Thursday, December 21st 2017
ClaraJane has been working very hard on her reading. On this day she was a Special Guest reading to her former Kindergarten class, with many dignitaries in attendance!
2017-12-21 CLARAJANE SPECIAL GUEST READER [1:07]:
We are so proud of you ClaraJane!
December 16th 2017
We’re lucky that my hubsand’s kitchen crew at work mostly get along so well. Here are our families celebrating the holidays together in 2017.
♥
Saturday, December 16th 2017
ClaraJane is so pumped to finally go ice skating she has no interest in my quest for an ugly holiday sweater.
No Thanks
Finally on the ice she be like:
Her joy is so infectious that brother abandons the malaise of his mild fever and jumps in.
And they help each other around the ring a lot.
Best time not skating in my life.
As ClaraJane said, “Best skate ever until next time!”
♥♥
Friday, December 15th 2017
Today I partner with the incomparable Dr. Mal Adjusted, as seen here with Olaf at the Boston Children’s Hospital Winter Wonderland.
Today I practiced:
1) Hi!
A little boy getting a transfusion waves to us, and Dr. Mal Adjusted had to work pretty hard to teach me how to wave back.
2) OK to Stay:
Another little boy in the Activity Room wasn’t thrilled to see us at first, so we offered him numerous ways to kick us out. Finally I played a song so Dr. Mal could show off her fantastic dance moves. Although we did end up leaving he never did kick us out.
3) Shh!
On the elevator I received a lesson from Dr. Mal about NOT MAKING NOISE while she explained it to me, TALKING the WHOLE TIME.
4) Rock Me Gently:
A little girl with developmental delays loves music, so we played to her in her crib. She kicked and wiggled to the music until we stopped, and then she wiggled in more of a thrashing kind of way. We made a clean exit, then immediately wished we’d done a fade-out.
5) Flummoxed Face:
In preparation for an official portrait of Dr. Be Bopper, we practiced some DIY shots today. After all this time performing, it is so strange to only barely know what to do with my FACE in being this CLOWN.
Dang I have so much to learn.
Tuesday, December 12th 2017
Baby Fish
After ClaraJane completes her movie star walk to class this morning like a BOSS –lead by her brother and flanked by both her Mom AND her Dad– Gavin invites her into his classroom to come see the new baby fish!
Being a first grader, she is too shy to enter the class of 4th and 5th graders by herself. But then her brother takes her by the hand and they are off to the races fish tank.
Gavin points out every member of his classroom’s fish tank to ClaraJane.
Before going back to class, CJ grabs her brother by the waist in one of their trademark ecstatic giggle bear hugs. Gavin then grabs her waist and hoists her around his classroom a bit, to more giggles.
*I* even get a hug from him –in front of his classmates and everything– which I do not take for granted.
I promise!
#Swoon #Siblings #Love #TheseAreTheDays
Tuesday, December 12th 2017
At the risk of bragging overmuch about my kids… I choose this moment to share the fact that for years I have been accumulating what I call “Evidence They Get Along.” It’s a file on my computer where I collect images of my children in relationship with each other. Peace Begins at Home. And while siblings may have among the most challenging of relationships to navigate, if you can’t love your own SIBLING from your own HOME, what hope is there for Peace in the World?
So I collect this evidence -it feels forensic- that I may have proof of this goodness upon my death. As I have literally said before and will repeat; I consider their relationship with each other my life’s work. I cannot control them, but I can give them every bit of coaching, support, encouragement and tools in my possession to help figure it out. Their relationship with each other will be (the most prized part of) my legacy.
Alas, even at this early stage -at 6 and 9 years old- collecting this “evidence” is starting to feel almost gratuitous, except for it being basically my Favorite Thing. I “catch” them being thoughtful and kind to each other on a regular basis, and praise them accordingly. I let them know in no uncertain terms that exactly such ways of being are what make our family great, make The World a better place; that I appreciate it and I’m proud of them. In addition to the classic sibling irritations and squabbles, it becomes more and more obvious that they are practicing a rich, affectionate, loving and mutually supportive relationship. I truly believe they will be among each other’s greatest allies throughout their lives and I think I could literally ask for nothing greater.
So, ya. Pretty much. That.
Tuesday, December 12th 2017
We have a saying in our family that “The best things happen off camera.” Much as I document seemingly everything, it is important to let it go anytime something does not get captured on camera.
So it goes with the Christmas List that ClaraJane wrote yesterday, then lost.
Firstly it’s notable how much she is now reading and writing at six years old. It’s wonderful, fantastic, and cause for a different blog post.
Moreover, the CONTENTS of that list. Her list was comprised of the NAMES of people she wanted to get gifts FOR. Such as her grandma, her “cousin” Victor, and others.
Maybe she’ll re-write it, we’ll see. Either way, onward with the world we choose to create. And onward with her spectacular, extraordinary, irrepressible heart. #ProudMama. #Swoon.
Monday, December 11th 2017
AT RISE: [Mamma finishes tucking Boy in bed and heads towards the door.]
Boy: Oh mom I remembered what I wanted to say! Just one more thing.
Mom: [Goes back over to him, snuggles close.] What is it honey?
Boy: Well, I just want to say thank you for the great life you have given me; for the wonderful childhood you have provided me; and for the great dad. I love the great Dad.
Mom: [Gazing into the face of this wondrous boy who happens to be nine years old.] Honey, wow. What an extraordinary thing to say. I think any mom would DREAM to hear such words from her child.
Boy: Well it’s not a dream!
Mom: If you say so. And you’re welcome. [Hug.] I love you. [Kiss.] Now go to sleep! [Heads to door and turns off light.]
SCENE.
Monday, December 11th 2017
Dr. Be Bopper (still struggling to clown face), Dr. Bucket Buster and Tiffany Riley aka: Dr. Slappy
Today at Boston Children’s Hospital I got to pair with Dr. Bucket Buster under the observation of our awesome Laughter League Director, Tiffany.
1) SING WITH ME
A five year old girl with no hair in her Oncology bed is an Arabic speaker. After a bunch of nonsense between Dr. Bucket Buster and I introducing ourselves, losing a name tag, getting entangled retrieving it from under the chair, WEARING the chair as part of our now shared outfit, the child insists the chair goes DOWN, it is for SITTING, we need to get ANOTHER chair from OVER THERE (which we inefficiently do, with sound effects), and sit DOWN. NOW it is time for a song. “A B C D!” she exclaims. A song we all know! Voila. “Again!” We do it again. And then some Twinkle Star. She is obviously enlivened to be practicing her English letters and words and it is amazing to sing with her.
2) SWEET THE SOUND
A little boy in Family Clinic is fascinated by the strange device on Dr. Bucket Buster’s costume (fart gun). She demonstrates that it is a megaphone, then holds it out for him to try. Not sure I can describe the exhilaration of a 3 or 4 year old at hearing his own voice translated into fart sounds, so you’re just going to have to imagine.
3) BUTTER BOX
At one point Dr. Bucket Buster walks into a cardboard box and literally wears it around on her foot for nearly the rest of our shift. A little girl in Family Clinic advises her to use butter to get it off, followed by a lot of back and forth about where to buy butter, what else to buy, that it would need to be googled and where to put the list. “On your kitchen table in your home!!” the child insists. Dr. Bucket Buster promises to remember; “OK, kitchen table, kitchen table, kitchen table… hide it in the dog food. Got it. Bye!” “”NOOO!” cries the child. Dr. Bucket Buster goes back for more advice. Etc. Etc. I watch in incredulity, chime in where I can and underscore the whole thing with ukulele.
DR. BE BOPPER UPDATE:
I may never achieve the mind-bending, stupefying logic of Dr. Bucket Buster, but I do have confidence I will start figuring out what the hell to do and say eventually.
In my Hospital Clowning journey so far I have learned to be more forgiving of myself when I don’t know what I’m doing. Tonight I experienced only a few moments of abject CHOKING. And I’m gaining some comfort and confidence in my ability to pull songs and music out of thin air to fit different circumstances.
LEAD, BE DUMB OR GET OUT OF THE WAY:
Interestingly, my director’s main observation of my work tonight is that my default mode is to be “sweet.” (To be sure, this is a professional quality more than a personal one, ahem.) She also noted my tendency to take charge sometimes (depends on the partner).
She said it’s great when I take CHARGE, and it’s great when I’m DUMB, but it’s not great when I’m SWEET. Sweet is lame (my word). It’s not funny. And it’s not clowning!
There you have it. Some great clown direction. It’s no secret I got work to do. I welcome it. Something tells me I might be able to find my way towards BOSSY and DUMB.
Just as soon as I get out of my shoes:
Sunday, December 10th 2017
Apparently my son had an incident where he was carrying the recycling downstairs when the paper bag ripped open and spilled its contents all over the stair well. From what he told me it was pretty miserable and took him a while to clean up and take care of, which he did. After that he told me he decided to take a walk outside in his bare feet, in the snow. He said it hurt and his feet turned numb and he didn’t get very far but… he somehow had this realization of what a really good life he has. He said he realized that lots of people would love to trade places with him; to have a nice warm home to come home to; clothes; a comfy bed to sleep in, and a great mom to love you.
#Gratitudes #Gavin #GivinandHavin
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