Friday 9 December 2011

Generation To Generation Part 2 - The Power Of Joseph Campbell

The Best Things In Life Are Free
Photo Credit claritywithlaurenlarsen.comWhen I think back to my childhood, I hear vinyl. Yellow Submarine, The Gambler, and Soolaimon... I hear the Teddy Bear's Picnic by Anne Murray, and Old Blue Eyes singing about how he did it his way. I hear my daddy singing along, and making everything feel like musical theater. And when life is unkind, or confusing, .... or awesome, these are the songs I hear. Strange as that may seem, it is merely a testament to how my love of music was cultivated by my parents from a time before I can even fully remember.

I intend to provide an abundance of culture for my children, both musical and otherwise. I hope to pass on the wisdom of my experience, with openness in general.

Perhaps here in lies the real difference between parents of the distant past and the more modern parenting philosophy. That we should do our best to conceal our true nature from our children, shelter them from the ways of the world, has become a thing of the past. Now, more often than not, parents say they will discuss sex openly with their kids, talk about drugs, discuss the relevance of outside religions, recognize the rest of the world a an extension of our own, and not as a far off land where starving and injustice don't matter. Again, perhaps, I will use music as a vehicle to bridge the gaps before us. Yes, I think so.

Read The Book, Listen To Your Life's Soundtrack, To Your Child, The News..... I Think You Will Agree!

There are many works by Joseph Campbell that a more than worth reading... I have read many and recommend you joining me, however I am giving just this one, "The Power Of Myth" a glowing recommendation right here and now, and for very good reason. 
This interview with Bill Moyers it is the most comprehensive overview of Campbell's opinion that the youth of today need "Myths To Live By" (another wonderful book of his). I have given this book to so many people over the years - hoping to convey a message that is also the point of this blog.
Mr. Campbell, in all his brilliance, discusses how present and future generations have difficulty finding fellowship with antiquated religions. Never undermining their significance, he points out how irrelevant the stories, of the commonly ascribed to faiths of the world, are to the fast forward lives that people live today, and the problems that modern people now contend with. It makes sense to me to think that young people now lack structure in their beliefs and so create their own order in the form of gangs, and cults and, less obviously, in their own psyche. 
As an interesting side note; it is not that commonly known, but George Lucas created Star Wars because he knew Campbell, and agreed that a modern mythology was needed. Enter the 'Force'.
It is my contention that if our future generations need icons, and idols, and words to live by, then we should actively try to find a way to provide them with a foundation. 
Well, what better place to look than in the form of music? If we look to the soundtrack of our lives, there just might be a platform of understanding how we, their role models, became the people that we are. They may see our mistakes, and our misgivings, but they will also see our passion, our style, our battles, and triumphs. Blueprints in melodies, if you will.
Read the book, listen to your life's soundtrack, to our children, to the news.... I think you may too agree!


Read my whole article at http://www.squidoo.com/the-importance-of-passing-on-the-best-music-generation-to-generation

Thursday 1 December 2011

Elway's Advent Day 1- Stages Of Acceptance

My son got to have the first chocolate from his advent calender this morning. We bought it at the farmers market before I went to the Santa Claus parade on November the 12th . That means that I have been pestered for the yummy chocolate contents, for 18 days until this morning.

Ahh. Sweet relief, right?

Think again.

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Elway just woke from his unusually short nap. He walks in the room, all bed headed rubbing his eyes.

Elway: Momma. (His words are snippy.) I am up and it's a new day. Could I please have my chocolate calendar?
Me: Oh, Bubba... Daddy and I told you earlier. One a day. You have only just had a nap, so you still have to wait until tomorrow.
Elway: UGGGGGHH!

He stomps out of the room with his hands on his hips. Stops. Turns around and marches right back in.

Elway: Momma!!
Me: Yes...... (I shoot him a look that lets him know he needs to watch his tone with me)
Elway: (Sugary & with a big smile) May I please have a chocolate? I had a nap like a good boy and I think it is tomorrow AND I am right!

I laugh (I can't help it) and his smile disappears.

Me: Bear, honey... it just doesn't work that way. Just because you think it's tomorrow doesn't mean it is.
Elway: Yes it does mean!!!
Me: You mean, it is mean... right?
Elway: No... I'm not mean, you are!
Me: No Bear, I didn't say you were mean, I said ... oh nevermind. You aren't mean. I am not mean. Capiche?
Elway: No. You get me a chocolate and I am capiche.

He has this look on his face like he is going to explode.

I shake my head 'no'. He twists his mouth while his wheels turn on a new plan. He leaves the room.

A minute later I hear curious noises, but I am nursing Isla and don't want to get up.

Me: Elway??? What are you doing??
Elway: Nothing!!
Me: Really? I am coming in there....
Elway: Ok, ok... I am not doing anything..

I go into our room where up high on the tall dresser his advent calender is out of reach. I can tell from the blankets that he was pushing futilely on the bed to try to get on the dresser.

Me: Elway. You cannot climb up there, Honey. it's too high and dangerous. I don't want you to try that again. Do you hear?

I receive a rather sour expression and it is accompanied with a stomp out of the room again. I resume nursing Isla (whom is crying from the interruption of course.)

A good 5 minutes later I am done nursing. He has been very eerily quiet. He walks calmly into the room, and puts his hand on my back and cups my ear with his other hand to whisper: His intent is to be very, very menacing.

Elway: Momma... do you hear? Let me make you understand. If I don't get a chocolate from my calender.. I am going to make mashed potatoes from your toes. Capiche?

I laugh out loud. I don't want to.. I want to tell him to go for a time out, but OMG it's too funny!! And now he is furious...



Elway: WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME???
Me: Oh, Bear.. you are not having any more chocolate... oh, you are too funny... I am sorry..
Elway: I AM NOT FUNNY, I AM SCARY!!
Me: I know you think you are.... (I gain composure now...) but you can't scare me. Go for a time out. You cannot threaten your Mommy and get away with it.

His hands are on his hips.

Me: Go now or else I will not let you have your advent calender at all.. If it is going to be a problem, then Daddy can have your chocolates.
Elway (Starts cry-talking on his way to his room) I tried to give Daddy a chocolate this morning... BUT YOU... YOU wouldn't let us eat more chocolate!!
Me: I know you tried to share with Daddy...but Elway, that isn't what advent calenders  are for!
Elway: (I think he says) Are they for happy boys to eat??
Me: They are for happy boys, once a day, until Christmas.
Elway: OK.....(still crying)... do I have to stay in time out? I was just joking!
Me: Oh, you were, were you?
Elway: Ya-huh!!
Me: Yah? Well I don't think so. 2 minutes time out.

After about 30 seconds.

Elway:  (Yelling but nicely) Mommy??
Me: (Speaking, because he is only ten feet away from me and there is pretty much never a need to yell to be heard in this house) Yes?
Elway: Could I have an Arrowroot?
Me: Yes... in a minute after time out.

A minute and a half goes by. And I get him and he comes to the kitchen to retrieve his Arrowroot. It's in his hand.

Elway: Mommy? Can I ask you a question?
Me: Sure.
Elway: Would you like to trade me my Arrowroot for a Chocolate?
Me: No.
Elway: Just asking...
Me: Yeah... I know.

And I have how many days left of this?? Oh right... 23. I really have to go shopping now!