My Grounding Kit

As homeschooling moms, there is always so much going on in our lives.

Its not easy and often we can feel like we are just running in circles.

A very good friend of mine introduced me to The Grounding Kit.

Her name is Rus Devorah and she is the founder of Toratherapeutics,  a Torah Inspired Approach to Holistic Growth & Healing. I cannot recommend this resource enough.

Here is how it works:

The idea is to have a little box or bag and inside keep 5 of your favorite things corresponding to your 5 senses.

Here is what I have in mine:

 ~Something Sweet~

Taste- I found these candies in Whole Foods and I'm hooked. They come in other flavors but I love this one.

 ~Something Soft~

Touch- This is a piece of Satin from a gown I made for my sister in laws wedding many years ago. It is soft and stretchy and feels amazing.

~Something Soothing~

Sound- This is one of my favorite stations on Pandora. It is called Classical New Age Piano.

 ~Something Fragrant~

Smell- A good friend gifted me with this bottle of Serenity by Doterra. It smells exactly like what it says it is. Absolute Serenity.

~Something Beautiful~

Sight- This is one of my favorite photographs. I actually took it from my kitchen window. It wows me more and more every time I look at it.

  

When you are in a place where you feel things are just getting too much, and we have all been there, go somewhere quiet if possible. You then take each one of these objects and enjoy them for 30 seconds each.

Close your eyes and listen to the music. 

Pop the candy into your mouth, close your eyese, and savor the flavor. 

Look at your photograph and get in touch with what makes it so meaningful to you. 

Hold and stroke the fabric, run it through your fingers, along your cheek.

Smell your essential oil or whatever scent is yours. 

Take 30 seconds for each one and just stop every thing you are doing and savor each thing.

That is 2.5 minutes out of your entire day.

This is not something that you need to do every day. Its something to do when your mind is everywhere and you need it back here, focused, present.

This is YOUR kit, for you. Some of you may need to think really hard about what their favorite things are to make this kit, because being moms and busy all the time, we tent to forget what we like, what we enjoy because we are so busy taking care of everyone else.

Here are some links to where you can get some of these products:

And here is more info on Toratherapeutics:

http://toratherapeutics.com/

rd@toratherapeutics.com

Enjoy and have a wonderful Sukkot~

Always,

Yonah in the Big Fish Craft

Today we made an adorable craft for Jonah in the Big Fish...

Here it is with instructions- enjoy!

Step 1:

Get an empty water bottle

 Step 2:

Cut the base off and dry it out completely. Flatten the water bottle and cut a triangle on each side which will turn into diamonds once the water bottle opens.

Step 3:

Color and cut out a picture of Yonah, I printed mine out from here

Step 4:

Slide Yonah into the water bottle. Flatten the water bottle and tape it closed Tape the triangles closed forming a tale. Tape on fins made out of construction paper. Glue on googly eyes or make your own.

Heres a closer look...

And here's the finished product-

How cute?

Wishing you have an easy fast and may we all be inscribed in the book of life

Always,

Fabulous Tefillah Curriculum- The Tefillah Box

We all daven with our kids. Its just part of what we do every day.

Some of us use musical instruments, CD's, points, whatever we can do to keep the Davening exciting and not monotonous.

 Now the thing is, at least for the English speakers among us, how many of our kids actually know what they are saying? Do they actually feel connected to Hashem when they are davening or is it just for the stars on their chart or the fun songs?

We recently purchased The Tefillah Box. The second I saw this I knew we had to have it as part of our Homeschool Curriculum.

This is what we received- a Box filled with goodies and a Teachers Guide:

Inside the Box is the Student book and a bunch of miniature toys- an instant attention grabber for the kiddos:

  

Here's all the miniatures it came with:

We all sat at the table and turned to the first page, Modeh Ani 

Click Here for a Sample Page of Modeh Ani

We all sang Modeh Ani and began the discussion in the Teachers Guide about expressing Gratitude to Hashem for waking up, we spoke about how we charge our iPads over night so they're at 100% in the morning, the same thing happens with our Neshamas. 

We then discussed how Scuba divers go exploring the Ocean floor for hours at a time, but they need to come back up to the surface to refill their oxygen tanks, just like us when we go to sleep. Thats how we refill our tanks. And when we wake up, we say 'Thank you Hashem for refilling my Oxygen tank!' 

And then we had an adorable Scuba toy to pass around and play with and make the lesson so much more tangible.

Each Tefillah has its own page with the Tefillah written in Hebrew, Transliterated and Translated into English. Then there is an adorable poem explaining what it means and how we can personalize and connect to it. The toys are the cherries on top.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Thank You Hashem for opening my eyes every morning! 

Kids love wearing their funny glasses for this Bracha and they really understand it.

Thank You Hashem for giving Strength to the Weak! 

We went around and saw who had the most strength by blowing the ball the highest.

Thank You Hashem for Straightening us Up- this little Bendy Guy is too much fun, we bent him and straightened him reenacting how we wake up and stand upright.

Thank You Hashem for not making us a Slave- we have the FREEDOM to be the best Jews we can be! Just like a bird is free to fly high, we have the freedom to reach high levels!

Its just so interactive and hands on and the kids GET IT- they really do. 

Morning Brachos are not 'just brachos' anymore. They actually understand that they have SO much to be thankful for and it is such a beautiful way for them to connect to Hashem.

I highly recommend My Tefillah Box as it really has enhanced our davening experience and I am sure it will yours. 

Click Here to Purchase My Tefillah Box 

Click Here to Purchase My Tefillah Box 

And Click Here to LIKE their Facebook Page and to win a FREE My Tefillah Box!

This is such a fabulous asset to a Jewish Homeschool Curriculum.

I am sure you will enjoy it as much as we have!

Have a wonderful Shabbos

Always,