Bringing up boys in Africa and the Universe
I must get the Mom Prize for Keenness, though probably not the Mom Prize for Choosing Age Appropriate Toys. Yesterday I bought the boys a small world globe for their bookshelf, and for the walls, two posters: a big, colourful map of the world and an awesome depiction of the planets in our solar system. Every mom believes that her kids are geniuses. But I have to admit that Scotty probably doesn’t really get it, just yet… You know, the whole concept of planetary revolutions around the sun. It’s possibly a bit much to expect at eleven months. Of course, Cam doesn’t really get it either, though his questions are insatiable and of universal proportion – like, ‘Why is the world hanging in space?’ Hence my choice of geographical and cosmic bedroom décor.
Cam kept asking me to show him South Africa on the globe, which made me really look at the little blue ball – this tiny picture of what is, in fact, a tiny planet full of billions of tiny people in a tiny galaxy amidst a vastness that is inconceivable and beyond words. I thought as I pointed out what is the tiny continent of Africa, ‘Right now a tragic crisis seethes in Libya, and all over Africa the catastrophes of disease and malnutrition are rife, and the terrifying consequences of poverty and oppression and violence and injustice. And we’re a handful of the millions of tiny people that are part of that, and party to it, and I thought, God is big and we’re here for a reason, and man, is there work to be done.’ And I wondered, ‘How will God use our sons for his glory on this tiny ball we call Earth?’
God, bless Africa.
Guard her children.
Guide her leaders.
And give her peace. – Anglican prayer
‘The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.’ – Deuteronomy 29:29
Bring on the peaceful zzzz’s…
Plato said, ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.’ So, be kind, should you run into us this week, because we have begun the battle of what is called, in parental pop culture, ‘sleep training’. If you’re more comfortable with OBE-speak, here’s what we’re doing:
Outcome 1:
By the end of this module, the learner (Scott) will be sleeping through the night.
Assessment Standards:
1.1 The learner is able to find his giraffe blankie in his cot upon waking at night.
1.2 The learner is able to cuddle said giraffe blankie without screaming for the educators to supply him with milk.
1.3 Should the learner really be thirsty during the night, he will be able to find his water bottle in his cot and drink appropriately.
Educators’ guide:
Remain calm at all times. Persevere with the goal in mind. Remember what life was like when you used to sleep for eight hours every night. Remember how much more clearly you could think, and how much more productive, creative and patient you were. Pray.
Bits of beauty this week
Yesterday morning Cam told me he was going to make a worship team. He dragged his bongo drum up to the piano and convinced Maria that she was the pianist, while he drummed enthusiastically. I think God must surely smile at Cam’s fervour. He asked me the other day, ‘Why did Jesus make me amazing?’ J (We’re working on his modesty.)
Other lovely things blown in by the August winds…:
Cranberries, jasmine, Namaqualand daisies, Seattle coffee, nuggets of meaningful conversation, the free gifts of BBM and WhatsApp, Cam drawing a picture of a face for Granny – something he couldn’t do a month ago (big yay for OT!), holidays, good doctors we love and trust, Scott ‘talking’ in whispered mingled vowels and consonants that sound so sincere and so astute, Cam saying ‘Mom, you’re my precious lady’, the guarantee that Spring is almost here despite what plunging temperatures intimate.
‘So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead…’ – 1 Peter 1: 6
Picnicking at Nkwe...
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