Originally Posted on the Common Threads Blog
Centre Daily Times, July 7, 2008
It has been more than two weeks since local schools were let off for summer vacations.
The joy evident on most faces, as the kids rushed out on their last day, at my daughter’s elementary school, had a primal quality to it. A joy of rushing into a world of imagined possibilities, a world without the predictable rhythm of school.
I did see a few tears, and also heard a fifth grader tell another that vacations were nothing to cheer about, because there were still seven more years of this thing to go through!
But mostly I saw a unifying atmosphere of happiness, of being let out into something more wonderful than what they were going through.
Fast forward to more than two weeks later, and the pictures vary from family to family.
Some kids are in structured programs, others are not. Some are looking for things to do, while others occupy themselves in different ways. Some are out of town, and others have family and friends visiting.
Some are already bored with their summer break, and others want it to stretch forever…
At my home, the highlights of my ten year old daughter’s summer break so far have been a two day camp she went to, summer band and orchestra, and the house guests we have had – friends and family who have come to stay in the last several days.
She is also looking forward to some future trips, play dates, going to the pool and so on.
She is still cherishing every day of summer break, but I know that there will be the inevitable occasional letdowns of boredom, and the disappointments when real life does not match up with the expectations that summer vacations held when school let out.
Perhaps that is a hidden value of summer vacations – they teach and remind both kids and parents that even much anticipated change is not all good or bad. That everything, even something as “wonderful” as a break from school has its pluses and minuses. And that very often, the changes we seek could end up bringing us a mixed bag of results.
And it is possible that by September, we may get to hear a primal cheer, though perhaps slightly muted, for another new beginning – of all the imagined possibilities of a new school year.
Showing posts with label School Memories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School Memories. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Adults and Kids on a Snowy Afternoon
Originally Posted on the Common Threads Blog,
Centre Daily Times, Dec 6, 2007
Our first snowstorm of 2007, and I gave myself a few extra minutes as I drove to pick up my daughter from school.
I had to drive slower than usual, as I navigated the already parked cars, the ones pulling out, and the others pulling in.
As I stepped out of the car, and crossed the street, I was only vaguely aware of the beauty of the white, snow covered trees, grass and buildings.
I did sense the refreshing cold air, but my adult mind was a little busy figuring out all that I had to do later in the day – the longer times for each errand, as I had to forgo the back roads which would not be ploughed yet, and other logistics.
But slowly, as I waited for school to be over, the whiteness seemed to spread some calm over me.
And then the kids rushed out, or did they just spill out of the school in their enthusiasm?
They seemed happier than usual, or was it my imagination?
My daughter's first question to me of “Can I go sledding today?” was probably being replicated in other parent child reunions, as the kids dreamed up many other possibilities in the magical, cold snow..
They slowed me down, with their happiness…
And got me to notice the beauty, and the magic of the first snowfall.
They got me to be thankful, that the snow was still arriving, fairly on schedule, even with all that global warming.
And left me cognizant of doing my part in ensuring that it would still arrive next year, and the year after, and for many years to come.
I imagine it is the same with adults everywhere - sometimes, we miss the beauty of the first rains, or of a beautiful summer day, as we consider the practical implications of "weather," on our daily routines.
And it often takes kids to show us other possibilities, and awaken deeper feelings of gratitude, and of course, more responsibility to make it all endure.
Centre Daily Times, Dec 6, 2007
Our first snowstorm of 2007, and I gave myself a few extra minutes as I drove to pick up my daughter from school.
I had to drive slower than usual, as I navigated the already parked cars, the ones pulling out, and the others pulling in.
As I stepped out of the car, and crossed the street, I was only vaguely aware of the beauty of the white, snow covered trees, grass and buildings.
I did sense the refreshing cold air, but my adult mind was a little busy figuring out all that I had to do later in the day – the longer times for each errand, as I had to forgo the back roads which would not be ploughed yet, and other logistics.
But slowly, as I waited for school to be over, the whiteness seemed to spread some calm over me.
And then the kids rushed out, or did they just spill out of the school in their enthusiasm?
They seemed happier than usual, or was it my imagination?
My daughter's first question to me of “Can I go sledding today?” was probably being replicated in other parent child reunions, as the kids dreamed up many other possibilities in the magical, cold snow..
They slowed me down, with their happiness…
And got me to notice the beauty, and the magic of the first snowfall.
They got me to be thankful, that the snow was still arriving, fairly on schedule, even with all that global warming.
And left me cognizant of doing my part in ensuring that it would still arrive next year, and the year after, and for many years to come.
I imagine it is the same with adults everywhere - sometimes, we miss the beauty of the first rains, or of a beautiful summer day, as we consider the practical implications of "weather," on our daily routines.
And it often takes kids to show us other possibilities, and awaken deeper feelings of gratitude, and of course, more responsibility to make it all endure.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
So, How's School Going?
Originally Posted in the Common Threads Blog,
Centre Daily Times, Sept 11, 2007
Another school year has begun –with new challenges and opportunities for a lot of learning, excitement and fun. At least that’s what I am hoping for.
Often, adults ask my daughter how her new school year is going, and I too ask this question of other kids.
And get a one word response.
“Good.”
How is your teacher?
“Fine.”
What did you do in school today?
“Nothing much.”
This uniform answer of “good school days, with fine teachers, and doing nothing much,” puzzles me.
But I have decided that we cannot blame kids for coming up with these standardized responses - when we parents do it so often ourselves.
A casual “So how’s the school year going?” to another adult almost always comes up with a response of “Good,” or “Fine.”
And most of us end the conversation there, not having the time or the interest for the details.
But continue the conversation, and we may find out that all is not “good.”
Someone dislikes a teacher, another has issues with the curriculum, a third with bullying….
And just one parent opening up, and straying beyond the cursory “good,” brings forth new stories from the others.
But sharing these experiences requires the investment of time.
I recall exchanging stories about school, as a child, with family and friends - comparing notes about teachers, and laughing till the tears ran down my cheeks, at a cousin’s or friend’s narration or enacting of a funny incident.
We were able to do this because we visited often with other kids and adults – listening over tea, or board games on a lazy afternoon.
And that kind of time, is in short supply today, as we run from one task or activity to another.
At our house, we try to catch up on each other’s day over dinner. As my husband and I share the highlights of our day, our daughter competes with us to tell us about the “good,” “the bad,” “the ugly,” “the terrible,” and everything in between, and a clearer picture of all our lives emerges.
And I am hopeful that other kids who I know, will describe their school day to me too, in more than one sentence, if I only stayed and listened.
As long as I am willing to spare all that extra time…
Centre Daily Times, Sept 11, 2007
Another school year has begun –with new challenges and opportunities for a lot of learning, excitement and fun. At least that’s what I am hoping for.
Often, adults ask my daughter how her new school year is going, and I too ask this question of other kids.
And get a one word response.
“Good.”
How is your teacher?
“Fine.”
What did you do in school today?
“Nothing much.”
This uniform answer of “good school days, with fine teachers, and doing nothing much,” puzzles me.
But I have decided that we cannot blame kids for coming up with these standardized responses - when we parents do it so often ourselves.
A casual “So how’s the school year going?” to another adult almost always comes up with a response of “Good,” or “Fine.”
And most of us end the conversation there, not having the time or the interest for the details.
But continue the conversation, and we may find out that all is not “good.”
Someone dislikes a teacher, another has issues with the curriculum, a third with bullying….
And just one parent opening up, and straying beyond the cursory “good,” brings forth new stories from the others.
But sharing these experiences requires the investment of time.
I recall exchanging stories about school, as a child, with family and friends - comparing notes about teachers, and laughing till the tears ran down my cheeks, at a cousin’s or friend’s narration or enacting of a funny incident.
We were able to do this because we visited often with other kids and adults – listening over tea, or board games on a lazy afternoon.
And that kind of time, is in short supply today, as we run from one task or activity to another.
At our house, we try to catch up on each other’s day over dinner. As my husband and I share the highlights of our day, our daughter competes with us to tell us about the “good,” “the bad,” “the ugly,” “the terrible,” and everything in between, and a clearer picture of all our lives emerges.
And I am hopeful that other kids who I know, will describe their school day to me too, in more than one sentence, if I only stayed and listened.
As long as I am willing to spare all that extra time…
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