it has to be in your head that way
maybe, for it to be right
i’ve had so much scrumbled up
no doubt
it has to be right
in your head
maybe
fifteen three to five year olds are asleep
two teachers teach
i have enough time to write
at least this
-
-
God’s Likeness
Christ was a child
we know for sureI hope he was the riley one
made to rule when all they begged him
was to listenI hope his cries shined and shined
mocking every plan his parents hadI hope when they knew
they looked back
and knewhe was just like James, and John
and all the boys they knew
but now, they knew, which parts were God in them
and which parts
were God’s parts too -
I notice that the more I treat children how I would treat adults
the more other teachers accuse me of “babying” the childrenhow dare I give them a choice
how dare I not force them to sit down and shut up
how dare I let them tell me “no” and explain their reason why
how dare I, you know,
let them grow -
The Beautiful “No”
Bluebird and Mourning Dove love to play.
They play in the meadow.
They play near the pond.
They play around the tree.
One day Bluebird wanted to fly to the far away pond with Mourning Dove by their side.
When Mourning Dove thought of flying so far away their need for safety and security came up.
Mourning Dove began to feel very scared and very sad.
Mourning Dove said “I think the far away pond is just too far away for me.”
Bluebird grieved.
Bluebird really thought that flying to far away pond would meet their need for adventure today
After some time Bluebird had a new idea
“what if we fly to the flowery meadow?” Bluebird exclaimed
“that sounds fun for me!” said Morning Dove
So together they flew, just a little far away
That day they learned that it’s okay to say no
and by sharing their needs they found a new way to play
and that’s what we call a beautiful no
when we stand up for our needs
without saying mean things.
-
3-4yr olds (twice as much)
for every minute you’re teaching them
you need two
of play togetheringfor every time they look up at you
or come and find you
you need two
where you saw and found them firstfor every project you make them do
you need two
invented on their ownand when all eleven voices
are begging for attention
you need twenty two separate times
you offered them attention firstwhatever you ask of them
twice as much
you must giveand from whatever love you put in
twice as much
you will get -
it is the concrete we made
the flower picked at seven
is dead by eleven
& no fear
they pick another
picked for motheri don’t think humans were made
to walk single filethey reach for flowers
they run and trip
it is the concrete we made
that scrapes their kneesi don’t think humans were made
to walk single file -
he asked
will we live again?
i don’t know
i said
but there is some reason to think sohe waited
it’s just that sometimes when i love someone
i get a feeling that i am them
i just haven’t been them yeti have seen myself in clouds and trees
and, i know, i am not them right now
so, it seems, perhaps i have already beenand do you love me?
we askedand we don’t know
and will know
we will know
eventually -
maybe they won’t
sleep
or smile all daymaybe they won’t remember
a single thing I saymaybe their letters won’t improve
maybe their friendships will come and gomaybe they won’t listen
maybe they won’t line up
maybe they won’t sit down
maybe they won’t shut upand maybe none of that is so bad
at allmaybe what they, and all of us, need
is just a place to be
safe
and know
that there is space
for us and every feeling and every
every need
and everything we bring
into today
at least
they’ll know (I think)
that here, they knew
that they had space
for every feeling
and every need
nathanael.ink 