Playfulness is a discipline. Yesterday my nephew (3yo) had a birthday party. His parents rented a massive blow-up obstacle course for the party, and over 15 kids (aged from 3-8yo) from around the neighborhood came over to celebrate -whether they were invited or not. All the parents were there too, but none of them seemed interested in engaging with the kids in play and laughter.
In a world of fear, uncertainty, and doubt I try and make a point to actively pursue things that are an outright resistance to modern cultural trends. In a world where kids play and parents have half-baked, surface level small talk, my eyes see the playfulness of a child as resistance. Their imagination and ignorance of the world outside of that blow-up obstacle course gives them, for that moment, a Joy no other parent had that day. I learned from them, and from the start of the party I joined them in play -being the only adult to chase them on the bouncy obstacle course, rough-house, and share wonderful moments with the kids. I had an absolute blast. Here were some of the sweet, and heartbreaking, things they said to me as we played:
"A," a boy maybe 8, asked, "Can I hug you? I'm so glad I met you."
"C," a girl maybe 5 said, "I'm going to pretend that you're my dad!" She was one of the few who's father wasn't present at the party, and my family drove in from Houston so I don't know about any of these kids.
"H," a boy maybe 5 asked, "Do you live here? Am I going to be able to see you again."
"E" a girl maybe 8 said, "You're out of this world!"
For remembrance, I only allowed them to taunt me by saying, "nanna-nanna-boo-boo," since some of the other words they were using to provoke me [playfully] were not kind. And since they refused to call me by my name, and again used unkind names, I allowed them to come together as a group and give me a name that wasn't mean and that parents would approve of....they named me "Warm Butt." 😂 I could tell that they respected the ground rules of kindness (in speech) and gentleness (with the younger kids, or ones intimidated by roughhouse).
