It's night and the house is miraculously silent save for the ticking of a clock and my own click-click-clicking on the computer. The stillness of night is a haven for thinking thoughts. I don't manage much stillness these days (or nights).
I used to relish such time and use it to set words in motion in poetry I fancied significant. There's nothing quite like pouring out your heart on paper, dressing up the truth in metaphor. My house is a fortress, a lone beacon of light, guarding me against the darkness of a naked world.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Looking at a Heart
Anna was telling me today that her class at school was learning about the human body, and they got to see a real heart on a video. She said it was gross.
Will asked Anna, "Did you see any sins?"
"What?" she asked back, obviously confused.
"Did you see any sins?" he repeated.
At this point I realized what he meant. Growing up in a Christian home, he knows that everyone has sin in his/her "heart." So naturally he expected that if one actually looked at a heart, one would see sins there.
"You can't really see the sins there, Will," I explained.
"Oh," he replied, and carried on with what he was doing.
Will asked Anna, "Did you see any sins?"
"What?" she asked back, obviously confused.
"Did you see any sins?" he repeated.
At this point I realized what he meant. Growing up in a Christian home, he knows that everyone has sin in his/her "heart." So naturally he expected that if one actually looked at a heart, one would see sins there.
"You can't really see the sins there, Will," I explained.
"Oh," he replied, and carried on with what he was doing.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Voices in My Head
I need to clear my thoughts, but I just can't get these voices out of my head. No, don't worry, I'm not going crazy. It's just the kids playing in the other room... chattering, giggling, complaining, trying their best to navigate relationships and power struggles and still have a good time.
Big Sister is always in charge, which works great until she takes it too far, and Middle Child decides he's had enough and it's his turn. Little Guy pretty much goes along with the other two, just happy to be included.
Currently they're playing they are a family of mice, but they should be cats I think. I've heard it said that dealing with small children is like herding cats, and I can definitely see the merits of the analogy.
Imagine a pleasant woman entering a store with three little feline friends. "Come along!" she calls. She is on a mission to find a new dress for an upcoming weekend event.
Cat #1 slinks along beside the woman, periodically dashing between her feet and nearly causing her to fall. Cat #2 notices the tags hanging from the clothing on the racks, and begins a swatting game. Cat #3 simply lays down to lick his fur, perfectly oblivious to the demands and desires of the lovely woman.
If the woman can get all three cats moving in the same direction, it is highly likely that they are chasing each other and bound to topple over some racks of clothing. Such is the daily challenge of the mother of more than one child.
So, yes, my kids are in my head, and it is hard to get them out. They are often all-consuming, even when they are not present. They can challenge my wits, my patience, my creativity. They explore, test, question, whine, protest, giggle, and leap for joy. They are me. And that in itself is the greatest source of joy and frustration.
Big Sister is always in charge, which works great until she takes it too far, and Middle Child decides he's had enough and it's his turn. Little Guy pretty much goes along with the other two, just happy to be included.
Currently they're playing they are a family of mice, but they should be cats I think. I've heard it said that dealing with small children is like herding cats, and I can definitely see the merits of the analogy.
Imagine a pleasant woman entering a store with three little feline friends. "Come along!" she calls. She is on a mission to find a new dress for an upcoming weekend event.
Cat #1 slinks along beside the woman, periodically dashing between her feet and nearly causing her to fall. Cat #2 notices the tags hanging from the clothing on the racks, and begins a swatting game. Cat #3 simply lays down to lick his fur, perfectly oblivious to the demands and desires of the lovely woman.
If the woman can get all three cats moving in the same direction, it is highly likely that they are chasing each other and bound to topple over some racks of clothing. Such is the daily challenge of the mother of more than one child.
So, yes, my kids are in my head, and it is hard to get them out. They are often all-consuming, even when they are not present. They can challenge my wits, my patience, my creativity. They explore, test, question, whine, protest, giggle, and leap for joy. They are me. And that in itself is the greatest source of joy and frustration.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)