There is something magical in an unexpected fit of giggles. Our family was driving home in the dark, collected together after another busy week night of various activities that had us spread all over town. And for some reason, Bob had decided to introduce Moon Unit's old "Valley Girl" song to the kids. So it was predictably funny when 2 year old Stella, who barely talks at all, picked up on "Oh my God!" with all the appropriate inflections and said it over and over again. Maybe that's what had us primed.
But then,being the responsible people we are, of course, we all decided that we should take this opportunity to get seriously quiet in the hope that Stella would fall asleep. Soon Bob broke the rule and said something to me. Stella, having been listening to all the shushing and rule making said sternly, "Daddy bop. I zeep." And Sophie said, "Yeah, Daddy. Bop. Stella's trying to zeep." And for whatever reason, that sent us all like dominoes into uncontrollable giggle abandon. We couldn't stop laughing the rest of the way home. There was no sleep to be had in that car. Not a chance. But everyone's so happy in those shared giggles, that it suddenly seemed a much better idea to stay awake. Together.
I had just come from the first parent meeting for Opal's Museum School pre-K and kindergarten programs. During this event, the parents were asked to create gifts to surprise and delight their children when they returned to school in the morning.
The PK parents created "fairies of the forest" :
which the teachers will hide here:
So the children will feel loved and cherished and inspired to tell stories here:
in the coming days of school.
Parents also wrote wishes for their children to hold dear while they're apart:
Intentionally planning for joy means recognizing the power in a moment of uninhibited giggles, and taking care that a new learning community has plenty of it. I can't wait for the children to discover their new treasures.
But for now, I'll bop. I need some zeep.
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