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.