 Cozy bay window over a horizontal radiator ^ Our Mom taught us that
early childhood should be chock-a-block full of fun, interesting, educational, creative activities. Our dad tried hard to impress upon us the value of organization; that when every thing has a place to be in it saves time, and makes it easier to find when needed. He also taught us that a taut hospital corner bed cover is important, though I’m still not sure why. Tom Sawyer mom let us help her have fun loading wood from backyard pile to basement bin. We learned young, that daring to risk saying “I’m bored” quickly found us something to do, usually on the end of a broom or shovel. Ric and I had lots of laughs, Mom chasing, hitting us with wooden spoon, “waiting ’til our father got home”, to march down to the basement; which itself wasn’t so much fun. |
From our parents, we learned that cooking, cleaning and sewing, are not gender specific activities and there should always be an extra potato in the pot. I’m thankful to have apprenticed in almost every building trade in the shadow of my father. Our parents set in our psyche by example- that skin has no colour, that volunteering is part of life, that all education is important, that music soothes the soul, that sports are a healthy pursuit, that badminton is included, that public transit is a first option, that other’s idle hands get into trouble, that the outdoors are great, that religion is a spectrum, that nature is to be revered- not to be conquered,
that our family included those manywho shared dinner.
Most of all, our mom whistled while she worked even while scrubbing the kitchen floor weekly or more. What better life lesson could we have been given.  LR 2009.11.13  |