Thinking like a mushroom.....and our relationships with human/non-human species in nature

I am trying to understand more deeply the connection I feel towards non-human species in nature...more specifically mushrooms. The photo to the right shows a mommy mushroom protecting her 3 babies.... right? Well, that's what my kids think the big mushroom is doing, so why would I tell them otherwise?
Mushrooms are everywhere this time of year. I was driving down past Elk Lake the other day, and spotted the most amazing bright red , huge, perfectly shaped mushroom,s along the side of the road. They were magnificent, reminding me of Alice in Wonderland..... I had to stop, and have a closer look. Unfortunately, this was one of the only times that my camera was not in my car, so I was not able to get a photo.
The relationships that we form with  non-human species are strong examples of how we are striving to consider a common-worlds pedagogy. Children are forming bonds with earthworms, slugs, mushrooms, trees, grasses,squirrels, birds, raccoons, and the deer in my centres. We will go on our daily nature-walks, and children will repeatedly "visit" the mushroom towns, checking on them, seeing what has changed or what new "guys" have grown. Earth worms are often carefully lifted off the pathway to a safer home where they can "Live." We recognize the mama deer with her two baby fawns.... we watch them cross our paths every day. The children ask many questions about where they sleep at night, and what do they eat for breakfast. The children are noticing.... our children are recognizing that we share this outdoor space with many other species... and that it's their job as humans to (over-see) and protect  all living things. Yes, even the ants and the spiders, and the slugs... we are all learning...together.
​Lexie

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