inhale...exhale...relax your shoulders...repeat as often as needed

Monday, December 3, 2012

Stewart's Kickstarter project

a vintage holiday postcard from 
Stewart's collection

When we had a houseful of four small children, we had very strong ideas about how to raise them. (Ask them, they'll confirm that!).

Some of the basics?

-Play outdoors. A lot. 
-Notice and appreciate the Natural World.
-Read. To yourself, aloud to your siblings, and to your parents. Under the covers, sometimes with a flashlight.
-Draw, cut, paint, write, sing, dance, pretend.
-Hold hands around the table before eating as a family.
-Do your chores without being reminded (hmmm...).
-Co-operate whenever possible. Negotiate when necessary.
-Be compassionate. Be inclusive. Be fair.
-Remember that you always have a choice, and the choices you make always have consequences.
-Try hard to do your best, especially when that feels daunting.
-The most important words we shared with them? PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

All these many years later, we have a flock of grown, young adult children who are capable, fascinating and delightful to be with. Oh, and just nerdy enough to be interesting in the best possible way.

Stewart, our oldest, is a high school history teacher. You may remember when he launched his blog, Artful Geographic, a while ago. He is now in the midst of a really fun project over at Kickstarter, a fabulous "funding platform for creative projects". Have you ever checked them out? (I love the many ways that the internet has created alternative economic venues).

Please take a minute today and look at Stewart's project. As I watched his video, I couldn't help but remember the little boy who collected bugs in a jar, loved to write plays with his younger sisters and read late into the night with his flashlight under the covers.

5 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for your support, mom! I love Kickstarter as a democratic funding platform for creativity!

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  2. I just went to the site and donated 200
    but the confirmation was unclear and it said that that premium was no longer available...
    please check to see if it went through
    ....I have had this problem with kickstarter before.....
    good luck

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    Replies
    1. Ahhh, I see what happened, someone got the one $200 level that I put on there, and so it wasn't available when you tried to get it, Suz. I didn't anticipate such generosity! I will add another reward level right now for you if you would still like to contribute. I am so grateful. :-)

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. You can be proud and you must be happy!!

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