Pyramid

Last year when Ari busted us on Santa my husband and I had a little chat. We decided that seeing as we were not religious and Ari no longer believed in Santa we would just do things our own way.

When I was in college, my roommate was a Jehovah's Witness. I am not keen on organized religion but what I liked about her religion was their outlook on gift giving. Since they did not celebrate holidays they would give gifts whenever they felt like it. My roommate would come home on any given day and give me a present. I liked that not only was it a pleasant surprise but that also it seemed to reduce the anxiety involved in gift giving a great deal.

With agreement by Ari we have taken this idea and implemented it in our lives. I personally love it. The girls got some new things right around Halloween, a marble run, some Pink Panther movies, and such. Then last night Ari asked if she could have a Playmobil Egyptian Pyramid. Ari has been in to Egypt for as long as I can remember. I took a look at our budget and we had the money. I talked to John about it and he agreed that we would just go pick it up today.

I really had not expected the amount of pieces it would come in. Of course, there is no way a large pyramid could have fit in the box I bought but I kind of tuned that part out until I got it home and we opened it up. Another thing I was not expecting was the gusto with which Ari set about building it. I never figured that part in to the whole value of buying it in the first place. She pulled out the parts and the instructions and went for it. Eventually, she got sidetracked by the little people that came with it and asked me to finish but not before completing about a third of it by herself.

Wide open space

I am not sure what has changed whether it be my heart or maybe my mind. I cannot be certain it happened over time or just catalyzed in one major event. Somehow, for some reason, a huge part of me gets unschooling in a way that I did not before. I know that these huge changes have come about partially because of joyless, loveless, and unwanted decisions made by other people over the course of the last 6 months. Decisions that somehow set me free in a way I could have never planned or believed until I am now seeing it for myself.

I am noticing thoughts that were not there before, thoughts I have no control over. Things like, "Wow, look at that beautiful mess." and "I think I want to clean up the girls' room because they might need the space to play in." Surprising notions like, "Look at how they just used those straws and all the pantry supplies. I am so lucky to have such creative kids." And, the craziest thing about it is I am not controlling my tone. Not forcing myself to be positive about finding 500 straws on the floor. Not looking at the bright side when I realize that I can't find the livingroom floor for the Little People's that are playing with gourds and Polly Pockets and My Little Pony's. It is not fake it till you make it. The philosophy is starting to sink in. The idea that life is mess and work on joy and love and creativity is starting to take root on some fundamental cellular level.

Today, I am grateful for the folks who unknowingly set me free. Who pushed the last button and tried to pull the last string. You may never understand the gift you have given me.

While getting Arceus...

Today we went to Toys R Us to get our free Pokemon Arceus. As we walked in the door a man walked in at the same time, coming to do the same thing. We went to the gaming area together and he walked us through getting our Pokemon. Then Ari struck up a conversation with him. This is the part of the conversation I understood:

Ari: "Hey Dude, do you have Uxie?"
Man: "Yah"
Ari: "Do you have the blue plates?"
Man: "Yah, I totally put them on, that was so cool."

Then they totally lost me. I have no idea who Uxie is or what the blue plates do but apparently Ari does and can have an intelligent conversation about it. I love those times when I recognize that I am the most ignorant person in earshot about a topic, it reminds me "educated" is a relative term.

I could not say it better than this...

Anne O says it so well it brought tears to my eyes. Yes, yes, and yes and many more where those came from. Thanks Anne.

Angels and Demons

Ari: "Mom, I like your new shirt. It kind of looks like an angel."
Me: (jokingly) "That is because I am an angel."
Ari: (very thoughtfully) "No mom, you are more like a demon."
Me: (laughing) "Hey thanks Ari, I think I would rather be that anyway."
Ari: (smile and walks away)

Manners

John: Mina do you want to put some clothes on?

Mina: Um, no thanks!

That my friends is a free child.

Same old story

How many times has the same old story been told. Which one you ask? I was watching Disney Channel with the girls. There was a preview for a new Corbin Bleu movie. The basic story is about a kid who loves to race motorbikes. His family does not see this as a useful pastime. I am guessing the story line goes something like he finally proves he is good enough to make a go at racing and his parents back off and realize they were wrong.

I knew a guy in high school who was passionate about music. He was always reading industry mags, collecting rare music, and trying to find any dj gig he could get his hands on. He is now a dj.

It is easy sometimes to not see what our kids are interested in as "productive" or to even question where it might lead should we actually let them spend hours at certain pursuits every day. However, I am coming to realize that life is kind of peculiar like that. What may seem like a sideline or a momentary hobby could actually end up being their lifelong passion. I am realizing that the more I trust, facilitate my kids learning, and pursue what makes me happy, the more my family is happy and the more my kids grow and learn.

Our family movie will be different. It will be about support, acceptance, and appreciation of our differences and passions.