mamoore

mamoore
Location
Michigan,
Birthday
December 13
Bio
At my best, I try to be a voice for children. At my very best, I help them find their own voice. ************************************ We don't accomplish anything in this world alone...and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something. - Sandra Day O'Connor * ************************************

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Salon.com
JANUARY 31, 2010 9:42AM

Good News Sunday: Dancing to Her Own Beat

Rate: 35 Flag

 

This morning, I was reading froggy's post about her wish that her daughter could hold on to the imaginary world where she often lives.  It's a beautiful piece and reminded me so much of my own daughter, Alice.

Alice is seven, a little elf of a girl.  It's hard to describe her in words because she is in constant motion - usually involving some kind of outfit change.  One truth about Alice is that she sees the world with wide open eyes, eyes I'm trying to rediscover for myself.  She feels the world with her soul and sometimes that poor soul gets stepped on.   

As I read froggy's post, I thought about a series of pictures I took of Alice last fall.  We were all busy doing something important and none of us noticed that Alice had slipped out onto the deck alone.  Five or ten minutes had passed before I glanced up from my computer and saw this... 

 

                          one

 

                           two

 

                            three 

 

                             four 

 

                           five

 

                           and six

 

It was a few minutes before she even noticed I was watching her through the glass.  Alice has never had a dance class in her life, but that doesn't stop her from believing she is dancing on a magnificent stage. 

I'm trying to learn from her. 

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family, good news sunday

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ah to remember to be students of how our children see and experience the world...beautiful post Melissa, as I would expect of course. Thanks for sharing this slice of time and life. xo
One of my children was a little fairy child like your Alice. I've learned so much from her and now, at 22, she still carries that air of lightness and curiosity wherever she is. This is one of the many gifts of children...the way we learn from them. Thanks mamoore...I love this.
Melissa... Oh, here's to Tadpoles, Tinks, and Alices, dancing to their own music. We need them in the world, don't we? So lovely. And that you caught this dance... well, that's a treasure.
Seeing the world through the eyes of of a child. . . That's part of what keeps us young at heart. So glad you could capture those pictures and share with us. Lovely post.
~R~
The goose bumps are dancing right now all over me! I loved this...simply because it reminded me of my own children when they were smaller. As a matter of fact, my almost 10 year old son still pretends a lot like this! I love their freedom, spirit and innocence. I will miss the day my youngest stops pretending. I already miss the countless times I would look outside to see picnics, playing and other joyful scenes on MY deck. Great post!
Ah, to be young! Lovely!
Why it's a wee Isadora Duncan! A lovely study in pink. We should find something with feathers and join her out there.
bbd- wish i had your photographic skills at moments like these!

mary- I hope Alice doesn't lose her "lightness" either, mkaes me smile everyday.

CK - I thought of your photo of your daughter while I was uploading these, they seem to share a bit of the same magic.

Fusun - Glad to share a little bit of Alice's spirit with you all.

patricia - It feels so amazing when we get these little peeks into their inner world, doesn't it.

steve - I agree!

greenheron - Oh yes, totally Isadora! I do join her every once in awhile, when the neighbors aren't looking.

JK- Don't you love the scarf on the head? Her teachers always say her fashion sense brightens up the classroom. Come dance with her on the sand dunes, it's the best stage ever!
Oh, Alice is a tiny dancer. And your world with her must feel like Wonderland sometimes. Rated for daughters are magnificent. Yours today, especially_
How Beautiful! I love these posts. It is great to have that call to remember how awesome our lessons from them are.
I ADORE Alice. Love this post. We can all learn something from following her example.
I believe it reflects on the parents when children are free to express themselves and explore that imaginary world. I have some early memories of that feeling of awe looking up at a tree -- but I quickly learned to keep it to myself.

Here's to Alice -- dancing for all us old children. Such a beautiful post about your little fairy girl.
So beautiful! Thank you for the words and pictures.
From the mouths of babes, and from their dancing feet.
Joan - yes, they are magnificent, even in their darker moments!

next - those little guys do have a lot to teach us if we're ready to learn.

Lisa- she adores you, too!

skeletn - I think it's still there in you somewhere, just waiting for the right moment to come back to the surface.

Eva- I should have guessed you would like this one.

jimmy- I'm hoping she doesn't grow up too fast!
She's beautiful, mamoore, and what a great dancer, and what fantastic photos.

Why can't we do this as adults? We're too busy worrying that someone is watching.

Thanks for reading about Miss Tadpole. I'm also trying to learn from her, trying to slow down and join her world.
I need to learn from her, too. This post is great, it reminds me of when my two were little like this and so wide open to the world.
I love this! I'm newish to OS & have posted about girlhood. I'd love to have you stop by!
Children teach us a lot. Beautiful child. :)
Alice...I want to be like her when I grow up! Delightful, mamoore...xox
I loved this so much. To be that free, that innocent again. I was one of those children and sometimes, just sometimes I catch a glimpse of my child of long ago.
This just made me happy to read!
What a lovely post. One of my boys lived in an imaginary world for his first 13 years, and it makes me sad to see so many of his "props" go unused now that he's 16. He had "guys" and stuffed animals and of course weapons--sticks, stones, broken things--and now they all sit, gathering dust. He loves to read and draw, so I think his imagination and fantasy has just become a bit more interior. Still, I miss that window into his world.
Ahhhh. We should all remember to dance with such abandon! Lovely.
YES! Her magic shines through time and space Ma, she is a pixie of wonder. I love to borrow my daughters eyes at times to remind me of my own...we all are indeed sacred.

Good in every which way including Sunday.
ahhh, I loved froggy's post too - what a great idea to extend upon that. Thanks again for the pictures with your stories. I always look forward to reading your words and hearing more about your family.
She's got killer fashion sense. She and my mother would have a grand time shopping together.
Charming, charming, charming. And lovely.
That is the essence of one of my favorite parts of parenting . . . the chance to see the world through a child's eyes again, and to treasure it. Marvelous addition to Good News Sunday.
I just came home from an afternoon ice skating with Alice, where she is almost as graceful as she is dancing on the deck...

froggy - I hope some people hop over to your post. I loved it!

fishing - I hope it will be a lot of years before I have to look back and say "remember when..." but the way things work that may not be.

caroline - I'd love to read what you've written.

sweet - I know you love them, or you wouldn't be a kindergarten teacher!

Robin - Me, too!

lunchlady - glad Alice and I could bring you some joy, you deserve it. Alice loves her lunch ladies.

lainey - I think drawing is a great way to get a sneak peek into the interior world- does he share his art with you?

M. - so true, I wish I still could.

Sparking - I bet your daughter sees some pretty amazing things.

Heron - Thanks, I keep thinking I should write about something else but family is what I know best.

surly- Her fashion sense blossomed as soon as she was able to dress herself, I rarely make her change what she choses because her outfits always make me smile. I'm sure she'd love to do tea with your mother.

Lea- thanks!
What a treasure--to be given this glimpse into her love and pleasure. You are making many of us miss those younger years!
Owl - even spending just a few minutes trying to see things they way they do does wonders.

Donna- I loved your post about your daughter and her clothes, too. Our 9 & 11 year olds are already reaching out for more independance, kind of fun and exciting to watch and sad at the same time.

mypsyche - Someday that will be me, missing this moment. Good reminder to pay attention while I can.
I am fully and completely in love with Alice
1IM - I pretty taken with her myself. Maybe we can work out some kind of arranged marriage between her and one of the Things...as long as you promise to do the wedding cake and provide me with a life time supply of baked goods.

Juli - thanks!
What a lovely post. Don't you love watching them when they don't know you're looking! :) She is beautiful.
Yes. Thank you. After we grow up, we often have to relearn how to be a child.