I once had a teenage boy say to me “You’re cool. There aren’t too many cool moms.”
I wasn’t sure how to take that at the time or exactly why he felt that way. Is it my propensity towards tie-die, bandannas, and Birkenstocks? Or the fact that we could discuss issues of poverty and discrimination or the pros of industrial hemp? Or was it simply the fact I could have a conversation with a member of a much maligned group, i.e. teenage boys?
I hadn’t really thought about that in a while until this week when my eldest, Arwen 14, told me one of her friends was hoping to see me when I picked her up to say hi. She said “My friends like you, they think you’re cool.” Really??? Just a musing here again as to why. I don’t try to be cool, or fit in, or act like a teen. Maybe I don’t “act my age” of nearing 40, but what does that mean anyway? Most of the time I feel more like my 16-year-old self than not. (I often attribute that to the fact that I married my high school sweetheart.) Maybe it is because I see teens and try to accept them for who they are while thinking the best of them. Playful teasing and a dose of sarcasm seem to break the ice. And I am for the most part comfortable around them as well as being comfortable with myself.
Having a positive relationship with adults at all phases of development is a positive thing for individuals and society. I value community and all members in that community, teenagers being no exception. I guess kids appreciate that too as a six-year-old told me last week “you’re one cool mom.”
Bill and Martha Sears have eight children of their own which adds to their credibility in my view. They are strong advocates of attachment parenting which is based on building relationships of trust with your children. I consider many of their books to be the core of my parenting library.
This seemed like an appropriate first book to be reviewed on Mappy Hama! When I was given this book a few years ago from a friend, who knows me well, I fell in love! I have since given copies to my parents and each of my siblings who have often got a good laugh from my idiosyncrasy. (My Dad’s favorite is “a sterile spycase”-translation spiral staircase.) WARNING: a challenging read aloud for most people (my mother cannot read this book aloud!) but if you can do it what fun! The kids just giggle their heads off at Silverstein’s choice of words to spoonerize (reversing first letters/sounds of words). For example “his wamma mashed him with the clothes”, “he brought teanuts and some pea”, and “shrinking the dampoo”.
An 87 page book of short poems build Runny Babbit as a lovable, fallible character. Of course I identify with this sometimes misguided character, but I think your family will too. Silverstein illustrates the book with his usual playful manner, often adding to the meaning of the poems with his illustrations. It is a great exercise for kids of all ages to relax and listen and see if you can translate. When they “get it” they are so thrilled!
If you are fans of Where the Sidewalk Ends, A light in the Attic, Falling Up, and The Giving Tree as we are, (all highly recommended!) then be sure to check out Runny Babbit for it is a very Billy Sook to love.
* Just a note about Uncle Shelby’s ABZ’s–not for small children! I remember reading it as kid and not “getting” all–this one is grown-up humor.
