When my kids come to me bored and ask,
"What can we do?"
my response is always the same:
"Make something!"
I love to look around the house and see kids creating works of their own. I see their wheels spinning, as they gather up materials and look for a quiet spot to "work." I watch as they try to put something together, and sometimes fail a few times before getting the materials and structure just right. It's an interesting process to observe, especially when kids are left alone to hammer out details and make things work. I like to be present and available while they work on projects or inventions, but I really believe in letting them go at it alone, with as little intervention as possible. It's amazing what they can do on their own. And they need to find this out for themselves.
As parents, we all tell our children that they can do or be anthing they want...if they set their mind and heart to it. But when they begin to create works of their own, they really begin to believe in themselves. The seeds of real self-worth are planted, and begin to grow as children work to accomplish more and more, in order to get another taste of that sweet feeling of satisfaction they have experienced in creating something of their own.
Hannah has been making friendship bracelets and doing lots of art work. She is teaching her sisters to do all of the amazing things she likes to do. She always has a knitting project going, and really turns out more finished projects than anyone else in the house!
This cute 4-year-old sat and embroidered this entire little sketch of a bunny all by herself. I untied a few knots in the floss, and threaded and re-threaded her needle when necessary. But she worked so hard on her own! The entire project was her own idea. Now she wants to turn it into a bunny apron for spring cooking. Cutie!
She also raids my fabric stash regularly, along with her sisters, and makes all sorts of cool creations from colorful scraps. While her big sister sews up some pretty things, she uses scotch tape and bobby pins to make her dolly clothes and blankets stay together. Clever :).
I found Eliza in my studio last week, working at some fashion designs on the dress form. Dolled up in all varieties of trim, including fur, bias tape, lace, ric-rac, and her own embroidered creation for an apron, I think this dressed-up lady has substantial style...especially for having a 6-year-old stylist!
And she's finally caught the knitting bug! I can hardly get her to turn out her light at night...she's up in her bed knitting away. Just like her mama!
Taylor made these delicious homemade flour tortillas for dinner yesterday. I wasn't even around to offer a hand. All he needed was some inspiration from a friend who just did some traveling in Central America, and a little help from good ol' youtube. He even cleaned up his own mess...what a stud!
Everyone loved the tortillas!
(especially our now toothless Eliza!)
mmmmmm!
The boys have also been working at perfecting their bow and arrow design,
and making plans to fix up an old treehouse in one of the big elm trees out back.
Honestly, it amazes me what these kids can do. All they need is some basic skills, and a little free time.
Sometimes I worry about them. Are they learning enough? Are they responsible? Are they caught up in math? Are they going to make it in the "real world" someday? Do they have clean socks on?
Etc., etc...
And then I look around and see what they have created. I see them invent and play and work and make. I see them gather and function in teams in order to conquer a task or game. I see them settle differences and come to agreements. I see them do hard things.
And then I get the feeling that they'll be just fine.
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