Sung to the tune of Ode to Joy (Beethoven's ninth)
Written and sung by my oldest, age 5, no really age 5, just turned in October. I didn't even know she knew the tune well enough to make up words to it.
It is Christmas time and
Santa’s coming in his tiny sleigh
I get presents and a stocking
We will op’n them Christmas day
Santa’s coming with his reindeer
Santa’s gonna bring me gifts
Now the tree is all lit up and
Christmas time is really neat.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
I have been caught in the big lie.
My oldest is getting excited about Christmas. We have taken her to see Santa. We have tried to answer all the questions she has like: How does Santa know if I am good? How do Reindeer fly? How does Santa know what I want? Do the elves really make My Little Ponys? And the big one, how will Santa find me if we are at gramma’s house? Yes we have all of the pat explanations, and of course it seems to be working. “Be good or Santa won’t bring you what you want” She has been pretty good.
We have been caught. She was looking at a picture of her with Santa from last year. She recognized that the Santa from last year is different then Santa from this year.
“Daddy, how can Santa be different?"
Uh oh, now what?
My oldest is getting excited about Christmas. We have taken her to see Santa. We have tried to answer all the questions she has like: How does Santa know if I am good? How do Reindeer fly? How does Santa know what I want? Do the elves really make My Little Ponys? And the big one, how will Santa find me if we are at gramma’s house? Yes we have all of the pat explanations, and of course it seems to be working. “Be good or Santa won’t bring you what you want” She has been pretty good.
We have been caught. She was looking at a picture of her with Santa from last year. She recognized that the Santa from last year is different then Santa from this year.
“Daddy, how can Santa be different?"
Uh oh, now what?
Thursday, December 08, 2005
I have had a hard time writing this post. I am don't think I am articulating what I want to say. Please comment.
One of the things I have been struggling with as a dad is to ensure my kids have a good perspective on life in general. I see so much damaging stuff in the world, and while I would love to insulate my kids from that, I know I can’t.
I want goodness for my kids. I want my kids to choose good things over bad. I want my kids to be good kids. I don’t mean things like don’t be criminals, even though I hope that is an end result. What I mean is much subtler then that. I mean avoid things that are damaging to your self, or other people. Avoid humor in mean things. Don’t find humor in bad things.
Things should make you happy. Not just giddy on the surface, but at a core. Things you see and do should add to your general well being. Stuff you see, do, and choose should add to your happiness.
How many times do we see things that are meant to be humorous but are really insulting? How many times do we find humor in others misfortune? Does this contribute to your deep down core happiness?
I work with someone is has the knack for finding the worst in something. She always has a off-putting wisecrack or negative comment around whatever announcement, project or whatever is going on. There is always a comment of how awful a project is, or how no one but her knows the reality of a situation. It gets tiring.
Why not talk of the good things in a project, or let whatever hassles and troubles slide away?
When I was in college, I sold buttons for some extra spending money. Most of the buttons I sold were political, cool pictures, or famous people. I had one that said “Study Naked.” I was showing off my buttons to a woman who was a Quaker and peace activist. I had a lot of respect for Peg. She was not only a talker, but also a doer. She went to El Salvador to walk with people who were in political danger – to essentially be a human shield at a time when people disappeared with no trace. When Peg saw the button, she told me “that is not a good thing, you shouldn’t sell it.”
This made an impression on me.
My mother had made similar comments during my growing up. When I came home with a new record album or t-shirt with a smart alec comment, She would ask me “is it good?” It took me a long time to figure out what she was asking. Not, is it cool, not is it high quality, not is it fun, but does it have a goodness about it. The opposite of is it crude, mean, or insulting. Is it peaceful, loving, generous, kind? I am also not talking about the warm and fuzzy feelings, this is just to trite. I mean the deep down contented happiness.
One of the things I have been struggling with as a dad is to ensure my kids have a good perspective on life in general. I see so much damaging stuff in the world, and while I would love to insulate my kids from that, I know I can’t.
I want goodness for my kids. I want my kids to choose good things over bad. I want my kids to be good kids. I don’t mean things like don’t be criminals, even though I hope that is an end result. What I mean is much subtler then that. I mean avoid things that are damaging to your self, or other people. Avoid humor in mean things. Don’t find humor in bad things.
Things should make you happy. Not just giddy on the surface, but at a core. Things you see and do should add to your general well being. Stuff you see, do, and choose should add to your happiness.
How many times do we see things that are meant to be humorous but are really insulting? How many times do we find humor in others misfortune? Does this contribute to your deep down core happiness?
I work with someone is has the knack for finding the worst in something. She always has a off-putting wisecrack or negative comment around whatever announcement, project or whatever is going on. There is always a comment of how awful a project is, or how no one but her knows the reality of a situation. It gets tiring.
Why not talk of the good things in a project, or let whatever hassles and troubles slide away?
When I was in college, I sold buttons for some extra spending money. Most of the buttons I sold were political, cool pictures, or famous people. I had one that said “Study Naked.” I was showing off my buttons to a woman who was a Quaker and peace activist. I had a lot of respect for Peg. She was not only a talker, but also a doer. She went to El Salvador to walk with people who were in political danger – to essentially be a human shield at a time when people disappeared with no trace. When Peg saw the button, she told me “that is not a good thing, you shouldn’t sell it.”
This made an impression on me.
My mother had made similar comments during my growing up. When I came home with a new record album or t-shirt with a smart alec comment, She would ask me “is it good?” It took me a long time to figure out what she was asking. Not, is it cool, not is it high quality, not is it fun, but does it have a goodness about it. The opposite of is it crude, mean, or insulting. Is it peaceful, loving, generous, kind? I am also not talking about the warm and fuzzy feelings, this is just to trite. I mean the deep down contented happiness.
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