Letter to My Children: Soccer
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Dearest Beloveds,
Recently this conversation took place over the kitchen counter. “I can’t believe I am actually going to write about soccer.”
“I am here to help,” rejoined your father.
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Letter to my Children: Changing a Spoken - INTERRUPTING - Habit
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Dearest Beloveds,
Recently I had this conversation with E. “I am trying to stop myself from interrupting. I think it is a terrible habit.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s terrible. My mother interrupts to change the subject. You interrupt because you anticipate the next thing I am going to tell you in the story - and share.”
“Oh E, you are too kind. Another way of saying that is that I am too impatient with you to finish your own story. I predict what you are going to say to show off that I know where you are going. Blerg.”
“Well, I guess that is one way to look at it.”
Read MoreLetter to My Children: Reharmonizing and Fishing
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Bean sang out from her chair. “Today is Monday. Today is Monday. Monday string beans. All you hungry children..”
Dragon joined in for the chorus, “come and eat it up.”
Burbling out in unison, the tune resonated off the walls and windows.
“Wednesday, zzzooop. Tuesday, spaghetti. Monday, string beans.”
Oh my beloveds, you are literally reharmonizing yourselves back into being home. Hooray!!*
I joined in for the final verse. “All you hungry children, come and eat it UP!”
Our summer time apart (camp) this year has gifted many unforeseen ripples as we reintegrate ourselves as a foursome.
Read MoreWelcome Willett
/“So, wait, what is the bunny’s name again? She has been Lucky. Luckier. Lucky II.”
“Willett - it is a cross between willow and lettuce. She likes to eat willow and lettuce.”
“Am I spelling that with an “e” on the end to make it feminine or do we care?”
“We don’t care.”
Willett, the bunny born around Easter, has joined the scene and here is what we have learned so far.
Read MoreLetter to my Children: Cultivate Kairos Time
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Dearest beloveds,
The Ancient Greeks had two words for time: chronos and kairos. “Chronos is the ticking of the clock, the zombie steps of just getting on with life… Kairos means “the right moment.” - the opportune time. It stops the clocks.” (Thank you Jonny Thomson of Mini Philosophy for that succinct summary.)
Our modern culture thrives on chronological time. Constantly checking off commitments in a schedule of doings causes our awareness to skim along the surface of life. I highly recommend cultivating regular moments where you can slow to appreciate the magic of life.* It is only once once you pause, lower your shoulders, unclench your butt, take three breaths that the opportune time becomes apparent. Kairos resides outside of the rush.
Read MoreLetter to Bean: What is Porno?
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Dearest Bean,
I was closing up the kitchen before heading down to brush my teeth and corral you and your brother into bed. Bending over the couch to turn off a light, I hear your voice from the kitchen.
“Mom, what is porno?”
What the FUCK?!
“Where did you learn that word?”
“It is right here - in the table of contents of your book.”
Read MoreLetter to Dragon: Drum ... drum drum ... drum drum
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Dearest Dragon,
What a shining day it was! Making a hand drum with Mark Ressl of The Giving Trees in Rosendale has to be possibly one of the most true experiences of my 49 years on this planet. True as in killing chickens, eating a porcupine, giving birth, my God immersion experience, and sitting with Baba’s body after he passed - that level of true.
Really, Mom, you are saying this about a drum making workshop?
Yup, my dearest, I am.
Life comes from death. Which, in turn, makes more life. It is one big circle. It is all the same thing - just different forms.
The life of a drum comes from the death of an animal. Our life comes from the death of vegetables and animals that feed us. One day, in turn, our lives will nourish worms and plants. This is truth.
Read MoreLetter to the Dragon: Cultural Mirror Training
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“Why don’t you wear your sister’s pink rain jacket until we get you a new one.”
“Mom! Nooo! I will bring my other too small one to school.”
Sigh. Is this because it is pink? Or because your sister has cooties?
“Okay.”
No reason to delve. He has to figure out this himself. Just be grateful for all of those years you were dressing him in whatever gave you pleasure.
Read MoreLetter to my Children: How to Introduce Yourself
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My beloved children,
As you know, I grew up in Washington DC. Our nation’s capital, an epicenter of Global North power, and the accompanied jostling endemic to such power. There was a ubiquitous question in the cocktail party circuit. A refrain peeling out from many perfunctory conversations over square cheese bites.
“So, what do you do?”
You are really asking where I can be categorized in the ladder of capitalism. I see you.
Read MoreLetter to my Children: Get Ready Man and What the Heck?!
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During the last snowday, teetering on the roof of the wood shelter, Bean was stricken with indecision. “Should I jump?”
From the ground Dragon called up to Bean, , “Get ready! Get read-y!!”
“Dragon, stop!”
“The worllld is coming to an end!”
We all started laughing.
Thank you Thurber.
Read MoreLetter to my Children: Single Use Plastic ... Bespoke Clothing
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Recently, you two played very quiet indoor soccer. On the other end of the building your mother had this internal conversation.
Corinna, raise your hand. You will be mad at yourself if you ignore this nudge to speak.
I am going to ask this question in front of all of these fellow soccer parents - out myself as a crunchy hippy environmentalist - even though I know the answer is capitalism and no, there is no wiggle room.
Yup. Be the Lorax.
Read MoreLetter to my Children: Bedtime Snapshot
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Dragon perched on his pillows, his legs pulled tight against him.
“Did you go to the bathroom?”
“Ummmm.” The slight shrug of his shoulders and his sheepish look spoke volumes.
“I will wait.”
Two minutes later he was back on the pillows, poised and ready to uncurl his legs.
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