Occasionally, I glance at the insights from the DRC website. I have no earthly idea why this post from exactly 9 years ago when we were brand new and still above the thrift stores on Main Street, is consistently one of the top-viewed blog posts each month. Taking a critical look back, besides a few necessary tweaks here and there it holds up well. So with that introduction, I present... "Have a Popover Froggy!" 10/27/2015 I realized while I was walking Saturday morning that my head was up - I was transfixed, actually engrossed, by the newly bare trees, the multicolored leaf-covered forest floor, the little bird (nuthatch?) flitting from tree to tree, the clouds scuttling across the sky, the small delicate hoof tracks along the side of the road, the black swirling water of the stream, and the raucous, flock of geese flying overhead. I was not consciously paying attention to my footsteps - at all; walking was entirely automatic and seamless. At that moment, I fully comprehended the concept of trust. My mind trusted my body (Or, is it the other way around?) to negotiate the many obstacles that are all part of a dirt road to get me to my “turn around tree” and back home safely. This “a-ha moment,” as always, was immediately translated into thoughts about my everyday experiences with the young people at Deep Root Center. Even though trusting each child's intrinsic motivation, interests, and desires is at the very core of our philosophy and methodology it hadn't cemented into my psyche until that moment. Expecting and, yes, believing that each child inherently knows what they need goes against every cultural message of control and direction that we have heard our whole lives. These memes have become so ingrained in our society that even I sometimes find myself questioning (worrying) what other people will think when they witness or hear about the slightly chaotic, community-oriented, unstructured, and interest-based daily activities at DRC. In those moments of worry, I want to direct, lead, demand, or even curb my students away from their natural tendencies of self-direction. Before I go any further, I want to explain that the title (quote) comes from one of my favorite cultural reference points, The Muppets-Frog Prince, circa 1972. Even though Sesame Street and The Muppet Show were two of my childhood staples (And yes, are the basis for most of my cultural reference points), I had never heard of The Muppets-Frog Prince until my kids were young. Mike's family had the record album from childhood; Ian and Kenzie begged to listen to it at least once daily. We quickly adopted the Evil Witches line, “have a popover froggy,” when she tried to stop Kermit the Frog from exposing her evil behavior, as our humorous way of saying, “Be quiet” or "Hush up.” “Have a popover froggy” has been my daily (possibly hourly) silent mantra to remind myself to step back, get the hell out of the way, and hush up when I am interacting with the kids at DRC. With this new understanding of trust, I am now even more intent on discovering and exploring additional means to foster and support all the energy, ideas, movement, creativity, and pure genius that swirls around me every single day, that will not only sustain and nourish the kid's educational experiences but will offer me the opportunity to grow and learn, as well. Stay tuned for the individual stories that will document our collective narrative about those moments of success when everything clicks and those tales of our experimental and exploratory attempts that did not quite achieve what we hoped for. At the end of every day, each learning experience is not only invaluable on its own but also within the context of every other moment that surrounds it. * The YouTube link to the Frog Prince Movie I provided in the original post 9 years ago has been removed because it is owned by Disney. DRC News This past week was a bit of a blur - time just keeps speeding up... The Pop-up Crew had a great time at the Massena Library & the Nicandri Nature Center. A huge thank you to the SLU Women’s Lax team for coming out for Make a Difference Day and spending their Saturday morning cleaning, organizing, raking, and lifting & hauling.
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Freedom and responsibility, to some folks, may feel like polar opposites; however, they are inextricably linked when you live in society or are a part of a community. Yes, you have the freedom to make choices that are best for you, but within your personal decisions, you also have a responsibility to the whole. Bound by that, your personally held beliefs are yours. Your choices can be based on those convictions; however, you cannot force them or the repercussions on anyone else. It is the very definition of society. At DRC, we trust each student member with tons of freedom. They are each in charge of their education and, with our mentoring support, get to decide what that looks like. Nevertheless, we also hold them accountable for how their decisions may affect others. In this diverse environment, we are all reminded daily of how our personalities, needs, wants, and behaviors can bump up against others, and are fodder for conversation when they become a point of conflict, uncomfortable, or unsafe for others. Oftentimes, all it takes is a quick reminder or a few moments in a quiet place to reset and regulate. Other times, when harmful choices are set on repeat, and dysregulation is the default mode, it involves creating firm (non-punitive) boundaries that, at first glance, may seem restrictive within this environment where freedom is innate - but in the long run, are vital pieces we have put in place to model and teach accountability, collaboration, respect, and kindness. Freedom, responsibility, and diversity of individuals can coexist when given equal importance and nurtured with loving boundaries. And when everyone is celebrated for who they are and what they bring to the group. DRC News It was a wild energy week full of kitchen and art adventures at DRC Canton. Oh, and we discovered via our porch cam that we have a fairly regular "stinky" visitor. Hopefully, he restricts his visits to nighttime and early, early morning. The DRC Pop-ups met at the Massena and Norwood Libraries this past week. Thanks again to the Potsdam Food Co-op for inviting us to collaborate at their Open House last weekend. We had a great time watching kids get creative. We look forward to future opportunities to team up.
This past week, it felt like my only luck would be bad luck. Two things hit, one right after another. The first was learning that someone had been viciously, maliciously, and spitefully cruel with potential repercussions. It felt like a gut punch upon discovery. The second incident was actually physical. I dislocated my shoulder for the sixth time while lying in bed and reaching for my earbuds from the stand. Yes, it's that easy now — just like a fun 3-D puzzle. Unfortunately, my arm and shoulder muscles seize up, making it harder to put back in. Thankfully, the ER doctor was very experienced in the manipulation that does not require sedation. On Thursday morning, I woke up anticipating the third thing - the feeling of impending doom was visceral. You all know the cardinal rule: "Bad things happen in threes." Then I gave myself a stern talking-to, asking - "What if I anticipated three good things instead?" After this many years on earth, I know, without a doubt, that whatever energy I send out will be returned in spades. I know the Universe can distribute the shitty stuff - but She also delivers the excellent and awe-inspiring, too. And to be clear, I also greatly appreciate all of the 'just' OK stuff - as long as it comes with no drama or sensationalism. With that insight, Thursday and Friday at DRC were exceedingly pleasant. We had a great time connecting with each other, building relationships, sharing our interests, working quietly on independent academics, creating art, playing outside, and cooking delicious food. Some of us even sorted and organized the toys and the overflowing closet in the Seedlings Room. Also, just to update you, my shoulder is fine (when you dislocate it this many times it is pretty much 'business as usual' with very little pain) - the challenge is keeping it in place. Here's to all the good stuff coming our (your) way - with the understanding that bad shit does happen - it just doesn't need to be predestined or expected because of some age-old superstition (sorry, Great Grandma). DRC News Thank you to the Potsdam Food Co-op for inviting DRC to collaborate this weekend (both Saturday and Sunday from 11 - 2) during their annual Open House. We have pumpkins and gourds for kids to decorate, as well as a table full of arts and crafts supplies for kids of all ages to imagine and create to their heart's content. If you missed us Saturday - come on out and meet me and Janine there today. The Co-op has also graciously offered to help us fundraise during this two-day event. Photos this week from DRC-Canton & the Pop-ups The Pop-up Crew had a great time at the Massena Library & the Nicandri Nature Center this past week. They even met a few reptilian friends. You will find two fresh designs from a new series in the DRC Printify shop. We will be retiring a few designs over the next month including "Digby of DRC" & "I read the DRC Blog." If you have been waiting to get them - better buy them now - they will be gone by the New Year.
Yesterday was a gorgeous autumn day for our Fall Craft Fair and Family Fun Event. Between vendor fees, the raffle featuring items donated by the vendors, and general donations, we raised $438.00, which directly benefits all of our student members. The DRC Staff & Board would like to offer the following thanks. Thank you to the thirteen vendors who participated; we are grateful for their support and patience. They committed earlier this summer and then had to endure a rescheduling due to the storm in August. Thanks to Norwood Village for hosting. The village park provided a perfect venue for our event, and thanks to the firemen who brought tables down the stairs from the municipal building. The Deep Root Center families who helped cart, carry, set up, run our welcome tent, and clean up are appreciated beyond measure. They are amazing and deeply appreciated! Thanks to the multi-talented Janine, our DRC Pop-up Mentor, for facilitating all the arts and crafts adventures. Shouts of gratitude to our fabulous musicians, Galaxy Hitchhiker (AKA Mike Corse) and DRC's own Christopher Raymo, who provided a lively backdrop of sound all day long. Thank you to Nature's Storehouse, The Potsdam Food Co-op, the Massena Public Library, and the Canton Free Library for letting us borrow your canopy tents. Fortunately, we didn't need them to stay dry - but we were grateful to have some shade from the bright sun.
And finally, a huge thank you to all of the community members from all over St. Lawrence County who came out in support of DRC to enjoy the beautiful day with us. We thoroughly appreciated meeting you and watching your children play and create art. The winners of the raffle items will be contacted tomorrow (Monday). We look forward to planning our next craft fair & family fun event and the opportunity to connect. Stay tuned for the details! |
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