Each Wednesday (or thereabouts) I’ve been recording a Curiosity Journal to recap the previous week using these tag words: reading, playing, learning, reacting and writing. Sometimes I mix up the order, just to keep you on your toes.
Care to join me?
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Reading
Concerned that my kids are ignorant of current events, I announced that we should at least be aware of headlines. In response, two of the girls moaned. “Oh, Mom! Do we have to? Can’t we please just talk about the highlights of our day?” One of them even flopped her head against the table.
Sorry, kids, but the world is far bigger than the goings-on of our suburban cul-de-sac. Tonight, we’ll begin reading the paper together—starting with headlines and brief summaries.
They are thrilled, I tell you. Just thrilled.
Writing
Yesterday’s description of Sunday mornings at the country church where I worshiped as a tween and teen seemed to hit a chord with people.
Learning
My 11-year-old son has been making cornbread, in search of the perfect recipe to submit to our church’s chili-and-cornbread cook-off. His plan is to make several small pans for the family to try, and we’ll keep comparing and ranking until we arrive at the top pick. He has not asked for any help from me.
“Where are you getting your recipes?” I asked.
“Online,” he said. “I like ‘Food.com.’ Have you heard of it?”
“Oh, yes,” I said, impressed with his resourcefulness. “I use it a lot.”
“Well, I like it because I can change the number of servings and it automatically recalculates all the ingredients. I don’t have to do any math! It does it for me!”
I never noticed that feature. I’d prefer that he practice his math, but I have to admit, it’s a clever tool.
To experiment, I pulled up a random recipe—somebody’s sweet cornbread recipe, to stick with the cook-off theme—and sure enough! Just under the word “Ingredients” is a gadget with arrows. After clicking on it, I can type in another number and “update” to the new measurements.
I might try it, because to be honest…I don’t like doing the math either.
Playing
My eldest daughter, a high school senior, is preparing for a couple of photo shoots. First, her sister and I will try our hand at some shots. If none of the them turns out to her satisfaction, we’ll hire a pro. But it’s fun to try first. This weekend is our last big effort before calling in the experts.
I’m gathering ideas for poses and props on Pinterest. Some are pretty silly, I suppose, but I pinned them anyway. Teen girls like to pose.
Reacting
Writing that story about my early days of faith makes me wonder what life stories I might tell…and, more philosophically, I wonder what stories need to be told?
At the same time, I must also ask what stories need to be left alone.
How do you decide which is which?
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Feel free to “pin” in a way that links back to this post.
“Can’t we please just talk about the highlights of our day?”…Good for you, sticking with world event highlights! Could it be we’re in such a sad shape because far too many of us focus on US. As in, it’s all about ME…which it isn’t but try telling that to someone who thinks only of themselves.
Great summary of our human/cultural tendency (it’s all about ME)! I’m forcing them outside their own world. But I can’t say I’m perfect–I do my share of navel-gazing. So this is good for all of us.
I’m having trouble telling my stories lately, so your last question hit home. Really thinking about that question. What a cool thing your kiddo is doing with the cornbread! Sounds like a very independent young man. I think I might suggest to my church that the might consider such a contest…perhaps it would motivate the two bodies who take up space in my kitchen to be more productive :).
Really? Seems like your stories flowwwww so easily. I’m trying to discern about the stories. Maybe some need to be told, but not necessarily publicly. While others do need to be shared with a broader audience to connect and free people? I don’t know.
And the church competition is a funny thing–a great excuse to share a meal.
I usually check with Cooks.com, but your son’s site Foods.com sounds great. Stories to tell, if there is s life’s lesson, go ahead.
I wrote a story sometime back about our two boys shooting marbles at the neighbor’s yard and breaking a window. My youngest daughter commented, I am glad I wasn’t the only bad one! It wasn’t true, but she had more interesting stories to tell. Those will be in book two, after Robert and I married. In book one, I was thinking today about some I left out, and probably it was for the best. I should not disillusion my readers too badly.
That’s an interesting guide, Hazel: “if there’s a life lesson, go ahead.” Thanks for sharing that.
Love that last question, Ann. Both last questions, actually. What to tell. What not to tell. As always, I love this weekly post!
Thanks for your note, Diana!
To tell or not to tell, that is the question.
Also, on the topic of current events, a free resource to consider: NPR’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” Saturday morning news quiz. Humor helps it go down easy. The thing to remember is that sometimes the real new is racy (remember Anthony Weiner?), but you get it in a family-friendly format.
Great idea! I listen to that on Saturday mornings, and it’s a fun way to reveal what I’ve paid attention to, and what I’ve missed. (Also…good reminder about the racy news, or horrifying news.)