“Play by definition is self-directed and self-controlled.  It’s the self-directive aspect that gives it it’s educative power.” Peter Gray, in The Decline of Play, and the Rise of Mental Disorders – When I tell people our plans to embark on slow, extended travel, the first thing everyone says is, “Yes, you better do it now before your kids… Read more

Since I’ve launched this blog ( a whole however many days ago that was!) people have been so supportive and awesome and encouraging, both on-line and in real life. But before we go any further, I want to make one thing clear: It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in my life. I fight with my husband, I yell… Read more

“Go confidently in the directions of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.  As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.” Henry David Thoreu – We’re quitting our jobs, selling our stuff and moving onto a sailboat. There.  I said it on the internet for all the world to see. This time last year… Read more

Photo by Carina Retallack Photography Being a mother of two children under that age of 5, it’s clear my sense of time has been warped like a fun house mirror. Some moments I feel like I can expand my physical and spiritual being into a delicious infinity–I feel as if I literally live inside each nourishing breath.  And then there are the… Read more

I am a self-confessed TED Talk Junkee, but this one by Brene Brown is especially poignant for me. The message: you HAVE to share the story of who you are, with your whole heart. In a world where I am often labeled as “emotional,” or “idealistic,” or “heady,” I feel validated by the measuring stick of research, that… Read more