Taking the Time to Look, Listen, and Learn

Thursday, June 30, 2011

For the Love of the Game


Our youngest son, age almost 20 months, loves balls. He will go to great lengths to keep track of a ball.  No matter what hurdles he may encounter--table, chair, human, dog--he will find a way. 

Sometimes he gets stuck and needs help. But then he doesn't dwell on the obstacle or the effort, he goes back to playing.

Once the ball is securely in his clutches, he will throw it.  He throws with great enthusiasm, rather than great accuracy.  He smiles and laughs, watching which direction the ball goes.  He will scamper after it, or he'll wait for you to bring it, depending on the game.

He does not know how to catch yet, but that doesn't mean he won't play.

Sometimes I wonder what I may be missing in life.  Am I doggedly determined to pursue a passion? Am I dwelling on hurdles?  When I get stuck, do I quit?  Am I wildly enthusiastic, or do I try too hard to be accurate?  Do I wait until I know I can succeed before jumping in and playing?

I like watching our toddler's gusto.  He is inspiring.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Nesting


When we'd been in our new house about two days, my son looked out the window and pointed.

"Look!" he said. "A bird is building a nest inside our birdhouse!"

Sure enough, we watched the progress of a little bird carrying twigs in its beak, wings fluttering in to land. A new home!  

We had brought this clay bird from our old house. Originally a gift from my mom, it was really a yard decoration in my mind, not an actual home. I loved it, but I just looked at it.  It even became part of the background after a while, not something I regularly admired.  It was beautiful, but I didn't see it as a home.

I loved that my son now took the time to notice what was happening outside our window. This clay bird, a new home to two real little chirping birds, dangles right outside my daughter's window.  We all like to lay in her bed and sleepily watch those birds.  The way our house is built, we can also see the birdhouse from our living room, dining room, and kitchen.  I like to keep tabs on them.

Their nesting has reminded me of our own nesting in our home.  It also reminds me how simple we can be if we choose. We can gather what we need for being cozy, and then we can get right on with living.  They aren't sitting around fussing with the twig placement; they're flying!  Our birds seem peaceful and right at home. I love watching them, and I love that they moved in right when we did. Our neighbors.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Boxing Day



One thing about unpacking boxes is it leaves new possibilities for the boxes themselves.  My main way of thinking is that they go to recycling.  But my son's way of thinking is a little more creative: a pirate ship.

Last weekend, he carefully cut a plank to attach to the top, and then he cut a hole for the flag ("Pretend it's a pirate flag," he instructed.).

For the inside of his ship, he constructed a spotting scope, ice blocks, and a map collection.  By this time, his sister was getting engaged in the fun, and they promptly added a second box to attach as sleeping quarters.  The hauled out their sleeping bags to make it nice and comfy.

Throughout the week, they spent hours in these boxes. Whenever the baby came to interfere, they called an alert about an intruder!  Individually or together, they would disappear into the pirate ship.  My daughter would take her crayons and coloring books and color in the ship.  A time or two, the baby even stole a ride when no one was looking.

By Thursday, the tide had turned on this ship.  I noticed the box had been flattened and scissors were involved again.


"What happened to the pirate ship?" I asked.

"Oh, we're making driftwood."