As a working family, the end of the day is a tricky time. By the time we’re in the door most nights it’s nearly 6. Then there are the necessary tasks of dinner, making sure Pip’s homework is in the appropriate stage of done-ness, baths and then bed no later than 8. Not a lot of time to carve out meaningful family moments.
On good nights we are able to create a fabric of time where those connections with them are interwoven in all the ‘task’ type stuff that simply needs to be done.
Last night upon walking in the door Pip asked if he could use the computer, Hopper asked to watch a DVD and momma, not a fan of screen consumption, said “not right now, why don’t you go into the sunroom and play”. “Play?!?!” says Pip. This word challenges him to no end because if there isn’t a screen or specific task laid out for him, he feels very uneasy. I walked out to the sunroom with them to offer tantalizing things such as big paper on the easel, or perhaps a game. I spotted this book that I’d snagged at a rummage sale a few weeks ago for ten cents. I handed it to Pip and said “hey, check this out. See if there’s anything in there you want to make” and since he was without major protest, I retreated to the kitchen to cook.
Within minutes, much to my surprise, he’d identified a project and was ready to get cracking. Bean bags. Very nice. We talked about how felt would probably be best considering the materials we had at the ready (read: not many since the studio/office is yet to be unpacked …gasp…). We discussed woven fabrics and unraveling and once he was convinced we were heading in the right direction, we got down to business.
Pip, a creature of rules, again surprised me by going against the grain of the book and choosing a square. I never grow tired of watching him learn to be flexible and creative.
Hopper got in on things too, she wanted a heart shape which I happily cut out for her. Pip was very concerned about her wielding a needle, but to his relief she got frustrated rather quickly and abandoned her heart with requests that I finish it up for her. Under different circumstances, I would have taken a little more time and helped her work through it, but I was going between the stove and the two of them, so gave what I could trusting there would be other opportunities.
Black beans, a quick paper cone for a funnel and we had two bean bags. They spent the rest of the time waiting for dinner squealing with delight and making up games with their new bean bags (with a few pit stops for minor repairs).
I’m surprised at how much easier things are when I let go a little, when I let myself be flexible in the path I’ll take to reaching my goals. The path to dinner was winding and went in circles at times, but in the end we were fed, they were happy with their new toys that they helped make and we succeeded in weaving in our basic family needs for nourishment of body and mind. I’m not sure I could ask for much more.
How wonderful! It sounds like a very successful evening was had by all…..
[...] 2010 by dani poppins Hopper found this book on in the sun/playroom and fondly remembering our evening of bean bag making, asked to make another. I snagged my stack of neglected felted sweaters and we [...]