The boys read a great deal, and, for the most part, I they read whatever they like, but occasionally I shepherd them into titles that they wouldn't select for themselves. I contend there is some value into being forced to expand a bit outside your comfort zone.
In the past, the titles I have chosen for them included Jules Verne's Mysterious Island, William Golding's Lord of the Flies and Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. Last week, I asked Alex to read Neil Gaiman's Newbery Award-Winning Graveyard Book and Michael to read Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. They both enjoyed their assignments; Alex staying up past midnight to finish, and Michael enjoyed it so much that asked if we could watch the movie. I was very agreeable to the request, if only to reinforce the good experience, so I downloaded the 1973 version from Amazon, and told him he could invite the neighborhood kids for a screening.
Kami, Suzanne, Patrick and Jane came over and watched the movie with us while feasting on popcorn, junior mints and root beer; a good time was had by all. However the highlight of the evening for the kids was the 20 minutes of ghost in the graveyard at the conclusion of the film. They were screeching, laughing and hollering in a manner that would best be characterized as joy. Some of the best things in life are the things that aren't planned like the chaotically organized backyard games at the end of day, or the book that you were asked to read.
RAP (6.26.2009)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Triumphant Return
Sunday afternoon, Alex was helping sand and paint the bench that sits in the front walkway; when offered the opportunity to join the endeavor, Michael declined, and I can't blame him. It isn't something I would want to do either, but Alex seemed to enjoy it. Later that afternoon, Michael decided to open up a lemonade stand, and when asked to become part of the enterprise, Alex chose to forgo the offer.
That lasted about 8 minutes, until Michael came storming home because he had sold out his first batch. It seems that Michael had chosen a very good location and a very good time to hawk his golden citrus beverage of a bygone era: the Memorial was ending, causing a stream of people to exit Muirfield, and Michael wisely chose to place his business where the people were. When Alex witnessed the success Michael was having, it was as if he heard a call to arms and he jumped right into the melee. They sold lemonade as fast as we could make it and had a line of people waiting when the lemonade pipeline ran dry.
As alike as they are they are, they are different people; Alex likes to accomplish things and enjoys success; he wants to see the new bench, smell his fresh cake and see a line of customers. Whereas Michael craves a specific type of success: he is most happy when he makes a vision of his reality. He doesn't want an editor for Kool Kid or Jack the Ghost Hunter; he wants to tell his stories, his way. On this day, he wanted to be a barker successfully soliciting people to his "home made" lemonade stand, and living what he envisioned is what made him happy.
What brings me joy is that they are there are becoming their own men, but are able to align and leverage their desires and skills in a common cause; speaking of which, they are already planning what they are going to do in the late Saturday and Sunday afternoons during next year's Memorial.
RAPatton (6.10.2009)
That lasted about 8 minutes, until Michael came storming home because he had sold out his first batch. It seems that Michael had chosen a very good location and a very good time to hawk his golden citrus beverage of a bygone era: the Memorial was ending, causing a stream of people to exit Muirfield, and Michael wisely chose to place his business where the people were. When Alex witnessed the success Michael was having, it was as if he heard a call to arms and he jumped right into the melee. They sold lemonade as fast as we could make it and had a line of people waiting when the lemonade pipeline ran dry.
As alike as they are they are, they are different people; Alex likes to accomplish things and enjoys success; he wants to see the new bench, smell his fresh cake and see a line of customers. Whereas Michael craves a specific type of success: he is most happy when he makes a vision of his reality. He doesn't want an editor for Kool Kid or Jack the Ghost Hunter; he wants to tell his stories, his way. On this day, he wanted to be a barker successfully soliciting people to his "home made" lemonade stand, and living what he envisioned is what made him happy.
What brings me joy is that they are there are becoming their own men, but are able to align and leverage their desires and skills in a common cause; speaking of which, they are already planning what they are going to do in the late Saturday and Sunday afternoons during next year's Memorial.
RAPatton (6.10.2009)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Campfire Tales
Yesterday was last day of the school year, and the boys celebrated with their annual end of the year camp out. The excitement has been palpable as they have been planning each detail in recent weeks. They made the invitations, drew up the guest list, planned the menus, prepared the activities and even thought up and rehearsed some shenanigans. You may worry about them missing out their lives while looking forward to something so strongly, but the thing is, the joy in the anticipation far outweighs the night of s'mores and ghost stories with Kami, Suzanne, Jane and Kai the way I see it. Of course, I am knee deep in planning our annual 4th of July celebration even now.
RAPatton (6.5.2009)
RAPatton (6.5.2009)
Monday, June 1, 2009
Life of the Party
In a continuing effort to broaden the boys horizons we took them to not 1, but 2, big time concerts last week. On Thursday night we ventured to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They are a band that are going to popular for years to come, and looking forward, there attendance at this concert should impress their friends when they start getting into music in a few years. Originally, I wasn't going to take them, but they sold out the Newport in 6 hours and the show was bumped up to the LC, an out door venue; I wasn't really pleased about that, but I decided to make lemonade by taking the boys with us, which I wouldn't do to an indoor venue yet (in order to protect their ears).
On Friday night, we returned to the LC to enjoy Jane's Addiction; whereas the Yeah Yeah Yeah's are a band of this millennium, Jane's Addiction is an important staple of the last one. The boys both thought the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was a better show, but Michael had a great time at Jane's Addiction; he was dancing with people, and, in general, was the life of the party. People were telling us what a great kid he was and wanted to shake my hand at the end of the show because of how cool our Michael was. It was a pretty amazing thing, because even though they liked the music and the performances better at the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Michael was able to broaden his world by reaching out to people, and manufacture his own very good time.
RAPatton (6.1.2009)
On Friday night, we returned to the LC to enjoy Jane's Addiction; whereas the Yeah Yeah Yeah's are a band of this millennium, Jane's Addiction is an important staple of the last one. The boys both thought the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was a better show, but Michael had a great time at Jane's Addiction; he was dancing with people, and, in general, was the life of the party. People were telling us what a great kid he was and wanted to shake my hand at the end of the show because of how cool our Michael was. It was a pretty amazing thing, because even though they liked the music and the performances better at the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Michael was able to broaden his world by reaching out to people, and manufacture his own very good time.
RAPatton (6.1.2009)
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