Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day

 On Being A Parent
by Anna Quindlen
[T]he biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this.  I did not live in the moment enough.  This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs.  
 There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1.  And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing:  dinner, bath, book, bed.  I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.
Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and what was simply life.  When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I'd done.  Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be.
The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense; matter-of-fact, I was sometimes over the top.  And look how it all turned out.  I wound up with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity.  That's what the books never told me.
I was bound and determined to learn from the experts.
It just took me awhile to figure out who the experts were. 
 
 
 

Friday, May 10, 2013

Time Well Spent

The other day, I mentioned on facebook about a little fun my daughter's been having with me.  She came up to me - all dressed fancy in a button-down shirt, skirt and heels - and said, "Mama, I am going to be a newsletter editor and make zippo money."
Impromptu laundry line

Now, for those of you who don't know it, I am a newsletter editor, and I don't make very much money doing it.  It wasn't the first time my daughter has made the joke, either; in fact, she does it fairly frequently.  I mentioned on facebook that I found it unnerving, though that was truly in jest - I think it's really funny that she can make a mockery of my lamentations, and I know that she can do it because she knows that I don't do anything for money.  I do everything I do because I want to; because I believe it's the right thing to do.  If I get paid for it, that's just a bonus.  Besides, my good friend and fellow writer, Howard Hinterthuer, made this comment about it:

Work done in a spirit of service to others is akin to worship.  Time is the new currency.  Time is limited and precious.  Money comes and goes.  You are investing in your children, making certain they are launched to the stars.  The most precious gift you can give them is your time.  They may not know it now, but they will know it forever.  
Let me tell you, as I'm sure every mother reading this already knows, these are words every mother needs to hear, so I wanted to pass them on to you.  Take the time to do what you really want to do; what you truly believe in.  Even if it's not all time spent with your children (and it shouldn't be), you are setting the right example.  You may not find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but you'll be happy - and that's worth more than gold any day.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Happiness

  I've helped organize the 6th Annual Sustainability Fair on Saturday, May 18th from 10-1 at the First Congregational Church here in Port through the group I'm a part of:  Transition Ozaukee.  Our theme this year is The Economics of Happiness, which comes from the title of the documentary film we'll be screening at the event.  If you've never seen it, I hope you come out and join us - it's a life changer.

This great John Lennon quote reminded me of the film; though the film discusses the economic side of happiness (globalization vs. relocalization), what it really boils down to is that when our ultimate goal is happiness, we (generally speaking) pursue the right things, whether it is our careers or our education or, on a broader scale, our direction as a community, state, nation or world.  I can personally say that when I've made choices based on what will bring me or my family the most happiness, I always make the right choice, while when I've made choices based on what will bring me the most money, it has always led to disaster.  True story.

There are cool things for kids to do at the Fair, too, by the way.  They can make their own paper seed pots and we'll be sending them home with tree seeds to plant in them (sorry - you have to provide the dirt:).  Plus, my kids and one or two others will be performing a play of The Lorax - my very favorite story ever written by Dr. Suess.  If you can, see the film and then the play - you'll see how the story, in all its simplicity, mirrors the sentiment of the film perfectly.  That Dr. Suess was one smart cookie, people.

Local food, local businesses, locally-made products - I'm even working on some local music! - and a silent auction will round out the event nicely.  There's even a donation or two from Cedarburg Toy Co. in the auction, so look for that.  In fact, the great and wonderful Mrs. Natasha Loos of Cedarburg Toy Co. will be on hand from 10:30-11 to tell the amazing tale of how her toy store came to be - it's a great story.  Fun for the whole family.  Don't miss it!



 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

"Hackschooling" - A 13 year old Schools Us

Thirteen-year-old homeschooler, Logan LaPlante, gives a convincing Ted Talk on why happiness, healthiness and creativity not only can be, but need to be the focus of a good education.  He calls his approach to learning "Hackschooling," but I recognize it as unschooling.  Still, I think I like Logan's term better - sounds edgier:)

He is an excellent example of self-led education; life and education being one and the same.