Letter 23: Parenting, a reading interview, summer sketching, and birthday brownies.
May and June 2024
Notes from Me
Interview: I was interviewed by Stephanie over at Mother Reader. I shared some of my reading background, influences, favorite books to read aloud with my sons, and the “why” behind my reading life. I loved reflecting on these things! Find the interview here. And check out others in the “Portrait of a Mother Reader” series here.
Reading: I found an encouraging email newsletter by a mother of seven adult children, Carol Hudson. She reflects on life, parenting, home education, and more. Her humility and wisdom encourage me. Here’s one gem I stored away recently, from this post.
I’m not a planner and I’m not a naturally organized person. I am tidy, which helps. And I like my house to look pleasant and inviting. My lack of expertise in the organizational side of things has been overshadowed by other strengths, habits and routine and I don’t get depressed over what I’m not good at.
If I could go back in time, I would encourage my late-twenties/early-thirties self with this perspective: you don’t need to be depressed over what you’re not good at!
Here’s another post of hers with wisdom about how to approach educating children.
Reading: Youngna Park, writer and mother of two young children wrote a piece in her newsletter, Making it Work, called “Activity vs. Activities.” In thinking about how her children spend their time, she contrasts “Activities” and “activity.” Here’s a description of the latter:
Activity, lowercase a, is my kids occupying themselves without me. And me occupying myself without having to prioritize my kids. The kids made games out of picking dandelions and collecting sticks in the yard. Ada timed herself climbing up a tree and back down it over and over again. Julian worked on balancing a large rake on his back without using his hands for 15 minutes. The kids played with a stomp rocket again and again, trying to intentionally get the rocket stuck in the tree so that Ada would have to then climb the tree again to shake it out. This kind of activity feels precariously on the edge of extinction, particularly now, because
1) overscheduled kids
2) overprotected kids
3) technology
4) parents generally feeling anxious that this is not edifying enough.
She articulates something I think many parents of young children feel: an ongoing pressure to coordinate, sign up, and enroll their children in activities. Instead, what if more parents gave themselves and their children the gift of unscheduled time and reclaimed some margin? What if we took time to be active in things that don’t require a paid pass, or a transportation plan, or other arrangements? Even as I sign up my children for sports and camps and programs, I want to pause and evaluate whether I’m giving myself and my children the space needed for activities, with a lowercase a.
Reading: I’m very inspired by this Mother-Son Book Club (right now, I’m at Nate the Great and The Boxcar Children, but one day…The Brothers Karamazov!)
Listening: Every few years, I check in to see what British author, Zadie Smith, is up to. Recently, I heard her interview on BBC’s This Cultural Life. It was a meandering conversation, the kind that works well for Zadie because of her long career and quick wit. I first heard Zadie speak over twelve years ago in Richmond, Virgina, and my familiarity with her makes me especially interested in what she has to say. In this recent interview, she shared several details of her life that resonated with my own life as a mother and reader. I loved hearing her talk about how The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe shaped her thinking as an eight-year-old (the age of my oldest son). I also love the image of her mother filling her flat with books when Zadie was growing up.
With the Boys
Trying Something New: This summer, each boy is using a Draw Write Now book. My almost 5-year-old uses Book 1 and my six and eight-year-olds are using Book 2. I have my own blank book and have also tried my hand with the tutorials in boys’ books. At the end of August, I am looking forward to paging through and seeing what they’ve done.
Reading: We finished reading The Princess and Curdie (five stars from my sons). I recently came across a picture book version of the Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby story by Virginia Hamilton, which my youngest son has asked me to read on repeat. Soon, I will read aloud some of my favorite summertime picture books during lunchtime, like The Raft, We Are Brothers, Roxaboxen, and The Relatives Came.
In the Kitchen
Eating: We celebrated my 39th birthday in May and I asked for brownies. My family kindly obliged, making our favorite recipe (note: one cup of semi-chocolate chips stirred into the batter is not optional). We then repurposed leftovers into bite-sized treats for our end-of-school-year gathering with friends.
Small Joy
The two rainbows I saw in the sky this week, signposts from a God who keeps His promises (Genesis 9:12-17).
Until next time,
Susie
P.S.
A soothing sketch and watercolor process here. See the cat on the roof?
This was delightful and insightful to read. Thank you!
I think Zadie Smith is one of the most brilliant contemporary writers we have. What she can do with a sentence...