Have you ever heard the expression, "a season, reason or lifetime?" I am certain most of us have received it either as a FWD in email or read it in some profound book of quotations. I have subscribed to this philosophy for some years and believe it to be my "reason" for writing this snippet today.
The season, reason, lifetime is defined to explain why certain people and events happen in your life when they do. It goes something like this... " a person comes into your life for a reason..to help you thru a crisis, to answer a prayer, to help us mentally, physically, and emotionally get through a moment we are stuck in. They are an answer to a prayer. A need. A longing. They bring relief. But alas, it is only to serve that reason. They then will disappear from our lives without cause, intention or ill-fate. They just go. They have done the job. It got us through.
Someone who enters your life for a season, is just that. A brief season that brings us joy, laughter, lightness and frivolity. It does serve a purpose..and us to them.. but it only lasts a season. And that is all it was intended to do. Just as quickly as Autumn morphs into Winter..so does our seasonal helper move in and out of our lives..our needs.
A lifetime..well.. we know those that are in our lifetime..and we know the potential of those whom we have the inkling to spend a lifetime with. We know them... because they do not allow us to do things that are harmful to our own lives. And we allow them to do things that can be harmful becuase we love them so luch we allow them to do it! They truly care, and us them. They protect and guide us daily to make good choices. They are there when we are feeling less than 100%...equally they still love us through a bad hair day, stupid choice of bed clothes, or just plain ridiculous moves reacting out of insecurity and fear. They love our souls and not our physicality, (although i shouldn't exclude that). They love us and they are there for the duration. And us to them. We made a commitment some time ago, perhaps another plane, to do that. We will die with them.
This week at EDS I had scheduled a "Pirate" for Pirate Day/Fun Friday. I should have known better or perhaps took it as my first clue that I was about to receive a "season" or a "reason" when I knew we couldn't get in touch with the normal pirate company we typically use... it was strange. Our admin. Kathleen then diligently researched other pirate friends in the area..she found a man who served the Newport Public Library on their Pirate Day... We called and booked him. He was gracious and willing to accept and even lowered his fee for the benefit of educating the young mind on "true pirate life". Great...we were set. Seemingly.
Until this past Friday morning...my ship was cast about riding some high waves as I found myself needing a SOS.... our "too good to be true Pirate" had been "dis-masted" and we found ourselves..."SOL"...yikes..mateys!! It was 0900 and I couldn't see how we could cast a line quick enough to set sail by 10 am! Other crew members were due in to watch Capt.Marcus. What is a poor pirate wench to do??? I did not panic. I did not succumb to an SOS... I cast my lot to God and kept my cool... (albeit the waves were high and swelling)... Three actors...(I mean sailors)... came to mind... I placed calls.
Mind you, back at S.S. EDS some of the "deckhands" were nervous and frantic.. I knew that if this were going to happen that the right pirate would show for us despite our poor sailing conditions...and he did!
In knot, (..hahaha...) finding fault in our original pirate..whom, in fact, I have prayed for since his absence could not be here for serious reasons...we actually received what was, indeed, intended to BE HERE! The father of 2 of our students was BETTER than I could have ever imagined! He became the Capt. of this vessel! He couldn't have looked more authentic (fooling his own 2 deckhands).. and could not have ripped out 3 verses of "What do ya do with a drunken sailor?" more on key and with such verbose! This sailor-girl was smiling ear to ear!
After the storm cleared, I was taught that sometimes we get what we NEED when when we least expect it...It is quite often, what we are not expecting at all! It shows me that God has other plans! Go with it!
Will Capt. Jason continue to be our EDS pirate for the years to come?? Not sure... I believe this time next year he will be deployed somewhere in the Middle East... (I guess, if he can get Shore Leave and I can afford his plane fare??) But more in likely, he was here for a reason!
Have you ever known someone to be there for a reason for you? I have. It serves the heart and soul well. It is, although for a time... and it is meant to be let go of. They did their job for you. And you them. It was for God's greater good... and yours.
Just know that only God knows who is your seasonal intention, or reason for change.. or lifetime of knowledge , wonder and trust.. true growth for us. These folks are are friends, loved ones, strangers and acquaintances. They can be folks in an elevator, and then again they can be people we divulge our deepest and most trusted feelings with.
Remember always who these folks are and what most blessed place in our midsts they serve. They are gifts from the Holy Spirit. Thank them and know they are here no matter what purpose they are to serve us.
Dawn M. Grinnell- Christian Formation, EC Newport
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Most SIncere Pumpkin Patch
Well, it is that time of year again... that time when our faith is truly tested by the coming of the "Great Pumpkin". Yes.. each year Linus engages us to participate in waiting for the unknown, to have faith in what is unseen, but believed. To have positive thoughts about the future of said miracle....he is waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive and with him we are awaiting our own miracles, the very answers to our prayers.
Let's revisit the story...We open with the romanticism of vivid autumn hues, exciting Peanuts speak-ease of upcoming, "Tricks or Treats", and... falling leaves...we can hear them romantically falling to the ground accompanied by Charles Schultz's music, (a very powerful image). This, in itself, invokes the feeling that something miraculous and sacred may happen here. The actuality of the miracle is in the enjoying what God has set forth here and now, and not desiring more than what we currently have. God is bringing us our desires/miracles. They arrive daily and in many ways. If we don't stop and look we may miss our moment of bliss. We may spend the night in the cold waiting for something that has already been delivered.."sincerely"... I might add!
We have Linus, our protagonist, our philosopher, spiritualist, do-gooder, quoter of Luke's Gospel, daydreamer and just plain dreamer... writing and really "praying" for his miracle this Halloween night..his miracle is to await the advent of the Great Pumpkin...and what he is awaiting in terms of gifts,(answers), is "precisely what the Great Pumpkin has earmarked for him." nothing... he is missing his lifeworshipping an idol... his OWN DESIRE and not that of God's. This is great faith for sure! yeah right. It is however, great faith to know that our maker knows exactly what we may want/need without us having to "look in ourselves" to what WE THINK we may want/need. Here's the problem...Linus in needing to do all the right things...questioning the sincerity of his patch, his thoughts, his intentions, is in fact MISSING OUT on his miracle. His happiness is upon him and yet he chooses again to wait.
THIS will be the year; Linus is sure! (again, this time). Of course he is sure... because he is Linus afterall?? Now, mind you here...the Great Pumpkin only comes to those that are "belief-filled, faith-inspired and believe truly in his coming." For the right and just! Not for the "mindless trick-or-treater". Not for the person who is "living in the moment"..but for the one who puts off his very miracle by waiting in a closed-off patch, doing nothing but acting sincere. Is that true positive willing? LOA, (law of attraction)?, and/or, in Christianity...Faith? If Linus is SOOO sure about his move why then does he need that big, blue blanket?
Here is the catch...the Great Pumpkin will only appear to the "most sincere pumpkin patch"...(in Linus' meek understanding of how miracles are delivered. Linus takes us all on a quest, and this particular year with young Sally Brown, journeying inside whether we can withstand our own fears and doubts when it comes to something we desire/need very much. Are we in fact sincere about the "real outcome?" OR, "Is it our short-sighted outcome?" OR, " could this be a grand miracle awaiting us that comes from a force much greater than us?" Do we have doubts? (even secretly). Do our fears paralyze this manifestation? Can we possible just go out trick or treating and let this good and great thing COME TO US?? YES! (This is Lucy's advice right along).
All of the characters in this story have a need and desired outcome. (As we all do!) Linus, we know awaits his faith to be healed by the actual visitation of the GP. He just wants to know that he is right about all of this. He is VERY CAUTIOUS about whom he shares this dream to. He is fearful that no one will understand, or better yet ridicule him... (in his defense I perhaps can see why.) Also- let's look at his "Patch Partner", the one he chooses to spend the night with..Sally. Does he only confide in Sally because he knows that Sally is desperately in love with him? Has a motive?? Maybe. She makes it no secret that her affection for Linus is strong and unshakable. (or is it really?) Sally's motives are perhaps not in believing that the GP will rise... but for her affection/needs to be returned from the man she wants..so why not do something so sincere as to spend a cold and scary night with her desire..even if it means "missing tricks or treats"..ahh sacrifice...junker or a boy?? What would have happened if she went out and enjoyed her night without Linus?
Then we have Lucy. (My alter-ego). The pessimist du jour. ( actually, I prefer realist.) You almost wonder if she does all that she does to protect her brother and friends from their very insecurities.. her approach is bad, however. She sets up Charlie Brown in scene one to finally kick that football. He is insistent that she will do, as she has always done before. And she does. He is LOA'ing his "need" to forever miss that ball..he is willing his failure. He seemingly enjoys failure. He knows damn-right well that he has made a deal with Lucy in the knowledge to try this again knowing that his own desire to fail will be met. Lucy, is perfectly willing to set-up the "kick-off" again and show that he is in fact not ready for bigger and better things, (ie...Violet's Halloween Party), until he can get a grip and start owning his stuff! Believe in what he wants. Live in the moment!
Lucy.. well, albeit, crabby, and "know-it-all", constantly dispensing her "Lucy-esque" counseling whether you want it or not, for a bargain rate of 5cents.. does have a soft edge we rarely see in the public eye. She begrudgingly, very much against her better judgment, "tricks or treats" on behalf of Linus...who is still holding out for his GP to manifest. She loathes and respects Linus all at the same time for his noble attempt at expecting this to happen each year. Lucy will get up at 4am and dress to go retrieve her young brother from a freezing pumpkin patch and place him into his bed. (always leaving us to wonder about the whereabouts of their parents.) Lucy secretly harbors a longing for her long-haired, musician friend, Schroeder. ( Oh yes...A girl after my own heart.) Although the artist types rarely are motivated by such strong-willed gals such as Lucy...(they prefer more dramatic girls in crisis to inspire their creativity). Lucy can't get around that thought though.. she wants him anyway.. that would be her miracle. Charlie Brown and she would probably fare much better if the truth be known, as he desperately needs someone to push him into taking life by the... well..bootstraps... and she needs to advise. (For some reason Peppermint Patty reportedly "in love" with Chuck in my opinion is far pushier to CB than Lucy..and perhaps this makes her character a bit more disingenuous to me..)
Lucy is a bit co-dependent. Lucy is guilty of not allowing others, including herself, to experience their own failures or success' on their own. We all possess a bit of this. She is too protective and perhaps the least in belief of some "higher force". Perhaps if Linus was left without the knowledge of truly losing his Halloween loot and spending this special eve freezing his butt off, he may come to realize that he is willing something to happen that is more about his own neurosis than what a higher being wants for him.
But truly, we all must look to the real hero here...Snoopy. The only one "getting it." The only one pursuing the "life in the moment" philosophy, is our canine friend.. Snoopy truly and vehemently lives in the moment. He needs to be our hero!!! He is the MOST SINCERE. Our World War I Flying Ace lives the life authentically. He dresses for the night. He rides out the ups and downs trying to avoid the firing from the infamous Red Baron. (normal life baggage).
As the Fighter-Dog plane is hit, Snoopy bravely salutes and goes down with his ship. He owns his crap. (excuse the phrase). He faces his fate. He walks thru the enemy French country-side, swims thru rivers during the darkness, all the while never giving up crawling his way to safety. To what is intended for him! He trusts and does what is best in the moment to get himself to the next storyline..even if that is too kiss Lucy at the Halloween party! But he does it. He then saddles up for a night of music with Schroeder and calls it a night. He knows his limits and knows that if more is to come that he must trust what will be placed before him next. Faith??
yes. faith.
We need to stop our needless worrying and perfectionism and embrace the imperfect... own our stuff and embrace the ups and downs that life delivers. We alos need to know when we are safe, expecting our mracle..and rejoice by dancing afterwards. That is truly when will see the manifestation of the GP...that in fact is the most sincere pumpkin patch of all.
Alas, then, we will know the Great Pumpkin/God shows and never lets us down!
Happy Halloween!
Miss Dawn, Director of EDS and CF Emmanuel Church, Newport
Let's revisit the story...We open with the romanticism of vivid autumn hues, exciting Peanuts speak-ease of upcoming, "Tricks or Treats", and... falling leaves...we can hear them romantically falling to the ground accompanied by Charles Schultz's music, (a very powerful image). This, in itself, invokes the feeling that something miraculous and sacred may happen here. The actuality of the miracle is in the enjoying what God has set forth here and now, and not desiring more than what we currently have. God is bringing us our desires/miracles. They arrive daily and in many ways. If we don't stop and look we may miss our moment of bliss. We may spend the night in the cold waiting for something that has already been delivered.."sincerely"... I might add!
We have Linus, our protagonist, our philosopher, spiritualist, do-gooder, quoter of Luke's Gospel, daydreamer and just plain dreamer... writing and really "praying" for his miracle this Halloween night..his miracle is to await the advent of the Great Pumpkin...and what he is awaiting in terms of gifts,(answers), is "precisely what the Great Pumpkin has earmarked for him." nothing... he is missing his lifeworshipping an idol... his OWN DESIRE and not that of God's. This is great faith for sure! yeah right. It is however, great faith to know that our maker knows exactly what we may want/need without us having to "look in ourselves" to what WE THINK we may want/need. Here's the problem...Linus in needing to do all the right things...questioning the sincerity of his patch, his thoughts, his intentions, is in fact MISSING OUT on his miracle. His happiness is upon him and yet he chooses again to wait.
THIS will be the year; Linus is sure! (again, this time). Of course he is sure... because he is Linus afterall?? Now, mind you here...the Great Pumpkin only comes to those that are "belief-filled, faith-inspired and believe truly in his coming." For the right and just! Not for the "mindless trick-or-treater". Not for the person who is "living in the moment"..but for the one who puts off his very miracle by waiting in a closed-off patch, doing nothing but acting sincere. Is that true positive willing? LOA, (law of attraction)?, and/or, in Christianity...Faith? If Linus is SOOO sure about his move why then does he need that big, blue blanket?
Here is the catch...the Great Pumpkin will only appear to the "most sincere pumpkin patch"...(in Linus' meek understanding of how miracles are delivered. Linus takes us all on a quest, and this particular year with young Sally Brown, journeying inside whether we can withstand our own fears and doubts when it comes to something we desire/need very much. Are we in fact sincere about the "real outcome?" OR, "Is it our short-sighted outcome?" OR, " could this be a grand miracle awaiting us that comes from a force much greater than us?" Do we have doubts? (even secretly). Do our fears paralyze this manifestation? Can we possible just go out trick or treating and let this good and great thing COME TO US?? YES! (This is Lucy's advice right along).
All of the characters in this story have a need and desired outcome. (As we all do!) Linus, we know awaits his faith to be healed by the actual visitation of the GP. He just wants to know that he is right about all of this. He is VERY CAUTIOUS about whom he shares this dream to. He is fearful that no one will understand, or better yet ridicule him... (in his defense I perhaps can see why.) Also- let's look at his "Patch Partner", the one he chooses to spend the night with..Sally. Does he only confide in Sally because he knows that Sally is desperately in love with him? Has a motive?? Maybe. She makes it no secret that her affection for Linus is strong and unshakable. (or is it really?) Sally's motives are perhaps not in believing that the GP will rise... but for her affection/needs to be returned from the man she wants..so why not do something so sincere as to spend a cold and scary night with her desire..even if it means "missing tricks or treats"..ahh sacrifice...junker or a boy?? What would have happened if she went out and enjoyed her night without Linus?
Then we have Lucy. (My alter-ego). The pessimist du jour. ( actually, I prefer realist.) You almost wonder if she does all that she does to protect her brother and friends from their very insecurities.. her approach is bad, however. She sets up Charlie Brown in scene one to finally kick that football. He is insistent that she will do, as she has always done before. And she does. He is LOA'ing his "need" to forever miss that ball..he is willing his failure. He seemingly enjoys failure. He knows damn-right well that he has made a deal with Lucy in the knowledge to try this again knowing that his own desire to fail will be met. Lucy, is perfectly willing to set-up the "kick-off" again and show that he is in fact not ready for bigger and better things, (ie...Violet's Halloween Party), until he can get a grip and start owning his stuff! Believe in what he wants. Live in the moment!
Lucy.. well, albeit, crabby, and "know-it-all", constantly dispensing her "Lucy-esque" counseling whether you want it or not, for a bargain rate of 5cents.. does have a soft edge we rarely see in the public eye. She begrudgingly, very much against her better judgment, "tricks or treats" on behalf of Linus...who is still holding out for his GP to manifest. She loathes and respects Linus all at the same time for his noble attempt at expecting this to happen each year. Lucy will get up at 4am and dress to go retrieve her young brother from a freezing pumpkin patch and place him into his bed. (always leaving us to wonder about the whereabouts of their parents.) Lucy secretly harbors a longing for her long-haired, musician friend, Schroeder. ( Oh yes...A girl after my own heart.) Although the artist types rarely are motivated by such strong-willed gals such as Lucy...(they prefer more dramatic girls in crisis to inspire their creativity). Lucy can't get around that thought though.. she wants him anyway.. that would be her miracle. Charlie Brown and she would probably fare much better if the truth be known, as he desperately needs someone to push him into taking life by the... well..bootstraps... and she needs to advise. (For some reason Peppermint Patty reportedly "in love" with Chuck in my opinion is far pushier to CB than Lucy..and perhaps this makes her character a bit more disingenuous to me..)
Lucy is a bit co-dependent. Lucy is guilty of not allowing others, including herself, to experience their own failures or success' on their own. We all possess a bit of this. She is too protective and perhaps the least in belief of some "higher force". Perhaps if Linus was left without the knowledge of truly losing his Halloween loot and spending this special eve freezing his butt off, he may come to realize that he is willing something to happen that is more about his own neurosis than what a higher being wants for him.
But truly, we all must look to the real hero here...Snoopy. The only one "getting it." The only one pursuing the "life in the moment" philosophy, is our canine friend.. Snoopy truly and vehemently lives in the moment. He needs to be our hero!!! He is the MOST SINCERE. Our World War I Flying Ace lives the life authentically. He dresses for the night. He rides out the ups and downs trying to avoid the firing from the infamous Red Baron. (normal life baggage).
As the Fighter-Dog plane is hit, Snoopy bravely salutes and goes down with his ship. He owns his crap. (excuse the phrase). He faces his fate. He walks thru the enemy French country-side, swims thru rivers during the darkness, all the while never giving up crawling his way to safety. To what is intended for him! He trusts and does what is best in the moment to get himself to the next storyline..even if that is too kiss Lucy at the Halloween party! But he does it. He then saddles up for a night of music with Schroeder and calls it a night. He knows his limits and knows that if more is to come that he must trust what will be placed before him next. Faith??
yes. faith.
We need to stop our needless worrying and perfectionism and embrace the imperfect... own our stuff and embrace the ups and downs that life delivers. We alos need to know when we are safe, expecting our mracle..and rejoice by dancing afterwards. That is truly when will see the manifestation of the GP...that in fact is the most sincere pumpkin patch of all.
Alas, then, we will know the Great Pumpkin/God shows and never lets us down!
Happy Halloween!
Miss Dawn, Director of EDS and CF Emmanuel Church, Newport
Friday, October 17, 2008
The leaves may be falling, but love is in the air...
"But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in Autumn. How I'd leave in Autumn I never will know. I've seen how you sparkle when Fall nips the air. I know you in Autumn. And I must be there."
-Camelot
aaahhhh...well you would think it springtime here at EDS!!! The lovebug has come to town..or should i say "K-Town"...as I affectionately call them!! We have traded our tulips for pumpkins, our cherry blossoms for changing leaves.. Yes... this blog today is all about love!
Caution Please....Adults may be reading this.....
What does Autumn and Kindergarten have in common?? Nothing, except the word, "deciduous"...
One is going thru a dying process, if you will, and the other is "waking up". Spring has sprung with my young 5 year olds and I am finding myself envious of warmer days!!
I have been amazed and rather taken aback at the outward PDA's going on all over EDS and really in K-Town. It has made me aware that we adults forget about what genuine affection is all about. It makes me remember lighter days in life when liking someone meant you needn't worry about how he/she will be received by your beau's relatives, what kind of car you own, what your outfit looks like daily, thinking a bad hair day would ruin for it you, or if this person is "the one" to change your life...nope...its all about the moment. Liking someone becuase you know the chemistry is right and it feels good. Period.
This past month, "Falling into October" has officially been changed to "Falling in Love". This has been a huge topic of discussion for our newly maturing Kindergarteners. Who knew that I would need to include this into the EDS curriculum?? Or watching it happen while delivering lessons on a Pumpkin's Anatomy...(whoops wrong choice of words).
I must say, I have forgotten what this was like and about. I am here to say that developmentally it is right on target..and again.. everything we need to know we learned in Kindergarten.
Recently,I needed to find a baby photo for our contest...and then some reminiscing took place for me. In climbing through mounds of black and whites at the family homestead I came across Kindergarten memories. My mother kept a babybook on my siblings and myself. She wrote very candidly about my experiences at a private Kindergarten, (that I have based much of my school against.) The warmest memory written was of my experience of being"kissed" on the swings by my K-town love interest...we will call him AR..(not a joke), to protect his identity. I giggled and thought...boy, I fondly remember the "pumpkin patch" at Mrs. Casey's school... I also remember the Apollo Mission landings being televised. (dating myself)..and clearly I remember our version of "Fun Friday"...holding hands and dancing to Mrs. Ottiledge bang out Farmer in the Dell on the old upright.... but I do not remember the kiss. Why? (as my K-friend John would ask me). My answer to me...is not clear. Or is it?
All this love in the air has made me aware of what "boys" out in this world should be doing all the time! (Or at least in my still-single dating world). I have seen so much in the way of gentlemanly behavior lately...I have seen help to aid our friend who was crying by offering a hug or an "at-a girl" when necessary. I have seen heavy things be wisked out of young ladies hands. I have seen assistance with coats and sweaters, doors held open, places being saved at lunchtime. I have watched boys not begin eating until their dining partner arrived after hand-washing, or mentoring in the classroom when someone has gotten a bit behind in their lesson....jsut to catch them up and make sure they had their playmate ready for recess.
I have also seen affection, ummm... real affection..that probably should be better saved for the later years...but for them, a real curiosity that I think "boys" can't seem to help themsleves on...oh well..I can't change the human race..I am only here as an observer and mentor!! But most importantly, I have witnessed boys not shy away, ignore, or "play games" with girls because they "didn't want to lead them on"... or "they can't commit". No one was asking and no one is keeping score. The genuine exchange of love and affection on boys with girls without a motive or reason to hide is truly a beautfiul thnig to watch!! Men seem to lose this quality as they grow. And why? (again).
Likewise, I have seen young ladies wait for "back up" when in distress..."seeing if their man will come to the rescue"... I have witnessed girls giving themselves the once-over in the long mirror outside of the ladies powder room. I see batting eyelashes, winks and flirting... and I have also been privvy to clear signs of emotional discontent when something is not being attended too.
(an innate chick thing for us)... I have also seen some of the sweetest displays of genuine feminine care when their brave soldiers have been injured during their recess jausting exhibitions. Equally, I have seen "at-a boys" be given freely and mentoring to those who are behind in a lesson...(so they can be swept away by an extended hand to the next EDS event.)
I have seen girls growing into women and not wondering if this boy will "dump me for her" next week. I have seen girls who are confident and sure about who they are and commanding the respect they deserve on the ladder of boy-girl relationships. They are liking a boy for who he is and not for what he will do for her!
They are not looking to get married. No one is scaring anyone at this point and no one has placed extraordinary measures of expectations. No one needs to have a baby in a timely fashion and certainly everyone is here with the same goals and that is to learn, have fun, and to treat others respectfully. That is it. That is their job. No mortgages, car payments, school loans, credit card debt, family to support, long-distance relationships, or adult problems too grave to think about. It is to just learn about themselves and the world around them... Of course it would be far easier to find and sustain interest in the opposite sex without all of the world's pressures heaped upon us. again... aah..to be 5! I am envious of their lives sometimes.
I have seen jealousy and contentment.... love and playfulness. I have seen whispering gals and giggly guys when, "they all know what the real deal is"... AND I DON'T! Could the John McCain children's story possibly be thaaaat good??? Hardly. They are experiencing a normal surge of hormones right now that prompts them to look outside of their bodies..(literally). They will undergo a year of transformation in their physical and emotional lives from now unitl about 6-6.5...and then it happens..."boys will have cooties".... "girls will be yucky". Their hormones will shut down for awhile so they can become readers and mathematicians. Chemists and artists. They "lose" touch with God for awhile and stop hugging us, never mind each other. It must be part of the plan. The feelings and hormones will surge again in about 6 years or so, but in a more guarded resonance then what took place back in K-town. Its miserable to think about actually. Life and love will become more about judgement and restrictions. Bummer.
Yet for now...what I do observe is that peace and love, contentment, and being liked are all necessary and healthy components for ALL of us AT ANY AGE! It gets us to want to try harder! Affection from the opposite sex pushes and prods us to try new things with confidence. In being 5 they could care less about an outcome...a future anyway..because they are truly living for today in this moment! This is exactly how we all should be living. This is what I have learned about being a Kindergartener in love.
Affectionately Yours,
Miss Dawn, Director EDS
-Camelot
aaahhhh...well you would think it springtime here at EDS!!! The lovebug has come to town..or should i say "K-Town"...as I affectionately call them!! We have traded our tulips for pumpkins, our cherry blossoms for changing leaves.. Yes... this blog today is all about love!
Caution Please....Adults may be reading this.....
What does Autumn and Kindergarten have in common?? Nothing, except the word, "deciduous"...
One is going thru a dying process, if you will, and the other is "waking up". Spring has sprung with my young 5 year olds and I am finding myself envious of warmer days!!
I have been amazed and rather taken aback at the outward PDA's going on all over EDS and really in K-Town. It has made me aware that we adults forget about what genuine affection is all about. It makes me remember lighter days in life when liking someone meant you needn't worry about how he/she will be received by your beau's relatives, what kind of car you own, what your outfit looks like daily, thinking a bad hair day would ruin for it you, or if this person is "the one" to change your life...nope...its all about the moment. Liking someone becuase you know the chemistry is right and it feels good. Period.
This past month, "Falling into October" has officially been changed to "Falling in Love". This has been a huge topic of discussion for our newly maturing Kindergarteners. Who knew that I would need to include this into the EDS curriculum?? Or watching it happen while delivering lessons on a Pumpkin's Anatomy...(whoops wrong choice of words).
I must say, I have forgotten what this was like and about. I am here to say that developmentally it is right on target..and again.. everything we need to know we learned in Kindergarten.
Recently,I needed to find a baby photo for our contest...and then some reminiscing took place for me. In climbing through mounds of black and whites at the family homestead I came across Kindergarten memories. My mother kept a babybook on my siblings and myself. She wrote very candidly about my experiences at a private Kindergarten, (that I have based much of my school against.) The warmest memory written was of my experience of being"kissed" on the swings by my K-town love interest...we will call him AR..(not a joke), to protect his identity. I giggled and thought...boy, I fondly remember the "pumpkin patch" at Mrs. Casey's school... I also remember the Apollo Mission landings being televised. (dating myself)..and clearly I remember our version of "Fun Friday"...holding hands and dancing to Mrs. Ottiledge bang out Farmer in the Dell on the old upright.... but I do not remember the kiss. Why? (as my K-friend John would ask me). My answer to me...is not clear. Or is it?
All this love in the air has made me aware of what "boys" out in this world should be doing all the time! (Or at least in my still-single dating world). I have seen so much in the way of gentlemanly behavior lately...I have seen help to aid our friend who was crying by offering a hug or an "at-a girl" when necessary. I have seen heavy things be wisked out of young ladies hands. I have seen assistance with coats and sweaters, doors held open, places being saved at lunchtime. I have watched boys not begin eating until their dining partner arrived after hand-washing, or mentoring in the classroom when someone has gotten a bit behind in their lesson....jsut to catch them up and make sure they had their playmate ready for recess.
I have also seen affection, ummm... real affection..that probably should be better saved for the later years...but for them, a real curiosity that I think "boys" can't seem to help themsleves on...oh well..I can't change the human race..I am only here as an observer and mentor!! But most importantly, I have witnessed boys not shy away, ignore, or "play games" with girls because they "didn't want to lead them on"... or "they can't commit". No one was asking and no one is keeping score. The genuine exchange of love and affection on boys with girls without a motive or reason to hide is truly a beautfiul thnig to watch!! Men seem to lose this quality as they grow. And why? (again).
Likewise, I have seen young ladies wait for "back up" when in distress..."seeing if their man will come to the rescue"... I have witnessed girls giving themselves the once-over in the long mirror outside of the ladies powder room. I see batting eyelashes, winks and flirting... and I have also been privvy to clear signs of emotional discontent when something is not being attended too.
(an innate chick thing for us)... I have also seen some of the sweetest displays of genuine feminine care when their brave soldiers have been injured during their recess jausting exhibitions. Equally, I have seen "at-a boys" be given freely and mentoring to those who are behind in a lesson...(so they can be swept away by an extended hand to the next EDS event.)
I have seen girls growing into women and not wondering if this boy will "dump me for her" next week. I have seen girls who are confident and sure about who they are and commanding the respect they deserve on the ladder of boy-girl relationships. They are liking a boy for who he is and not for what he will do for her!
They are not looking to get married. No one is scaring anyone at this point and no one has placed extraordinary measures of expectations. No one needs to have a baby in a timely fashion and certainly everyone is here with the same goals and that is to learn, have fun, and to treat others respectfully. That is it. That is their job. No mortgages, car payments, school loans, credit card debt, family to support, long-distance relationships, or adult problems too grave to think about. It is to just learn about themselves and the world around them... Of course it would be far easier to find and sustain interest in the opposite sex without all of the world's pressures heaped upon us. again... aah..to be 5! I am envious of their lives sometimes.
I have seen jealousy and contentment.... love and playfulness. I have seen whispering gals and giggly guys when, "they all know what the real deal is"... AND I DON'T! Could the John McCain children's story possibly be thaaaat good??? Hardly. They are experiencing a normal surge of hormones right now that prompts them to look outside of their bodies..(literally). They will undergo a year of transformation in their physical and emotional lives from now unitl about 6-6.5...and then it happens..."boys will have cooties".... "girls will be yucky". Their hormones will shut down for awhile so they can become readers and mathematicians. Chemists and artists. They "lose" touch with God for awhile and stop hugging us, never mind each other. It must be part of the plan. The feelings and hormones will surge again in about 6 years or so, but in a more guarded resonance then what took place back in K-town. Its miserable to think about actually. Life and love will become more about judgement and restrictions. Bummer.
Yet for now...what I do observe is that peace and love, contentment, and being liked are all necessary and healthy components for ALL of us AT ANY AGE! It gets us to want to try harder! Affection from the opposite sex pushes and prods us to try new things with confidence. In being 5 they could care less about an outcome...a future anyway..because they are truly living for today in this moment! This is exactly how we all should be living. This is what I have learned about being a Kindergartener in love.
Affectionately Yours,
Miss Dawn, Director EDS
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