cultivate (kuhl - tuh - veyt)
v. 1) develop 2) nurture

graft (grahft)
n. 1) transplant 2) bud 3) union

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Let Them: A Saturday Series

This first Saturday series is called "Let Them". There are so many things we just big, fat don't let our kids do. I'm meeting some of those things head-on and seeing what happens.

Let Them Blow Bubbles In Their Milk


Through a child's eyes, one of the best uses for a straw is reversing the airflow. For some reason, there is nothing quite as satisfying as the gurgle of milk bubbles, watching the mountain of bubbles grow to overflowing. The goal is pushing the limit. How high can you get the bubble tower without it actually overflowing or beginning to pop?

Through a parent's eyes, one of the best uses for a straw is to use them to draw straws for who cleans up the dog barf. 

In this day and age, parents are overly concerned with efficiency to the detriment of simple childhood pleasures. We wince when we see the puddle of glue growing. We inwardly groan at the thought of a fort, because it means extra sheets to wash and living space commandeered by a maze of blankets and chairs.* The most refreshing drink during the hot summers can be found at the end of a garden hose. Sure, they end up with wet shoes (or more) and could have filled nine glasses in the time they took to manage three slurps. 

So what?

I'm not suggesting we go all "Peter Pan" on life, but refusing (for selfish reasons) the carefree joys of childhood does little more than make for disappointing memories. So, mamas, go buy a pack of straws, enjoy sticky popsicles, make forts, drink deeply, not only from the hose, but of these days. These glorious, fleeting days.

Drinking Deeply,
Cynthia



*Not to mention the excruciating, cuss-worthy pain of stepping on a pocket flashlight.

7 comments:

  1. Yay! We just recovered the house from the fort that took up our living room for the better part of two days. I confess I'm not good at letting them blow milk bubbles, though... ;)

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  2. I remember building a few forts under card tables, but milk bubbles were taboo unless my sister and I could manage to sneak away somewhere - which we did!

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  3. Haha! I'd rather deal with milk bubbles than a fort any day.

    (they ask permission before getting a straw)

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  4. I hope you will save a few things to be arbitrary and tyrannical about. (I know. I just ended a sentence with a preposition.) Otherwise, there's no fun left in parenting.

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    1. Oh, I have PLENTY of tyrannical fun! Hence the agony of chores and baths.

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  5. How nice to know there are children in this world whose parents are allowing them to be children. You guys are the best!

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    1. I don't know about the best, but we're trying!! Thank you. :)

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