children are miraculous

I positively adore SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy). I am inspired by her creativity, her honesty, her ability to put her feelings on paper with so much charm, her willingness to dream... and she will always remind me of one of my dearest friends with whom I shared my initial love affair with her first books when we started reading them over a decade ago.

The other day, I received a special treat... a friend sent me a copy of this wonderful poem. It reminded me again of how very blessed I am to be with my children every single day. I am smitten by the colourful way in which this poem dances between the challenges and joy that parenting offers. It is, no doubt, hard work to raise a child and to 'really' love a child. Though I am most certain that every parent loves their child the best way they can... parenthood pushes us to experience ourselves as we truly are, and challenges us to grow into the people we most want to be... in the eyes of our children and in our own hearts. In this way, children really are miraculous. So often we think that we are here to teach them (as their parents, their teachers), and yet many of my most humbling and greatest learning moments have come from the lessons taught by my kids... as little as they are. Their ability to be present, their ability to engage with the world, their ability to play without boundaries... it is magic.

I think my favourite line (at this moment, for as time changes my thoughts may too) is about finding elephants... because Anaïs adores elephants, and because we always tell Isabel she has a memory like an elephant, and because the girls and i have a song about all the different animals and we all like the elephants. Makes me want to wake them both up right now and give each one a kiss. Perhaps a better plan is to join them in dreamland and look forward to hugs and giggles and sillies tomorrow.
Hmmmm... I also love the one about reading books out loud... with joy; and imagining yourself magic; and encouraging silly; and... well, i like it all... ha, ha!!! And so wanted to share it and place it somewhere to remind me in a simple, colourful way just how much magic there is in every single day. And when I forget and falter in my ways, I can come back here, regain perspective and always try again.

Copyright SARK 

Oooooo, we can even add a little melody to the words as we read them... singing always makes everything even brighter... at least in our house!!! I think that my girls (and boy) might grow up one day thinking that they grew up in a musical... and wondering why the rest of the world does not put a melody to everything they say and do?!? But hey, what would the world be without music? We certainly love to sing... and dance and play.

{Postscript (July 26th): Today I shared this SARK poem 'out loud' with Isabel. She giggled all the way through... and said her favourite lines are: "Encourage silly" and "Say yes as often as possible". She laughed out loud and shook her head at the thought of banging on pots and pans... perhaps a little too much noise for my little talker. And she insisted that kids are NOT small: "we are all big" she said.}