quote discovered and revived by Marta Venturini in 2016
photo by Colleen Prieto
I've seen many families succeed, I've seen some wander off because it's not easy, and I've seen some fail.
Deschooling is the best next stop
though the quote came from a rougher place
photo by Colleen Prieto
For fun, or for practice, be flexible enough to use items for things other than their "intended purpose." In the 1970s, I was told that it's a sign of intelligence, if a person can creatively use an object well for something it was not designed for. |
"I really have to be vigilant on myself and try not to control."
Being "vigilant" sounds like absolutely exhausting effort. Relax. You do not "have to be vigilant." Especially not on yourself. That's you watching yourself. Way too much work. Let go of one of those selves. Relax inside the other one. Have a snooze. Don't be vigilant.
When you wake up, think. Am I glad to be here? Is this a good moment? If so, breathe and smile and touch your child gently. Be soft. Be grateful. Find abundance. Gently.
Soft, hard, lasting, fleeting, solemn or sweet—the nature of "real life" can be shifty. Be soft, and lasting, and sweet as well and as often as you can be. |
And don't do it to train them. Do it because it's true. It will be uplifting, in that moment to kind of put a blessing on it.
Sleep When You're Tired
photo by Colleen Prieto
You're famous in your family.
Don't disappoint your fans!
People don't need to enact each extreme to find a resting place. Because we have the ability to imagine, and remember and to plan, here is an idea. Think of what too much noise would be—too much talking, too much background noise, too many wind chimes, too many power tools.
What would be too much silence? No running water, no bird song, no fan, no one to ask you questions, at all.
Too much talking can be as harmful as no talking at all. Approach the balance from the quiet side.
Children whose parents are gentle will understand what that's good for.
Be the sort of person you want your child to be.
It's better for the cat, if you do that.