Learning to Write

Julian is really, really proud of his abilities right now. Barely 5 years old and still in pre-school, he is reading and writing and doing math and we applaud his efforts and successes and spend a lot of time helping him read a lot of signs, books, words, etc. Everything is an opportunity to practice the skills his sister so easily displays (remember - he wants to do everything just like her!)

So this morning, while he was eating breakfast, Julian asked me for paper and pencil so he could practice some writing. He was sure he could figure out how to write this something on his own. We didn't have a lot of time, so I asked him what he needed to write. Very matter-of-factly and innocently he replied:

" 'Kiss my ass'. I think I know how to write that on my own, mom."

Before you go thinking that those are everyday words in our family (they are not - we are very careful about what we say to keep our tones respectful and mostly swear-free) you should know that I've always taught my kids that there are no bad words, but how, when and where you say things can be thought of as disrespectful, not appropriate, etc. When they've heard or asked about certain words, I've explained what they were, what they meant and whether or not they are appropriate and under what circumstances (many explanations are "Adults can say this, kids cannot".) So......

"Do you know what that means?" I asked.
"I forgot." (Very sincerely, and I believed him)
"Where did you hear that?"
"On Hairspray." (One of his favorite movies.)

Sure enough, we did watch Hairspray a month or so ago and they did say that. At the time, I told both kids I didn't approve of them repeating that and told them what it meant, but I can't really expect Julian to remember. He was so sincere about being able to write those simple words on his own, all I could do was try to move onto tasks at hand - like getting dressed and eating breakfast - and saving my laughter for when I was in the car alone. Watching the movie was my doing - I didn't vet the thing before we popped into the DVD player.

Needless to say, I explained what it meant and that it's not appropriate for anyone to say it and that we weren't going to practice writing it (for now - I'm sure it will come up again in say, 6-7 years from now!)

Out of the mouths of babes!!! It still cracks me up!

And Now For Something Different ...

Before this week and all its commotion, I decided that I would take Oprah's online class, A New Earth, based on Eckhart Tolle's best selling book. I've always struggled to know what my life's purpose was. Not in the grand sense of why am I here, but while I am here, what am I supposed to be doing. What is my passion? Who am I?

I'm not so sure how this is going to work. I haven't read a book in nearly 7+ years (kids do that), and to read something that's going to make me think and 'work' is ambitious for me. But I am going to give it as much as I can and maybe through this process I will find myself. Not that I am lost, but I've lost a sense of belonging, a sense of community, desire a more purposeful living.

So I'll ask forgiveness in advance if I pepper some blogs with the new stuff I learn, esoteric and philosophical as they may be. I've always been a bit synical when it comes to this stuff. My first thoughts are usually that a human just like me wrote the book, their motivation is to make money and therefore the truth is not to be found there. I feel that way about organized religion as well. So I'll try to set aside my doubts and see if this might help me live a life of purpose from this point on.

Wish me luck!