Of course, these are the inspirational words of the famous leader of the Civil Rights movement that changed an entire nation's attitude toward an oppressed people. It occurs to me that perhaps I should dream a little bigger.
Sometimes I miss thinking. I recall a time when I had opinions, some of them even informed ones. When I think back about the things I used to enjoy debating they now seem to me as insignificant ravings of an ideallistic youth. After all, there now are more pressing matters to occupy that brainspace. Like pondering anew how to convince the children that sweeping the kitchen floor is important. Discovering new ways to distract the two year old enough so I can get that stubborn jam off her face without a 10 minute scrabble on the floor with plenty of screaming and feathers flying. Or, debating the merits of spaying the cat over letting her yowl her way into our REM sleep until she can eventually have plenty of kittens we would enjoy for 6 weeks and then would have to give away as birthday presents to all of the children's friends.
Many people will tell you that parenting is a very important job and they are absolutely right. Nurturing the minds, bodies, and souls of the next generation really will change the world. And therefore it is an absolute priviledge to be entrusted with the task of scraping the hairy, sticky spots under the kitchen table that these leaders of tomorrow create as they eat their daily bread. My five year old daughter said it best as she scrubbed the lunch dishes the other day and gabbed, as she always does, with her imaginary housewife friends. " Ya, we don't think of anythin'. We just clean, clean, clean." This isn't entirely true, of course. Parents agonize endlessly about what methods, foods, lessons, experiences, chores, media influences etc. etc. will benefit their child's character. I have found that this really does give parents an opportunity to seek out that which is good in this world. Occasionally though, it is refreshing to think about things that have nothing, directly, to do with your children. And this is what I sorely miss at times.
And now some words in praise of Facebook. Often people will post pictures of cute little animals saying mischievious things and these will make my gooey brains chuckle a bit. And I welcome the ridiculous diversion. But, at other times people will post articles they have read (not the ones about the Kardashians) about the art community, human rights issues in any number of places in the world, innovations in ecological technology and many, many other topics that involve thoughtful people exploring this world. I have learned many things in readily available, digestible snippets posted by passionate friends and acquaintances. Some of the most interesting and thought provoking of these come from people who do not share my worldview at all and yet have crossed my path enough to become my 'friend'. So thank you, Facebook, my lazy man's encyclopedia of humanity. God seems to use the internet, and so do I. ...He also has been known to have used books, conversations, sermons, nature, music, art, television just for those who would be quick to point this out.:)_
I'm actually getting near the end of the bent-over slogging portion of my life as a parent with my youngest soon to be turning three. I'm at a time in my life when it seems that nurturing a "Mom(adult)culture" in my life seems possible and not just one more good thing that doesn't fit into my endless list of duties. Always seems like you're doing too much yet never enough. (and of course I already miss the tender baby days. :)) Time to look up, all the way up, and re-evaluate which thoughts matter and are worth pursuing. Dream about what my family and I can do to live fully and with purpose in this world.
I gon start by finishin ma book The Help. (Can't stop talkin' like that Minny)
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