After laughig out loud at the beginning of this post, you had my crying at the end. 👌🏻 Nothing like a good motherhood reminiscing and existential questioning.
I love how you let your kids just be kids while exploring who they want to be as adults.
FYI my youngest son is like Bean. For years he's made weapons from random things he finds. An axe out of pvc pipe and some cardboard, a switch blade out of Legos, a bow and arrows out of sticks and para cord. It's probably one of my favorite things about him - his creativity. He will be taking Welding classes next year as a highschool sophomore.
My other kid dreams of being a director and will be off to Film school in the Fall.
My oldest two are still deciding, but hey, they have plenty of time to figure it all out.
All my kids are so vastly different personality wise and now that they are older and most are ready to leave the nest, all I can say is, I'm going to miss witnessing those moments. I'm sure you've heard it before, but they grow up so fast.
You are doing something right by your kids! Keep letting them dream as big and as much as they want to. One day those dreamers just may make their dreams come true!
This is a beauty of an essay, right up my alley. I’m a mom with grown kids who writes about this stuff, so I hope I don’t sound obnoxious or condescending when I say that allowing your kids this kind of creative space, and refusing to fall into the trap of “professionalizing” (love that!) their play, you are giving them a gift that is rare and invaluable in today’s world. (I think you know that.) The attention you pay to their quirky magic is the best. 💫
This was lovely, thank you. I’ve been thinking a lot about that fine line between support and encouragement / gross optimization, because I’m writing something about the pursuit of taking a child seriously as a form of respect, and how do you do that without simultaneously trying to professionalize a child? (I certainly don’t know the answer as the parent of a single 12-month-old hah, but this helps)
I love this essay. The bit about just observing without correction or commentary is something I try to lean in more as a teacher. I think for a long time I was really self-righteous and tried to steer their beliefs/understanding of the world in a specific direction.
After laughig out loud at the beginning of this post, you had my crying at the end. 👌🏻 Nothing like a good motherhood reminiscing and existential questioning.
The fur trader deriding the performance artist is really making my day.
they're both so nuts
a sign of good parenting
I hope!
I love how you let your kids just be kids while exploring who they want to be as adults.
FYI my youngest son is like Bean. For years he's made weapons from random things he finds. An axe out of pvc pipe and some cardboard, a switch blade out of Legos, a bow and arrows out of sticks and para cord. It's probably one of my favorite things about him - his creativity. He will be taking Welding classes next year as a highschool sophomore.
My other kid dreams of being a director and will be off to Film school in the Fall.
My oldest two are still deciding, but hey, they have plenty of time to figure it all out.
All my kids are so vastly different personality wise and now that they are older and most are ready to leave the nest, all I can say is, I'm going to miss witnessing those moments. I'm sure you've heard it before, but they grow up so fast.
You are doing something right by your kids! Keep letting them dream as big and as much as they want to. One day those dreamers just may make their dreams come true!
This is a beauty of an essay, right up my alley. I’m a mom with grown kids who writes about this stuff, so I hope I don’t sound obnoxious or condescending when I say that allowing your kids this kind of creative space, and refusing to fall into the trap of “professionalizing” (love that!) their play, you are giving them a gift that is rare and invaluable in today’s world. (I think you know that.) The attention you pay to their quirky magic is the best. 💫
Thank you! I do not think you're condescending at all. :)
Your children make me cackle. Love this so much.
I love this. I love your kids’ imaginations and interests. And I really love Ginger’s poster.
This was lovely, thank you. I’ve been thinking a lot about that fine line between support and encouragement / gross optimization, because I’m writing something about the pursuit of taking a child seriously as a form of respect, and how do you do that without simultaneously trying to professionalize a child? (I certainly don’t know the answer as the parent of a single 12-month-old hah, but this helps)
I love this especially the way the small stories work together and off of each other..
I love this essay. The bit about just observing without correction or commentary is something I try to lean in more as a teacher. I think for a long time I was really self-righteous and tried to steer their beliefs/understanding of the world in a specific direction.
Love this so much and love you so much.
That is one of my favorite songs of all time (despite what I imagine is the horrifying conclusion).
What a great essay! Thoroughly enjoyed this.