Yesterday was Annika’s first day of pre-school.
Oliver missed her.
Then both parents went for a “short” bike-ride in the woods.
Papa got a flat: they had to walk back, with no cell service.
It was over 2 hours after supper, the children waited, slowly unraveling.
I asked the 3 year old what he wanted to do.
“Read stories about horses from the iPad” he answered.
Two nights ago, we did just that, after swimming.
He almost fell asleep leaning against my shoulder on the couch listening with father and sister.
His loved ones were in place. All was right.
But last night he and his sister had to fend for themselves.
No couch, only teasing, worrying, giggling, screaming, hiding and rebelling.
I unraveled.
No couch, no cuddle, no parent, no story before bed.
I just got home from detox in the Berkshires.Two days without the internet. Slept better! Rested! Communication more lucid! No deadlines!
Here is what I noticed!
Oliver’s Genuine Golden Tones
Blurb welcomed me home with these details on how to write for children:
In the words of Kurt Vonnegut: “Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.”
Vulnerability inspires sympathy in a reader, and is an effective way of generating interest in a protagonist. But it’s even better when a character begins to learn from those situations, becoming stronger and less helpless.
Children and adolescents are naturally fluid; they grow both literally and figuratively from month to month.
Children are always experiencing situations for the first time—their reactions will likely be clumsy, unpolished, and very genuine.
everything really does seem larger when you’re very young.
Kids can be great characters because they’re a bit awkward. There’s nothing like a lost kid to stimulate empathy with a reader. For example, fourteen-year-old June loves to secretly dress in boots her uncle bought at a Renaissance fair and an old play costume before going out to the woods and pretending she’s in the Middle Ages. June’s an unpopular kid, an oddball.and her eccentricities highlight one of the best parts of being a kid—the ability to be yourself before anyone tells you it’s wrong.
The best children’s books have stories and characters that are relatable and visually memorable.
Please go to this link, if you want to read by yourself: http://www.blurb.com/blog/writing-illustrated-childrens-books?subscribed_to_blog_newsletter=yes
Vibrate vibrant voice!
Lock on eye contact: gesture!
Memorize pace/rhyme!
Went to Open Mic for Poets @ the “Wok’n Roll” Cafe in Woodstock, NY.
The costumes were outstanding.
The practicing to perform well was evident.
Mimes accompanied the repertoire.
Those who knew how, closed their eyes to grab each sound.That brought in imagination,
the glitter show of spoken poetry.
What a rush!
Feed the hungry. There’s plenty for my brother-my sister.
Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine
Hold fast to good
Show honor
Be ardent in spirit
Patient in suffering
Persevere in prayer
Contribute
Extend hospitality
Bless your persecutors
Weep with the sad
Live in harmony
Overcome evil with good!
On Saturday,
we heard the giggles as the Taoist group emerged from the car.
They came 3 hours up to Hudson NY to celebrate and share their lunch.
Innocents sharing lunch.
Honorables listening.
Patiently holding hunger.
The purity shined in their eyes.
Then on Sunday,
the 5 year old lifted her 3 year old brother;
presented him to the camera as
a celebration of trust, brotherhood and nurturing.
The Vibrant Channeled Creator 