Adventures in Parenting

Stories and Photos Tagged 'wisdom'

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Bicycle for a stroller

by Graham // 0 comments // tagged with: grandparents, wisdom

When we were in England for my Grandma's 90th birthday, I heard a touching story about my Grandpa that I had never heard before. He and my Grandma met in Egypt during the Second World War while he was in the military service and she was with the Red Cross. They courted in Jerusalem, and then were married in the UK.

In just under a year they had their first child. To buy a stroller (a "buggy" in English vernacular), my Grandpa sold his bicycle. I don't often think about those sort of trade-offs. What a loving sacrifice!

I know she can't hear me

by Graham // 0 comments // tagged with: Elisabeth, parenting, wisdom

Last week Elisabeth and I were out for a walk. She was on her scooter, and I was walking behind her. I called out, "Elisabeth slow down," and she didn't slow down. It was then that I realized something: she didn't hear me. How do I know? Because when she hears me, she obeys.

Parenting is so much easier when obedience is expected. I immediately knew that Elisabeth couldn't hear me because she knows that disobedience is not tolerated. So I had three choices: (1) yell louder [which I hate doing] (2) catch up to her before calling again, or (3) wait and trust her to slow down at the corner. I chose number 3, and she slowed down and waited for me to catch up.

The Christmas Orange

by Graham // 0 comments // tagged with: parenting, wisdom

One of the Christmas traditions that I inherited as a child was a orange in my stocking. What is the origin of that tradition? Patricia Polacco provides a delightful narrative in An Orange for Frankie that helps children understand why an orange in winter is such an extraordinary and precious thing.

What is extraordinary now is that an orange in winter is not unusual. In fact, as I write this, I am enjoying my third clementine this morning. I think it would be fair to say that the years from my childhood until now have been marked by the scarcity of scarcity. For a host of reasons, very, very few things were scarce - and therefore few things were special. So, in place of special my generation multiplied quantity, often at the expense of quality.

So as a parent I now ask, "How do I help my children experience things as special?"

The same towel

by Graham // 1 comment // tagged with: wisdom, grandparents

When we were in the UK, I noticed a number of things that made me think about the way we live. One of those observations was the towel Elisabeth used at my Grandma's house. It is the same towel that I used when I visited as a young child. The book used as a doorstop for that bedroom is the same one that I remember from childhood.

Not surprisingly, there was a profound absence of clutter in my Grandma's house. Although she has been in the same house for nearly 50 years, there isn't junk lying around. I love that kind of simplicity, and want to learn to live that way.

Learning from my little brother

by Graham // 0 comments // tagged with: wisdom

Yesterday Elisabeth and I spent the day with Uncle Gordon (photos forthcoming) to celebrate his birthday. In the course of the day, Gordon challenged my way of thinking about communication - and convinced me to change. What a joy it is to learn from my little brother! (Those who know Gordon will contest that is I who am little, even though he is younger.)

A culture is no better than its woods

by Graham // 0 comments // tagged with: literature, wisdom, zoo

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I stumbled upon this poem by W.H. Auden at the zoo today. His words rang true.

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