watching the big kids and wishing you were on the other side of the fence.
—
“dream big, little one.”
-a.u.
Oct25
Tag Archives: growing up
Aug23
move-in.
it’s that time of year again
move-in week
the uni students have newly arrived or returned
for a year of who knows what lies ahead
the stores, the streets, the students
are full of excitement, fear, questions, hopes
and a broom, a big mirror, and a case of ramen noodles or two.
—
“i move in the university of the waves.”
-pablo neruda
Jul11
awkward.
seemingly overnight
baby yeti
has transformed from a crazy toddler with mini claws and fuzzy fur
into an awkward, gawky teenager
who’s not quite sure what to do
with his newly stretched out body and all his parts
can’t wait for the
sassiness
storming off to his room
eye-rolling
questionable choices
acting like he doesn’t know who i am
mercurial emotions
and the puberty talks.
—
“no matter where you are or where you grow up,
you always go through the same awkward moments of being a teenager
and growing up trying to figure out who you are.”
-aimee teegarden
Jul10
returning.
with
one sister visiting
one sister gone too soon
only brother on his way
grandchildren in tow
we visited the place
where we had grown up.
it looked much the same
yet felt somehow not.
much like us.
—
“there is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged
to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.”
-nelson mandela
Jun24
winning.
when you go to the carnival
and have finally grown enough
to reach
the spectacular rides level
that is winning.
—
“the determination to win is the better part of winning.”
-daisaku ikeda
Sep16
where hobbies, hijinks, and capers go bad = my childhood #6
(not my actual sale, this one is 70 miles long, but you get the feel of it)
—
there was that time
when i decided the best way to earn some quick cash
was to have a yard sale.
so i dragged our lemonade stand table out into the front yard
threw a plastic tablecloth over it
made a sign
covered it with stuff to sell
opened for business
let the cash flow begin!
a couple of friends and their sibs
stopped by on bikes
to check it out
i quickly made 57 cents
things were humming along at a nice pace
the venture was looking promising
i thought i’d do this each weekend
maybe hire an assistant
deciding what i’d do with all the cash
until
my sister came marching out of the house
to see what was going on
realized that i was selling her stuff
my mom soon followed
and that business closed pretty quickly.
—
“three dollars and it only transports matter?!”
(at professor frink’s yard sale – homer simpson)
fictional character from the animated tv series created by matt groening, the simpsons
—
image credit: cbc.ca
Mar15
string of lights.
“today is the last day i will ever be 3.”
“tomorrow when you wake up you will be 4.”
“that is magic.”
“yes, that is magic.”
(conversation i had in my classroom today)
—
“it’s alright, just wait and see, your string of lights is still bright to me.
who you are is not where you’ve been. you’re still an innocent. it’s okay…. ”
― taylor swift
—
image credit: bbc, listicle
May8
knowing mom.
early mother’s day surprise movie present
courtesy of
my daughters
who remember prince and his music
as a part of their days
growing up with me
and
we
watched him on the big screen
and
sang and danced
with 1,000 other people
of all ages
who remembered him too
and we even
smuggled in food
in a big purse
just like the days
when we didn’t have a lot of money
but we did have
a lot of dollar movies
a lot of music
and
a whole lot of love.
—
happy mother’s day to all who mother
and to those who really know their mothers.
Jun3
“and all the colors i am inside have not been invented yet.” – shel silverstein
as our year together
comes to an end
sharing
an oval rug
a room
a building
the great outdoors
the community around us
we venture into new territory
making the leap
across snake rock
something new
and not so scary
with big kids
to lead the way
and
teachers
standing by
quietly watching
as
they grow into
their next adventure
with little fear
with great excitement
and
just a few tears.
—
“ listen to the mustn’ts, child,
listen to the don’ts.
listen to the shouldn’ts.
the impossibles, the won’ts.
listen to the never haves.
then listen close to me—
anything can happen, child,
anything can be.”
– shel silverstein
Oct28
how many can i be?
little guy in my class
whispering
excitedly
about
all of the things
he wants to become
chef
make delicious food
ballet dancer
the ballerinas are so beautiful
i want to marry them
artist
make pretty things
movie maker
monsters, aliens, bugs
discoverer
find things
traveler
see the whole world
inventor
make up new things
storyteller
tell stories to people
musician
make songs
but
how many can i be?
and
there is something
that i really, really
need to be the most
i need to be a dad
i have to be a dad for my daddy
because
he doesn’t have one
anymore
his daddy
my poppy
died
and
i think i’ll be
his daddy
he needs a daddy
the great man is he who does not lose his child’s-heart. ~mencius
—
image credits: dailymail.co.uk, getty images
I didn't have my glasses on.... 