Nothing like a pandemic to slow one down! Like all of you, our lives here at TNNS have changed. We miss doing a lot of things we normally do, like chatting with parents in closer proximity with no masks and more frequency. We long to cook together, using veggies from the garden and introducing children to new textures and flavours. We felt sad not to offer Chickadees & Parent & Tot this fall. We feel the loss of our parent evenings and holiday sing-alongs. The list goes on.

And, we have also found some beauty in all of these losses- slowing down and letting go. We have always employed an emergent philosophy here but now more than ever, we work in this realm; as do many of you in your own lives. The lack of ‘must-do’s’ or ‘to-do’s’ has dramatically decreased (with the exception of cleaning protocols of course!) and this freedom feels good; surprisingly good actually. So what will we keep after this is over and what will we re-instate? I know this is a question that comes up a lot for people and interesting to contemplate as we move through this time together.

The saying “less is more’ stands tall right now- dinners with families, bread making, more family walks and bike rides- whatever it is you are now filling your time with is less ‘charged’ with outer forces. So, in heading into the holidays where we will have sad hearts for the people not at our table, let us cherish what we do have, the small moments and gifts. From the bottom of our Nature School hearts to yours, we wish you all a loving holiday season.

Enjoy these snapshots of the past few weeks.

In gratitude,

Emily