Here’s a branch of snowy May,

A branch the fairies gave me.

Who would like to dance today, 

With a branch the fairies gave me?

Dance away, dance away,

Holding high the branch of May.

-from Spring: A Collection of Poems, Songs and Stories for young children by Wynstones Press

I love May, in all her green and blooming glory.  Down here in the South, the weather can be quite warm and the pools are opening for the season.  It is the end of the school year, and everything is bursting with vitality!

This month we are celebrating:

May 1 – May Day; also the Feast of St. Philip and St. James

May 2, 3, and 4 – Rogation Days

May 5 – The Feast of Ascension

May 8- Mother’s Day

May 15 – Whitsun; The Feast of Pentecost

May 19 – The Feast of St. Dunstan

May 20 – The Feast of St. Alcuin

May 30- Memorial Day (and our wedding anniversary!)

May 31- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

These are a few of my favorite things for small children:

• Hiking on The Feast of Ascension, watching clouds
• Making Pentecost crafts
• Gathering for May Day and dancing around a May Pole!
• Making crafts for Memorial Day, Memorial Day parades
• Pedal toys – trikes and bikes! Have your own Memorial Day parade

These are a few of my favorite things for grades-aged children:

• All of the above, plus
• Following Screen Free Week May 2-8
• Swimming and miniature golf
• Playing in the water and sand
• Observing all the dragonflies, bees, and butterflies
• Calming rituals for rest times and the end of the day.  I strongly believe that children ages 8-13 still need earlier bedtimes and I work very hard to make that happen. Calming rituals and rhythm are soothing for sleep!

These are a few of my favorite things for teens:

• All of the above, including screen free week
• Spring cleaning and spring decorating of the home, gardening tasks
• Spring cooking, making special treats for The Feast of Ascension and Memorial Day
• Planning surprise May Day baskets for neighbors, and doing things to serve others.
• Picnics at the lake
• Later night walks in the warm air – great time to talk after the smaller children have gone to bed

These are a few of my favorite things for myself:

• Celebrating our family with family meetings and family game night.
• Celebrating our marriage with a night out.
• Vigorously moving 5 to 6 days a week, whether that is through yoga, hiking, at the gym, or whatever I choose.
• Drinking lots of water and herbal teas.
• Going through the “You Are Loved” Bible Study by Sally Clarkson and Angela Perritt.  I am really enjoying it.

These are a few of my favorite things for homeschool planning:

I haven’t planned too much yet and am finding it hard to get back on track. My plan right now is to spend several afternoons this month at the library and see if I can write up some of the missing presentations for sixth grade and then that grade will be done, along with finishing up soe plans for ninth grade biology.  Then I will start to start write for first grade. I have an idea for a quality of number/first math processes block and am still searching for just the right idea for presenting the letters.

Hope you are doing some celebrating this month.  Please share your May plans!

Many blessings,
Carrie