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  • Home
  • Raising Outdoor Kids
    • Cooking & Crafting

      How to Make Birdseed Ornaments for Wild…

      November 27, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Beautiful Spring Picture Books for Children

      March 28, 2020

      Raising Outdoor Kids

      Playing in Nature Protects Our Children During…

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    • All Alberta British Columbia Lower Mainland Northern Interior Okanagan
      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      Okanagan

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

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      A National Park Reserve in the South…

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      Rock Climbing with Kids in Jasper National…

      August 8, 2017

      Alberta

      Family Adventures in Jasper National Park: 10…

      July 26, 2017

      Alberta

      Shaw’s Point Resort

      August 6, 2015

      Alberta

      Apiaries in Northern Alberta

      August 5, 2015

      Alberta

      St. Isidore, Alberta

      August 4, 2015

      Alberta

      The Hoodoos

      July 29, 2015

      Alberta

      Royal Tyrrell Museum

      July 28, 2015

      Alberta

      Bow Valley Campground

      July 27, 2015

      British Columbia

      Hiking and Camping with Kids at Kokanee…

      July 30, 2018

      British Columbia

      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

      December 1, 2017

      British Columbia

      Family-Friendly Adventures on BC’s Sunshine Coast

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      British Columbia

      A National Park Reserve in the South…

      November 3, 2017

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      More to Explore in the Okanagan Valley:…

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      Hiking Spion Kop with Kids in Lake…

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      Biking the Stanley Park Seawall

      July 27, 2016

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      Exploring Deep Cove and Quarry Rock Trail

      July 25, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park

      July 22, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Biking Through Pacific Spirit Regional Park

      July 20, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      Exploring Lynn Canyon Park

      July 18, 2016

      Lower Mainland

      1001 Steps to the Beach

      April 19, 2014

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      Northern Interior

      McMillan Creek Regional Park

      October 8, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve

      October 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Eskers Provincial Park

      October 5, 2015

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      Autumn in Northern British Columbia

      September 28, 2015

      Northern Interior

      Wildflowers in Northern British Columbia

      June 6, 2015

      Northern Interior

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Backwoods Mama

Family Life

The Meltdown Tea Time

February 25, 2011

I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to stay at home with my children. I know that for many women this is not a possibility and for others it isn’t even a desire. That being said, being a SAHM, like most things in life, has it challenges. If anyone thinks that SAHMs sit around all day eating bonbons please come and spend a day with me. With the extra set of hands I’m sure I’d have more bonbon eating opportunities!

I’m a strong believer of having rhythm in our days. It gives us things to look forward to during the day. Times for stories, art, quiet, outdoors and snacks are cherished in our home. Despite our rhythm, I’ve noticed certain hours of the day to be particularly challenging. I’m sure every family has times of the day that are difficult.

Over the last week I have named our challenging time The Meltdown. It begins the moment the clock strikes three o’clock and continues until we begin supper. During The Meltdown, everything seems to fall apart all around me. Monkey is overtired but refuses to nap, Sweetpea thinks napping is overrated and Student arrives from school. In the next couple hours Monkey and Student chase each other around house while Sweetpea wails in protest at being left out. It’s a time to sink or swim. I’m content if I can manage a doggie paddle. I kiss ouchies, cook supper and dish out discipline for behaviour that never seems to happen during the rest of the day. All the while I am fervently praying for patience, wisdom and more patience.

However, today I was sinking fast. My usual resources for The Meltdown were already exhausted and I was ready to hide. My thoughts skittered. Somewhere between needing calmness, craving chamomile and praying I put the kettle on. As the children were screaming I pulled out some herbal tea and announced, rather calmly I might add, that it was tea time. As soon as Monkey saw me bring down the fancy tea cups he sat at the table and I was doggie paddling again.

Monkey and Student sat quietly for over half-and-hour sipping their tea and eating dried apricots, almonds, banana and a cookie. I smiled, something I should do more often during this time of day. There is something simply magical about tea time with children. I know of families that have liturgical teas with their children as a way to teach them more about Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Today I am convinced that teas are a wonderful way to calm and collect the family. I will definitely be adding this activity to my Meltdown arsenal!

The Meltdown Tea Time was last modified: February 25th, 2011 by Josée
Tea time
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3 comments

cindyswobblog February 25, 2011 at 5:26 am

Good for you Josee! Wow, it sounds like you're a veteran mom – I never would have guessed that somthing like that would have such an effect! I LOVE to find out new ways of dealing with certain times of the day too. My "meltdown" time so to speak is at bedtime. I did not know I could get so frustrated and lose patience SO fast. Often I am too frustrated to even think about praying! I value my evenings so much, that when I feel I'm deprived of them it's not fair. I have to continue to remind myself that it's "not my time" as it were, but God's time, and he's even more patient with me daily than I am at my best with my Bunny. Thanks for posting about this – it feels like a topic that SAHM's don't like to talk about very often, although I could be wrong about that. I hope you have relaxing evenings! Praying for you and your family 🙂

Reply
Rosina {Rosy ~ Posy} February 26, 2011 at 5:37 am

Oh I love tea time! It really does work doesn't it. I don't know what it is but my 3 will sit like perfect little angels (well almost *grin*) and sip on tea and eat fruit for a good long time to and it just cuts some of the chaos that some days bring 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!

Reply
Elisa March 1, 2011 at 3:01 am

YES! My boys LOVE tea time. It is a perfect time of day to remind everyone to relax a little. It will soon be too hot here for tea time..but I will have to figure something nice out, like ice tea time or something. =)

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