The Boy Teacher and the Father Student #81; “Asking the Question Teaches Us”

“Hey dad what are the periods of time?” “Son I have not studied that in years. My bad. Some of them are like such; Time periods for plants, time periods for geology and man’s time table. Now some of these go against the notion that God created the earth in so many days. But remember God could make you a billion years old without any trouble on God’s part.” “So what are you really asking about?”

So as life progresses and this boy is now ten years old (yikes – double digits, and some of you have known of him for 6 years or more) we are hard pressed in complexities. His interests include everything. He gave me a political spiel the other day which is not in line with his parent’s thinking. I of course asked him to justify his notion. Of course he could not, he was parroting. Scary stuff as thoughts not evaluated can turn into beliefs.

B: Dad what do waxing and waning mean?

F: Hihihi. Getting bigger and getting smaller. Or polishing your car or growing old. But I know you mean the moon.

B: How did you know that?

F: Because you could care less about cleaning the car and you say I am already too old.

B: Come on what does it mean?

F: Why don’t you just look it up on the Internet?

B: Dad!!

F: Ok but check this out, it is all an illusion. It is one of those things that are egocentric to man. We say “the moon is getting bigger” which is waxing. And we say “the moon is getting smaller” which is waning. Now we know that is BS, the moon’s size does not change. Only what we see of it changes shape and size.

B: Are you trying to confuse me on purpose?

F: Yes. And egocentric in this use means we think things all revolve around our perception – get it, I used revolve like the moon revolves around the earth and on and on.

B: Oh, I get it. Waxing is like getting to the full moon and waning is like getting to “no moon”. But not if you look with a telescope. But saying “naked” eye always makes me laugh. And now I get egocentric. Why don’t they just say centered on man? Don’t answer.

F: No more space exhibits for you. Remember last year at the astronomy thing at school it was rainy and cloudy and you could still make out some stars with that huge telescope they had?

B: That was so cool.

If we hold someone down by thinking we are doing them a favor to talk “down” to them we are the losers. Foreign languages may be an exemption here and maybe up to toddler – but if you Pidgeon or baby talk I will find you and slap you. Words are not to be kept in a treasure chest under lock and key. They must never be reserved for those who “understand” them. Words are a stepping stone to enlightenment and Love.

Don’t get me wrong here. A real loving hug is worth a thousand “I love youses”. Maybe, or maybe not go hugs a homeless person today. (take my word for it, 99% would find it offensive, maybe not families in cars)

So we do the game. The idea is to make as many faces as you can. And the other side has to get what it means right and then you move on. The winner is not the loser in guessing but the one that did it well enough for the other side to guess right. (yes it is an honor code game)

B: Dad check out my Haiku here.

F: What?

B: I wrote a Haiku about Mohamed Ali. For my Black History month project.

F: Didn’t I tell you that ten year old boys are not even supposed to know that word? Didn’t I tell you not to become a writer like your dad?

B: Very funny dad, but I saw your face and eyes when I told you, you were excited and happy.

F: I will have none of this insolent skullduggery in my home!!

F: Now read it to me, do not show it to me. It is difficult to give proper inflection and cadence reading Haiku aloud.

B: “Very Very strong – Wins every competition – very very quick.

F: Awesome. Did you know that Haiku has 533 rules to follow?

B: Poetry does not have rules and there are not 533 for Haiku. “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.” See it’s famous but no rules.

F: So your teacher taught you that? Interesting and reassuring. Poetic Anarchy.

B: Don’t explain what anarchy means – boring.

F: It means no rules.

Life just keeps rolling along and sometimes it is best to step aside until that old steam roller goes by. Observe and do not interrupt even in your mind. (that is some tough meditation) So this next segment is me trying on several occasions. Throw into this mix, climbing on cliffs, of course the house and learning how to use a knife after instruction. Dad, observe and stop the conversation in your mind. Just relax and find that joy in another. Not even taking pictures.

And so it goes like this:

B: Check this out dad, I set it up to where I can get on the roof in fifteen seconds. Going down takes longer. Watch.

B: Dad I can catch that snake.

B: You are too old to climb this rock.

B: I am going to fry the eggs this morning.

B: Look dad you have a warm shirt and sweater on, I just have this T-Shirt.

B: My buddies and I play slam to the mud. We see who can push someone down in the mud.

B: Rico has to wear a funny cast thingy, he hurt his ankle playing basketball.

B: Alma’s mom let us play nerf gun wars without safety glasses on. I think she was too busy.

B: You told me you used to jump off the roof into a pile of leaves, what should I jump into?

B: You said that I could do “whatever I want to, free time”. I am going do my Ipad for two hours.

B: Dad you just made a mad expression with your face, it will grow that way, hihihi. But you are not supposed to say anything for ten minutes and you did with your face.

B: Watch while I throw this dart up in the air as far as I can and have it stick in the target.

B: How much money does mom make? Joel’s mom makes 100 thousand a month.

B: I know it is really cold but I am going to take a shower with the hose.

Well the boy is still alive with all appendages still attached and working just fine. And so it hit me that I just might have interfered by giving him rules – like we do not do with poetry – yet. This old chap said that “Obedience of the law is the greatest freedom” I think Abe Lincoln. When I drive right around the speed limit I feel more relaxed, go figure.

But all that begs a higher question of the religious and civil “obedience”. Not to mention, “do not break your leg” obedience. But if we do not “let go” then how do they really learn. Now try to just observe on those two issues.