Who’s the leader the next day?

Leader of the day. It seems to work at preschool – a five-year-old and two three-year-olds qualify as a day care facility, right? So when the time came that we all got big enough to race to the bathroom sink to wash hands before lunch and “discuss” whether we were watching trains or Little Bear, I knew I needed a strategy. Leader of the Day was born.

There are completely comical times where it seems we cannot make a single decision without knowing who the leader is. Despite the fact that there are three children in the house, there are only three of them and the pattern is pretty easy to pick up – R, C, G, R, C, G, R, C.... My sweet rascal boy C thrives in the knowledge of this system. With the coyest of smiles growing with each question, “Mom, who’s the leader today? Who’s the leader tomorrow? Who’s the leader the next day?”

There’s a certain feeling that comes over you as you patiently answer each question. Again. The expectedness, the security, the reassurance.

Right there in that empty space.

I readily admit, I am having a blast reading "Charlotte's Web" to R. "Mom, mom, are we reading a chapter tonight?" The excitement about reading thrills me. So, a child's path to reading starts with picture books -- it's all about the pictures. They look at a bright, colorful picture, parent says the word, they learn to say the word...but it's all about the picture. They progress to books with storylines, still driven by pictures. They start to memorize the story, using the pictures as prompts.

For our clients, we as graphic designers look for that balance between text and images to create a particular story as well. Time and time again, we educate the uneducated in the use of "white space" -- ahhh, that lovely part of a page. But, hey, if a client is paying for the paper and the press to print on it, well, there's room right here for another picture or blurb about so-and-so getting an award, right?!

"Charlotte's Web" is not full of pictures. It's the start of the pleasure of reading and being able to visualize it yourself, use your imagination to fill in the details. Every so often, the publisher has thrown in a line drawing, and R really enjoys when one comes up. "Is there another picture?" No, not yet. "But they could have put one, right there, right there in that empty space."

With any luck we can turn this "bad client" around before it's too late...

I’ll just marry someone to do the dishes.

Ah, it started out innocently enough. R, the 5 yr old: “I wish I was a grown-up.” He had woken up after half an hour by a bad dream; came downstairs and saw me reading a magazine. The glamour of grown-up life. He then talked me into some grannilla (granola) and I promptly returned to my dishwashing duty. We talked about all the responsibilities that come with being a grown-up and the myraid of fabulous things about being a kid. So, yeah, he basically got the don’t-wish-your-life-away schpiel. I did include that, like me, if he was a grown-up he would still be awake doing things like working or the dishes. “I’ll just marry someone to do the dishes.”

Houston, we’ve got a BIG problem...!

the tipping point

I never really defined myself as having an addictive personality. But upon reflection, maybe I should. Because now, I can't seem to get enough.

It all started innocently enough. Sister leaves book at other sister's house. Hey, read this and then we can take Mom to the movies. So the temptation and desire started with another form of media — the moving picture. So I blasted through the first book. Kept picturing Tom Hanks, but that was okay. Saw the movie. Enjoyed — but I think only because of the other form of media — the printed word.

Fast forwarded through book two. Returned borrowed book club book to neighbor — loan time approximately 2 1/2 years. Hey, the twins were babies! Mention what has happened to my dear journalism-degree friend. Another book club book dropped off (why is everyone else in a book club??). Almost didn't even need a bookmark for that one.

Perhaps it's the timing. Son #1 is learning to read. Read. Oh my gosh! I know how to read! I learned how to read for fun a LONG time ago! This huge epiphany occurred. I absolutely love reading fiction. It feels so invigorating to me right now. I'm transporting myself to all these places and characters' minds and, wow, what an escape. What a tipping point.

Speaking of which, I'm heading downstairs to pick up my next read.

"That's okay, Mom, today I'm being really flexible."

When it happens it's just magic. Concepts. We've been working on them. One at a time making our way through different words, different concepts, different actions. Flexibility was the key word a few weeks ago. We haven't moved on to emphasize something new yet; I've been a little preoccupied...more on that later. For some reason son #1 R, who is just five, likes to have you trim his toenails so that they are barely hanging on and he can pull them off. A matter of control I suppose because as any parent knows all small children really are in charge. So tonight I clip one and it comes off completely. Oops, sorry about that R. "That's okay, Mom, today I'm being really flexible."

Today it's toenails, 20 years from now let it be something equally as significant in his life.