Try reading a new book.
Try inventing something.
Try a day of saying only “yes,” or only “no.”
Saying only “no” would hardly be trying something new—which is the mandate for their entire elementary school. In lieu of any other homework, your assignment is to try something new and see where your natural curiosity and passion take you. It’s not for your parents to figure out and force upon you.
Uh huh.
In theory, yes on top of yes, with yes sauce. I’m all for it. Follow your bliss. Only why must your bliss always involve me? Carving roses out of strawberries? It’s not happening with a spoon. Want to take a guess at what my beans want to try each week?
Watching a new movie.
Playing a new video game.
Buying me a new app to try.
Anything that enables them to live on cruise control. So unless they’re learning about the three-act structure of storytelling in film, watching a new movie as homework ain’t happening in Mama’s house. Though, I’ve gotta say, that’s a fun idea. Giving them a pad and paper, play a new movie, with the pause button at hand. Then, I could #TryItTuesday by teaching them how to craft a story, what elements are needed and when? If I were to suggest it—rather than guess, here it is:
“Hey, would you want to for next Try It Tuesday watch a movie, where I can show you how the screenwriter created the story? Like, what things it must have and when? Then the week after that, you could even create your own movie story because you’ll know all the secret, hidden moves needed to tell great stories?”
Lucas: “Deal. I like it. Though, can we go bake something now?”
Abigail: “That seems really boring to me.”
Phil: Much the way one coughs “bullshit,” there’s Phil upon hearing me pose this to Luke, coughing with a manufactured “Lame” sneeze.
And so the antagonist is born.
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“Lame?!”
I’m genuinely curious to hear what Phil had suggested to your children for #TryItTuesday.
(I’m so sorry, Stephanie.)
Here’s a fun game suggestion:
Mom: ““Hey, would you want to for next Try It Tuesday watch a movie, where I can show you how the screenwriter created the story? Like, what things it must have and when? Then the week after that, you could even create your own movie story because you’ll know all the secret, hidden moves needed to tell great stories?”
Dad (sneezing under his breath): “You are AMAZING!”
Mom (glowing): “And let’s have daddy be a contributing editor!”
Kids (excited): “Yeah! Dad….what do you think if we have _________ as the main character?”
Dad: “Let’s do it! I tell you what – Abigail and Luke – get your papers and pens and let’s all go to the park!”
Mom to dad: “I’ll get the paper and pens and crayons…you get the wine and the (fill in with cheetos, watermelon cubes, cantaloupe, Carrots and ranch…whatever), the blankets and let’s meet in five in the car…”
Kids, mom and dad….”YES!” Everyone scurries to do their thing . Don’t dally.
Meet in the car – go to the park. Let them play! Parents participate! Canoodle, the two of you! Swing on the swings, slide on the slides, laugh, chuckle, ponder, develop characters and character with your beans.
Fun, creativity, modeling kindness, and a truly meaningful something Try it Tuesday ensues.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
3 teens’ mom: I do genuinely wonder *why* Phil did that, fake-sneezing while saying “lame,” to Stephanie’s suggestion. Like, I truly want to know what drove that behavior, that action. What causes a spouse, a parent no less, to *do* that to his partner in life, the mother of his two children, all of whom heard him degrade her like that. I’m actually *not* making too big a deal of this. It *is* a big deal, and one I’m so curious to know the reason behind, the REAL reason, the one deep in Phil’s mind that made him choose unkindness in this incident (and in the “Wow, you’re such a martyr” jab). WHY (1) purposely hurt your spouse with words (i.e., emotionally and verbally abuse them) and (2) do so *in front of your children?* HOW are either of those two actions ever justifiable, ever?
(P.S. If any of the answers to my above non-rhetorical questions start with the word “Stephanie…,” then it’s definitely not one that will address the heart of what I’m asking; quite the opposite, in fact. Ownership is *not* a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it’s endearing, a sign of growth, a sign of true self-awareness, and the first step toward a real partnership.)
I’ll never understand why your readers feel they have the right to weighin on your relationship with Phil, but that’s just me. I’ve not visited in a while as life gets in the way but I have sure enjoyed catchingup on your blog Stephanie. The return of someof your more personal posts and your writing as of late feels like coming home. Thank you and all the best you you,Phil and the Beans.