Lorelei Sieja
Lorelei Sieja is an educator and parent, currently living in Michigan, U.S.A. Lorelei has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, with a Language Arts minor. She graduated suma cum laude in 1982, from Mount Senario College in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Since then she has been involved with young children in various settings - Head Start, Kinder Kare, running her own licensed home Preschool, and raising four children. Now she manages the blog, Raising Creative Children, for parents of young children ages 2 - 6, offering themed lesson plans and informative articles on a variety of topics.
Lorelei has traveled around the United States with her husband's career, living in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Georgia. As a child, she spent her summers in Maine with her grandmother on a one-acre pond island.
While in Wisconsin, she lived with her husband and children on a small, twenty-six acre farm. They raised their own dairy cow, for hormone-free, grass-fed organic milk. They made their own cheeses, yogurt, butter and gallons of ice cream. They raised grass-fed beef for their own consumption. They had a flock of Icelandic sheep, selling the lambs for meat and breeding stock, and selling many of the high-quality fleeces to hand spinners. They had seven llamas, used to guard the sheep, and also for spinning. They had several cats, and thirteen dogs. Heimdahl was their beloved sheepdog, and the other twelve were fine, Siberian Husky sled dogs.
Lorelei began dog sledding around the turn of the century, and entered her first race in 2002. She came in second from last place, but she finished the race! Since then, she has been hooked. Her longest race to date is the Jack Pine 30, a thirty-mile race in Upper Michigan from Gwynn to Marquette. She has no intention of running the Iditarod, as she says, "I don't like pain." But she would love to go there some day to work as a volunteer.
Last winter her mushing season was shortened, as a move to Michigan has landed her and her husband in a small one-bedroom apartment that only allows her to have two dogs. She is boarding the others with a wonderful Siberian Husky rescue facility an hour away, which adds four hours to a mushing outing. Further complicating her mushing, an accident in October, 2009, resulted in an avulsion fracture of the right thumb that went undiagnosed for six months. Finally, when the x-rays were repeated, the fracture showed up, with mild arthritis complications. She underwent CMC athroscopy, and is still doing physical therapy to regain strength in her right hand. Her husband, however, exercised her dog team several times, and is now also addicted to the sport. She hopes to get him his own sled, and when they are able to sell their Wisconsin farm and move out of the apartments, his own dog team!
Lorelei and Alan homescooled their four children, who are now all in college or the workforce. They were active in their homeschooling community. Alan excelled in Math and Science, while Lorelei covered Reading, Writing, and the arts. Lorelei had three articles published on homeschooling in print magazines. For several years, Lorelei was a sales representative for Moving With Math, a homeschooling math curriculum for K-8.
Over the years, Lorelei has been a cub scout den mother, girl scout leader, 4H leader, soccer mom, gymnastics mom, Suzuki mom, certified Suzuki Piano instructor, newspaper reporter, photographer, and freelance writer. You can read more about her at her blog, clicking on the "about" page. Or swing by one of the dog sled races in lower Michigan in the winter months! You just might find yourself addicted, as well!
Latest Articles
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Ten Ways to Beat the Summer Heat with Young Children
Fun activities for hot, sticky days. Ways to cool off and keep cool.
Jul 24, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Summer Activities for Young Children
With a little imagination and planning, this summer can be extra special for your children. Here are some suggestions to get you started!
May 25, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Ten Bubble Activities to Do With Your Preschool Child
From math and science to art and literature, children can learn much from playing with bubbles! Here are 10 fun bubble activities for you and your child.
Apr 3, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Easter Activities for the Christian Preschooler
Sharing your faith with your child is a blessing and an honor. Here are 10 activities and a few Easter storybooks to help you.
Mar 22, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Sheep Activites to do with Your Preschool Child
Sheep and Preschool just seem to go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. Often taught in the spring during lambing season, but some flocks lamb all year.
Mar 15, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Spring Activities for Preschool Children
Share the wonder of spring with your preschool child. Here are ten activities including science, literature, art, physical education and nature studies.
Mar 13, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Create Safe Passwords You Will Remember
Changing your passwords regularly will help protect your personal information on the Internet. The stronger your password, the safer your information.
Mar 4, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Activities for Preschoolers - National Peanut Lover's Day
March is Nutrition Month, and begins with National Peanut Lover's Day. Celebrate it with your young child with these fun, educational peanut activities.
Feb 25, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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Keeping Track of Passwords and Security Questions
How to safely organize, store, and retrieve multiple passwords for various websites. Tips for creating passwords.
Feb 22, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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St. Patrick's Day Activities for Preschoolers
Ten fun and educational activities for your young child or preschool group, including art, literature, nature studies and sensory play.
Feb 16, 2011
- Lorelei Sieja
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