Simply Dreaming

Here we are. The three of us, babes and myself, huddled into one half of a king size bed. I'm home from work, late as usual. It's nearly midnight but since I can't find my book and light I'll record a moment and a thought... Both sleep so quietly, their daddy in the next room, aching before the next day begins too early and runs too late. The plans for us though are simple and slightly overwhelming in their open-endedness. And so in trying to overcome the anxiety of unplanned days I've found a new religion of sorts:

Simplicity. I've yet to be interested in parenting books since Bean was born but I've found one I'm addicted to. It's simple, un-ironically. Less stuff, less information and more free time helps kids figure life out at their own pace, in their own way. I think I've jumped on this particular bandwagon because I've always loved the simple approach to raising kids although I've felt guilty for it. The idea that boredom is a gift you give your kids might come across as mean and neglectful but I refuse to carry any more guilt for not taking them to more "socializing" activities. So far these kids are homebodies, happier to play with pine needles and bugs than go to a tap class or even school! Maybe I should be more terrified but I'm not. I love it and although it's beyond comprehension in this day and age to just let kids be I'm vowing to myself to do just that. Not that we won't do anything ever (God, I want to take these kids around the world!) but most days I am trying to keep it simple. I am getting rid of tons of unneccessary stuff (theirs and mine), I am turning off NPR and turning on Miles Davis, I am letting them explore their worlds and ask the questions they want to ask without prompting them, I am trying to live in their world without burdening them with my own. The trick is to still have my own space there somewhere... which is where a half page of the New Yorker and a cup of coffee come in. I'm learing to simplify my own life too.

So here we are, all nestled in bed "like a bird in a nest in a tree". My nearly five year old crisscrossed with my nearly two year old, both dreaming simple, beautiful childhood dreams.