Prospect and Refuge
Our first Christmas here at Burbridge St. Geoff got me this book that described each home's need for both prospect and refuge. Spaces of refuge was easier for me to make sense of. Especially with little kids. The primal need for a cozy, warm embryonic space. A place to be warm and safe, nestle in. The prospect is the opposite, a space that is open, that has a grander, long view. This makes me think of the way my Dad would drink coffee at 1610, staring out the sliding glass door onto our backyard. It was like he was saying, "Mine, mine as far as the eye can see!" The view beyond our property was all farm, Wengert's Dairy.
The book talked about the importance of prospect and refuge within the home. I want to remember the refuges my kids create. Especially while they are home on Spring Break. Manny and Benicio inside this tent, they brought dozens of pillows in there ones from beds, couch cushions, too. Also, the purple sleeping bag, a few plush animals. They called it their "Huffy-Puffy Sleepover."
The girls refuges are also phenomenal. In their room, between the mini-recliner and the wall, there is a 2x2 sq. foot spot. The base is a big floor pillow,piled with 5 baby quilts, and then nestled in there are 2 baby dolls, a rag doll, a fancy ballerina doll, and then, I'm not even joking here, 15 books.
Calliope, at 2 yrs. makes much more itinerant refuge spaces, much more ephemeral. For example, behind my desk chair, she has a tangle of yarn, 2 pairs of pajamas, and quietly resting therein are her purple Croc, an irridescent mancala bead and 2 pre-chewed apple peels.
A few weeks ago, I went with a friend to a parenting seminar from the Rudolf Steiner tradition. One of the illustrations the presenter gave was this elaborate description of a scientist working in a CDC lab. Silently seated at his microscope, notating his findings. Then in juxtaposition, how would it be for someone to traipse into his lab and ask something as condescending as "Whatcha got there?" or disrupt his study by just cleaning it up with one swoop, disregarding the scientist's setup? Her point was that this is what play is for our kids. This was humbling to me. It taught me to look really deeply at their arrangements. To study and relish their habitats, the totally intentional placing of a baby-doll on a dishcloth, or a tiny seashell filled with water next to a plastic toy kitty, or a tangle of yarn as a cozy spot for some lonely marbles. Or even from a non-relational read on their stuff-- yeah, why wouldn't it make sense to recruit every single pillow in the house if you were going to have a sleepover?
The prospect is another story. I am still coming to terms with whether or not we allow balls in the house or jump rope. Clara makes me want to call Edmund Hillary's mother for advice. This need to check out the precipice, walk to the edge, a fascination with train tracks! Wish me luck as we embark on another swimming season! Yikes!
The book talked about the importance of prospect and refuge within the home. I want to remember the refuges my kids create. Especially while they are home on Spring Break. Manny and Benicio inside this tent, they brought dozens of pillows in there ones from beds, couch cushions, too. Also, the purple sleeping bag, a few plush animals. They called it their "Huffy-Puffy Sleepover."
The girls refuges are also phenomenal. In their room, between the mini-recliner and the wall, there is a 2x2 sq. foot spot. The base is a big floor pillow,piled with 5 baby quilts, and then nestled in there are 2 baby dolls, a rag doll, a fancy ballerina doll, and then, I'm not even joking here, 15 books.
Calliope, at 2 yrs. makes much more itinerant refuge spaces, much more ephemeral. For example, behind my desk chair, she has a tangle of yarn, 2 pairs of pajamas, and quietly resting therein are her purple Croc, an irridescent mancala bead and 2 pre-chewed apple peels.
A few weeks ago, I went with a friend to a parenting seminar from the Rudolf Steiner tradition. One of the illustrations the presenter gave was this elaborate description of a scientist working in a CDC lab. Silently seated at his microscope, notating his findings. Then in juxtaposition, how would it be for someone to traipse into his lab and ask something as condescending as "Whatcha got there?" or disrupt his study by just cleaning it up with one swoop, disregarding the scientist's setup? Her point was that this is what play is for our kids. This was humbling to me. It taught me to look really deeply at their arrangements. To study and relish their habitats, the totally intentional placing of a baby-doll on a dishcloth, or a tiny seashell filled with water next to a plastic toy kitty, or a tangle of yarn as a cozy spot for some lonely marbles. Or even from a non-relational read on their stuff-- yeah, why wouldn't it make sense to recruit every single pillow in the house if you were going to have a sleepover?
The prospect is another story. I am still coming to terms with whether or not we allow balls in the house or jump rope. Clara makes me want to call Edmund Hillary's mother for advice. This need to check out the precipice, walk to the edge, a fascination with train tracks! Wish me luck as we embark on another swimming season! Yikes!
posted by Maria at
8:52 PM
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