Hope's Homestead: Whisper Powerful Words....and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Lately, my blog is turning into a reflective parenting place, where I have been discussing raising children more than talking about what is going on in in the back 40. But you know, it's that time of year....still really cold and snowy in our little valley.

Another cold snap hit our area and so, staying warm, and baking in the kitchen is how I spend much of my time

In a few weeks I will be starting to chat about starting seeds and I also want to share with you what it's been like to have chickens this first winter, for now, I wanted to share thoughts on growing children.

As I've evolved as a parent, I now see that our own nuclear families are really a world inside of themselves. When I tell my children to be kind and loving to their brothers and sisters, what I'm really saying is to be loving and kind to everyone and so, how we raise our children, and what we tell them, affects the whole planet. As our older children move out and start their own lives, I see how impactful what our children believe, has on the whole world.

When we are in the midst of diapers and starting to lay the foundation for how our children think of themselves, I don't know if we give much thought to the messages our children are hearing. Often, we are just so busy keeping everyone fed, in clean clothes and all the bills paid. Often, how our children come to think of themselves, is how WE treat ourselves, how we treat others and the everyday words we use as we maneuver through our own lives. Much of that time is spent in an unconscious state and we are not aware of the impact on our actions and words.

This morning I was inspired to write this post from a video I saw on my Facebook page. It was a video message from Chen Miller, who is a special needs educator living in Israel. She tells a story of coming into a classroom and seeing a little boy sitting in the middle of the room with big eyes. He was cursing, spitting and screaming. She came closer to him and whispered, "I know you have a big heart, I know that you are clever, I know that you are a good boy."

This went on for a few weeks, him screaming and her whispering positive affirmations into his ear. He told her that he was "disturbed". Everyone had said so; his parents, his teachers etc and yet, she continued to tell him, "I know you have a big heart, I know that you are clever and I know that you are a good boy." Finally he settled down and accepted her as his teacher.

Near the end of the school year he asked her how she knew children were good. And that is when she shared her secret with him. That by the Fifth grade she could not write, that she did not understand numbers. She thought she was stupid and yet, here she was finally a teacher. Here she was now capable of changing the system, the same system that wanted to give up on her when she was a child. That is how she knew.

WOW!

This story had me thinking about how we raise our children and while I know, just telling our children some positive affirmations isn't enough as each of our children comes into the world pre-loaded with their own personality and set of challenges, we can still plant seeds when they are tiny babies and continue to whisper those words throughout their childhood.

I used to sing while I changed my babies diapers or when I was bathing them. Silly little songs using their names to rhyme with words of how sweet they were, how smart and brilliant they were, how beautiful they were. How MUCH they were loved. As they grew, and they headed out into the world, I would remind them to "let their light shine." That little song I learned in church when I was a child had stuck and so I would hold my finger up to my children which they knew was my code word for, "let your light shine."

In an era of knowing labeling is dangerous, we as a society continue to do it. It's all over social media, our advertisements on television and magazines, and sadly, most of all, it's coming out of some of the world's elected representatives, in our political states of office.

How can our children's seeds grow strong and healthy, if they go out in the world and are bombarded by toxic chemicals of judgement. You know what I'm talking about. We in North America, register our children in all sorts of activities from such an early age, so they aren't left behind, so they can get into the best schools, so they can achieve a high level of education and ultimately, have the best paying careers. We have their hair cut in cute styles and buy them fashionable clothing because we want them to be popular in school and accepted by their peers.

And even if you aren't actually saying anything to your child, what do you think the message is that they are hearing? I know a few of mine have heard the message that they aren't good enough. That they aren't smart enough. That they aren't pretty or hansom enough. It just breaks my heart....and yet there is always hope.

We as parents and teachers, as citizens of the world, are capable of altering the course of this earth by what we whisper into each other's ears. As Chen Miller transformed that little boy with the big eyes, we too can transform the world.

I'd love to share the video with you now and after you watch it, I hope you can join me in the kitchen where I'm making some Spicy Oatmeal Raisin cookies. It you read my last blog post called, "The Empty Cookie Jar," you will know in the end, I always keep the cookie jar full and even though I may be kind of a control freak, making sure my kids have warm footwear, etc I always try to encourage them to believe they are capable of anything and learn how to fill their own cookie jar.

Here's Chen Miller's video. (if you can't see it below, click on the hyper link) I hope you enjoy it and it inspires you too to reaffirm with love, kindness and inspiration. Let's all keep that cookie jar filled with light.

What a remarkable story and teacher hey?

And now, can you join me in the kitchen? I'll make you a cup of spicy chai tea and we can chat while I make some Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Do you like raisins? If not, we can use alternatives...cranberries are great and a little bit of orange peel in the mix is a lovely combination with the spices.

Oh, what about dried apricots and pecans? Once you have a firm base, let your imagination be your guide to what you will fill your cookies with. PLAY around with it and maybe let's call it our infinite possibility cookie recipe....kind of like us!!!

Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups of butter or margarine (I like to use half butter and half margarine)
1 cup of white sugar
1 cup of brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups of flour
3 cups of quick oatmeal
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp ginger
1 cup of raisins
1/2 cup walnuts
(opt) grated orange peel

(Remember: the raisins, walnuts can easily be replaced with cranberries and almonds, or any kind of fruit....finely cut dried apricots and pecans would be delish too...use your imagination....'cause you are BRILLIANT!!!)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine the butter and margarine until creamed. Gradually add the white and brown sugar until well combined.

Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla. Mix until light and fluffy.
3. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and all the spices.
4. Slowly add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, beating until well combined.
5. Finally add the oatmeal, raisins and nuts.....or any combinations of add on you have chosen.

6. Scoop the dough, 1 large tablespoon, onto a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
7. Gently press them down with a fork
8. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes....I bake until just golden brown as I like my cookies chewy....the longer you bake...well, the crunchier they are going to be.

Once done, allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes, as this will allow them to set up nicely before you put them on your cooling racks. Once well cooled, fill up your jar.

Also, play around with the amount of flour/oats....my recipe is the perfect combination that we like as the cookies come out firm, but are chewy from the cookie jar...but play around with the dry ingredients until you get it to the texture you like.

Also, this makes a big batch...fills my jar and a freezer container or some to share with those who may need a winter affirmation of love and kindness.

Are you ready for a cup of tea and to try these cookies filled with endless possibilities?

And before I say goodbye today, here is a lovey affirmation to say to yourself. One of the most powerful lessons I have learned while raising my own children, is to connect with my inner child and heal those recorded messages that have directed and dictated most of my life. While raising my own children, I've been able to erase those false recordings and replaced them with two simple words that I say to myself everyday.

I am