yes, that is a sad sad face. little baby love. she teaches me so much about moving through and expressing emotions. currently though, i think i'm missing the point of the lesson, cause her tantrums are driving me crazy. has anyone mastered this one yet?
joy child. lover of superheroes to the MAX!!!
little woman. or something. little fiery lion spirit! these lovely little people don't have a clue what christmas is about, beyond presents.
i've been wondering about how i want to tell them a little of the story of jesus the christ. he is the most famous figure in earthly history, right? i want to be pragmatic. and i want to convey some of the magic, or a lot of the 'magic' that christ was about. but maybe i don't want to use the word magic, because then will they think of him as a wizard? would that be bad? what is the truth? that's really what i wish i knew. and i can tell them that. and then their father, who is jewish, and i, can tell them what we feel 'might' be true. my aunt would have no problem explaining jesus's story to them. she is such a happy loving christian. i would like to hear her do that actually. and then i would tell them, 'see, everyone has a little bit different idea about him.' but one thing that i know david and i both agree on, is that jesus was a pretty freaking special man. oh, i feel like i am asking for all kinds of scary comments by bringing up religion here, and the way we wonder about it. oh well. i hope that nobody takes offense by my process, here. and if so, i do not mean for this to be a matter for debate. just little me, pondering a bit about what feels most authentic for us, so that as we tell this story to the little people, they will feel that our words are resonating with our bodies, and our personal relationships with the story. they already know that many people don't celebrate christmas, but they really don't understand why. they know some celebrate other stories, like hanukkah, or the solstice. the way we told the hanukkah story was so sweet, and it really was just like a bedtime story in a way. there was no heavy weirdness about it, and i want to be mindful of not bringing any heavy weirdness into the christmas story. maybe i could take them to a church service? as a family who seems to align most easily and naturally with the buddhist stories and teachings, i am just wanting to stay open, and mindful, and honest about what i do and don't know about jesus christ. but because they are so little, i really really really want to keep it simple. okay. here is a try.
jesus was a man who we think was born about 2000 years ago, on december 25th. he turned out to be a really special guy, who loved to help people, almost like a superhero!! (david is not going to go for that.) and because he was so kind and helpful, a LOT of people loved him. they loved him so much that they decided to call him christ, which means king. then all these people who loved him, wanted to make a holiday for him. so they made his birthday the day we call christmas, or christ-mas. there are a lot of beautiful stories about how he helped people, that we can learn and read about if you guys are curious. but a lot of them are just stories, and we don't know what really happened because it was so so long ago. now we only know the stories.
i could see something like that working.....
little jewish boy max is going to start making up stories now about the superhero, jesus. makes me wish david's parents were in town now to tell their version of the jesus story. i love how jewish people talk about him. it is usually with a humble respect, i've noticed. just without the worship.
i love hearing people talk about their passions in general. anne lamott is a devout christian, and one of my favorite writers, and i love hearing her talk about her church, her god, and her faith. i wish i could hear her tell us her version of jesus's life.
**********i figured it out!!!! i think, i did anyways.... we just went to the library, and we got a bunch of different christmas, hanukkah, wintery holiday books. they will be my props.... you know what i just realized. i did not bring home a book about bethlehem, and the baby's birth. i looked at a bunch of them, and kept setting them back down. i am just not ready to bring that part of the story up, obviously. chicken!!!!
something else i forgot to note before, is that i also want to work in somehow, why everyone gives presents to everyone on this day. can you believe we haven't really had to talk about this yet? we just kind-of blindly fell into the rhythm and ways of the societal consumerist aspect of this time of year, mildly, but the kids definitely think there will be presents coming on christmas morning. they got a few little things for hanukkah and solstice too, but, their main gifts will be given on christmas. and part of me wants it that way. isn't it all so interesting? i mean, i think right now the kids just think we give winter presents and christmas and hanukkah just for fun. and that's really okay. that is partly true. i'm going to ask them why they think they get presents for these holidays. after we read some of the stories from the library. can you believe i am thinking this much about it?
and these few audio books i am excited about. mmm. mellow time. we already listened to the catwings, jane on her own, audio book on the way home. it was read by ursula le guin (my favorite author, i think), and it was so dreamy for me getting to hear her voice. the kids love those stories. i wish she wrote more children's books.okay. i'm sure no one read all this, except maybe my sister who i know might get bored a time or two in arkansas. love u c.
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