Children, nature, and the practice of paying attention
I have lived a full life immersed in the joyous and interconnected world of young children, nature, and embodied mindfulness, for which I have immense gratitude.
Across decades of parenting and teaching, I have spent over 85,000 hours with young children. Being with these young friends has taught me to slow down and listen deeply, both to them and to my own inner dialogue and challenges. Parenting and teaching have become a profound path of spiritual work and acceptance.
For decades, I spent many of my days out on the land, exploring forests and creeks with children. Then one day, I couldn’t. A debilitating neurological event abruptly changed my ability to teach and explore as I had before.
A deepening Buddhist practice had long been part of my life. This change led me further into my inner world and a desire to continually shed layers of attachment, both physical and mental.
Now, with the support of my beautiful family, I live a wandering life in a kuti-on-wheels (a converted school bus). With few belongings, I have a rich landscape of practice before me: seclusion, study, and meditation, alongside being present as a mother of olders.
Here I bring together my study and practice of the early Buddhist teachings, my exploration of Pāli, and a lifetime of learning what it means to accompany children. Playfully, I still enjoy being in the creek, building forts, and getting geeky with Notion databases of the Buddhist Pāli Canon and language.
Sabbe sattā sukhitā hontu - May all beings be happy
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