life and write

“When you have a hurt, just because you put on a BandAid that doesn’t make the pain go away.” —Mason

“Ok Mason, I want you to draw a self-portrait for parent-teacher conference day.” –Mason’s teacher
(He looks at the selection of crayons then asks the teacher)

“Where is the brown crayon?”—Mason

Later at the parent-teacher conference, his teacher shared how that moment really reminded her not to take inclusion for granted.

From the Buddha Bar 10 Years compilation, this song is a favorite of Mason and Rafael. There are other versions of this mix but this is by far their favorite. The intro and build-up is quiet and unassuming, then seamlessly transitions into light percussion rhythms that are cool and hypnotic.

Those high octane boys are instantly transported into something strange and wonderful in the backseat of the car on our way to anywhere. I’ve learned that Bebel’s music can most times soothe my savage toddler, swaying him to complete calm and utter delight.

Listen…Aganjú

So this time my six-year-old was up at 4am asking how much longer he had to sleep. (What?) I was so delirious that I didn’t understand his question at first. I think I thought I was dreaming. He looked like a dark blurry shadow (with glasses) standing there at the side of my bed.

This is what I get for trying to overcompensate for daylight savings time. My six-year-old was so tired yesterday morning that I tried to balance out his exhaustion by sending him to bed early (really early) last night and he fell right to sleep (a sign he was indeed really tired).

But the plan backfired because who knew he would be up at 4am, turning on all the lights (in the bathroom, in his room), and asking for a glass of water (which by the way he did not drink). Does anyone ever sleep all night in this house? *sigh*

As I raise two boys, one who is already showing so much promise in athletics, and trending a fixation on playing in college or “going pro”, and he’s only six, I’m torn between supporting his dreams and what I know about playing on the college level and the hard truths about “going pro”. And how even the most gifted athletes often don’t fully realize their “sports dreams” due to things completely out of their control. I know some former guy athletes now who have swallowed that bitter pill and it doesn’t go down easy.

I wouldn’t discourage any young person from going after their “sports dreams” (hey, it could happen) but I also don’t believe in pushing kids so hard all their young lives in only one direction (like sports or anything for that matter) and not allowing kids to have myriad experiences. That’s what I want for my boys, a renaissance.

And I know for many young athletes this may be the only ticket to their education and that is fine, and many young athletes use this as a stepping stone to the pros, and that’s fine too, but as I talk to my son about the balance between education and athletics, while I won’t deny him the chance to play (as long as his grades are exceptional, not just good, exceptional and he has a good attitude about the game), I also am very honest with him about the odds, about injuries, and about priorities. I only tell him so much now because he’s so young but as he gets older my husband and I will reveal more and more truths to him, and he can decide what he wants to do with that information. I’m not trying to squelch his “hoop dreams” in any way, I just want him to have full disclosure, and have the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, emotionally in a number of different areas and to know he has options.

Admittedly I nerd out on NPR every now and then. I typically listen in the car during my daily commute. My sons are too young to put up a fight so they have to listen…for now. The other morning on the way to school, political news beaming from the speaker, Mason hears something he’s curious about:

“Mom, what is a Democratic party,” he said.

“It has something to do with Barack Obama,” I said.

“Oh.”

“It’s  something called politics honey.” (I knew he didn’t know what I meant. I was struggling trying to explain.)

“Mom.”

“Yes.”

“I want to have a Democratic party. We should have a Democratic party. I can invite all my friends.”

“Hmm.”