A friend of Jennifer's posted this bookmark about community building that I thought was really good (click on it to enlarge). The only thing it didn't list was in order to build community 1) get a dog 2) have a baby. Have you noticed if you are walking with a dog or child, people feel much more open to talk? Or perhaps you are even more comfortable talking with someone with a pet or child. There is something about that added life that makes us want to connect with their realm. I have noticed drastic changes in our mini walks around the block from Ivan's pre-walking days to now.
Before Ivan could walk, we often took him in a stroller around the block. This would transform a most upset child into a serene angelic creature that amazed the neighbors. We often chatted with people on the way and noticed the houses, changes to yards... Even with all that it would take only 15 minutes at most and we would walk more elsewhere or take our peacefully sleeping baby home.
Now, walking has become a big ordeal. Take our walk of a couple of days ago... It included: 3 mini conversations with neighbors, two of which stopped specifically to greet Ivan and (oh, yeah) the parent, 3 sticks to sweep the ground with as mom said "please, come on, I'm leaving, Let's go", about 50 pieces of trash, barking contests between Ivan and every dog he spotted, about 15 kisses to the neighborhood cat who followed us until she found some spilled pancake mix, three times chasing Ivan down as he ambled into people's yards to get more trash, 2 little battles trying to get him to hold my hand as we crossed the street, one conversation as Ivan wanted to visit Big buddy Griffin who is not home, but in the hospital, another to convince him to leave the toy in the neighbor's yard and not play anymore, about 10 pecans, an hour of time to "walk" past the 50 houses, about 10 minutes of that separating trash from minute pieces of leaves or grass, which Ivan is very careful to leave on the lawn. I don't notice the yards much anymore apart from seeing trash, glass or other hazards, but Ivan is very proud of himself for all the work he has done, picking up garbage and sweeping the ground, exploring his surroundings and making all the animals know they are not missed either. I gain a satisfaction as well as I notice our cleaner street, knowing that that trash will never again have to be picked up or marr our landscape. At the end, we get a good hand washing.
5 comments:
Sounds like a busy little beaver keeps you focused on what is safe and what is not. What will you do when it's 100 degrees or more in the summer?
It is very conscientious of Ivan to clean up the whole neighborhood. Does he do the same inside the house, too?
Wow--what an organized and particular little man. I'm looking forward to taking a walk with him!
I had to laugh when I read that to build a community you should have a baby. I cannot believe how many people I have met in our small town since having Kellen (just 2 weeks!) At the grocery store, the doctors office...everyone stops to say hi and ask about the baby. I've had a hard time not feeling at home in this town, but Kellen may change that!
Come summer, we will live at the pool! Well, I'm not sure if we will be going to the public pool much since we'll have just added the little one, but we have a baby pool I'm sure we'll use about every day.
And no, Ivan doesn't pick up as good at home, but he is learning and getting better at it. We are trying to get in the habit of putting up one activity before we start another!
Harrison loves to clean up too and help around the house~laudry, windows, floors, shoveling, vaccuming and dusting! From what I hear it wares off well before they are teens, so let's enjoy it now! Eventhough those walks don't get us much exercise walking at a snail's pace, it sure makes a mom's heart warm with pride doesn't it to watch them experience everything for the first time and figure things out! And all the attention and "he's SO beautiful" comments don't hurt our pride either do they?!
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