal birth!  My second birth was the complete opposite.  I had everything in order to stay home as long as possible, since the hospital was only 10 min away).  I had a friend who was my doula, and she was planning on being with me from the onset of labor.  But at 42 weeks, I was encouraged to induce due to severely low amniotic fluids.  Needless to say, I had to rearrange my thinking, grieve, pray, and spend my entire labor in the hospital. My midwife was there,  but attending other births as well, so I'm SO GLAD I had a doula.  I fussed about being able to move around, and with enough fussing, they allowed!  The first 6 hours I had to stay in bed tho until the induction kicked in.  My doula loved on me the whole time with massage, and kept me fed and 'watered'!  Although, 30 hours later, I was exhausted ( i had been awake with my at the time 5 year old for 45+ hours), my uterus was exhausted, and I desperately needed rest.  So I took the epidural, slept for two hours, and gave birth vaginally to a perfectly healthy girl!  I felt great after everything wore off, despite my fear, and what I had learned about epidurals.  My recovery was quick, and we went home the next day.  This birth we are staying at home!!!  I am thrilled, and feel ready and able after having 2 such different birthing experiences.  Our midwives are like women I would be friends with in any other circumstance.  That's part of the reason we choose 'em!  I'm open to whatever comes my way, meditating on embracing change if need be!

The bis sisters are THRILLED!  The littlest girl is stoked to be a 'big' sister, and refuses to be called the little sister.  She talks about the baby being born, and nursing, and taking baths with her.  In fact, we've even had a couple of embarrassing moments in public when she can't contain her excitement about the baby "getting milk from mama's nipples'!!!  Big sister has had moments of 'geez mama, when this baby comes you're gonna have less time for me'.  But I gently reminder her about all the changes we all go thru as a family to welcome a new baby.  She's very nurturing (a cancer), so I'm not in the least bit worried about how she'll care for her new brother or sister!

I'm really working on staying positive about the change that this baby will bring.  I'm hearing stories from other friends who's biggest challenge is the middle child and the difficulty they have with not being the baby anymore.  But since our little one wants to be 'big' so badly, perhaps we won't have that issue???  I think my biggest challenge will be learning to give everyone (including my sweet hubby) equal amounts of attention.  I hate to think of them feeling left out, but know that this is part of the process, at least in the beginning.  My husband is so magnificently attentive, and spends great quality time with the girls, so the fact that they have very strong bonds will help our transition, I'm positive!  The thing I look most forward to is the melding of our family.  And I think this baby is completing the circle of love waiting to be completed for a long time now!  And if we choose to have any others, our circle just gets bigger!!!!!

[intime0]

Shaeffer, I just love you!!  What an amazing woman/mom/wife you are!  Truly.

Yes, I live in Asia where we do get some American shows.  But yeah, being gay is frowned upon over here so they take the shows off the air...before anyone gets any wise ideas.  LOL.

So exciting about the homebirth.  It sounds like you have long births.  Even my induced birth was 12 hours, which was my shortest birth.  So I know how you feel!  Just prepare yourself for that and if it's shorter you wont be disappointed.  What I wouldnt give for a 4 hour labor.  LOL