Favorite parts

Every night at dinner for at least the past year and a half or so, our family participates in what we call, "favorite parts". It evolved from the need to include everyone in the family dinner conversation because some had a tendency to talk more than others. Imagine that! Anyone can initiate it at any time during dinner or if we happen to forget, while we're cleaning up the dishes. We raise hands, take turns and each night we all think of at least one favorite part of the day. Sometimes we also recount our least favorite parts or "worst parts" as the kids like to say. But they each find it a personal triumph if they have nothing bad to report.


It provides us with time to share, and each part is usually a conversation starter in and of itself. There is also time to show our family solidarity. When someone is sick or has been wronged that will usually be their worst part and one by one we each chime in that their sickness or the great injustice is our worst part as well.


Yesterday after Lauren came home from school she was sitting and reading to me. She tired and so I finished for her and I realized that since she and John have learned to read, they'd done most of the reading and it had been a while since I'd read to all three. I pulled out an old favorite of mine and opened it to uncertain stares but once I started they were mesmerized.







These poems make me smile, laugh, cry, dream and imagine. I'm always astonished by the author's immense imagination and rhythm, irony and sense of play. It reminds me of childhood and that silliness is good and all things are possible. My all time favorite has to be "LISTEN TO THE MUSTN'TS" and I share it below:


Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me--
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.


And so yesterday, sitting there on our bed, cuddled up with my three little ones at the 4 o'clock hour that's usually the craziest of the day, that calm magical moment was most definitely my favorite part.