1. Great mentors believe in freedom- in the world and in one’s personal education.
2. Great mentors believe in individualizing the process and content of each student’s learning.
3. Great mentors believe that each student has a unique and vital mission in life.
4. Great mentors believe that students learn more and better when they are inspired and intrinsically motivated than when they are compelled by requirements. – From The Student Whisperer’s Creed, “The Student Whisperer”, DeMille and Earl
I have received…
some lovely, affirming communication…
from TommyMom readers of late.
TommyMom readers…
are incredible people.
I don’t state that often enough.
The timing of this…
could not be more appropriate.
Nearly every piece of correspondence…
has thanked me for being real.
I must admit…
that the affirmation of reality…
is a huge indicator…
on my compass.
I am really leary…
of portrayals…
of near-perfect/perfect…
family life.
You know…
where the children…
are in perfect sync…
while mom is…
baking whole grain bread…
from wheat she ground fresh…
that morning?
Um…
we’re not that family.
Let it be clearly stated…
yet again…
that there’s plenty of reality…
over here…
and at times…
it’s rather biting.
Why yes…
this was the preface…
to an update…
about the progress…
that Son #3…
has made in Jane Eyre!
Why do you ask?
I broached said subject…
while driving with him…
last week.
Me: “So…how’s Jane Eyre coming along?”
Out of the corner of my eye…
I witnessed the distinct change of countenance.
#3: in a tone resembling nails on a chalkboard…
“She’s left the home/orphanage/school.”
His voice fell flat. I knew he was gearing up.
“Might I be brutally candid here?”
And before I could respond…
“There are many things wrong so far…
and I’m not that far.”
Referring of course…
to his location within the book.
“Seriously. There is something…
very very wrong…
with you people…
for liking this book…
and something even far more serious…
about recommending it to others!
What’s up with the friend…
that dies in the bed next to her?!”
A reference to “you people”….
tends to be a common default…
I’ve noticed…
when he is passionate about a topic.
Or… disgusted.
Me: “Are you kidding me?
I was deeply moved.
Can you imagine?
Historians believe…
that this book…
could very well be…
an account…
of her personal life!”
He’s throwing me no bones.
His countenance is placid.
#3: “You could need help…
and possibly not know it.”
Me: “Are you sticking with it?”
#3: “Yes! I’m making progress…
while looking for the point.
Do not panic, Madre!”
Fast forward to today…
and its finding.
Allow me to give you a better view.
Jane Eyre…
is indeed there…
under the latest…
um “classic.”
She’s coverless.
I didn’t even have to ask.
#3: “I took the liberty…
of removing the cover…
on Jane Eyre because…
that chick on the front…
gave me the creeps.
Besides…
she looks absolutely nothing…
like the Jane Eyre I’m envisioning.”
Me: doing the best I can to remain emotionless…
“Exactly where is the Jane that you’re envisioning?
Please, please tell me…
she’s beyond the home/orphanage/school.”
#3: “She is.
In fact, she’s making her way…
towards the home of Mr. Rochester.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
And might I add…
she’s taking her own sweet time?
She manages to do this quite well.
I hope this is going to pick up.”
Me: “Are you honestly reading…
this book about cigars?”
#3: “Absolutely.
while this may very well be interpreted…
as a shallow, insecure act…
I would very much like to clarify here…
that no one in our family smokes.
We never have.
Thank you for listening…
and understanding.
#3: “In fact…
here are some things I’ve learned so far:
1. Cigarettes have gun powder and/or chemicals…
that help them stay lit.
A cigar will go out…
if you do not provide the air to keep it going.
2. Even though there are more online purchase options…
you are better off to shop with a tobacconist in person…
because there, you can properly screen your cigars.
3. The tobacco beetle can live in cigars…
so if you see trails or holes, the tobacco beetle is present.”
It is my sincere hope…
that armed with this incredibly pertinent information…
both you and I will sleep better tonight.
Me: “Is this information relevant?”
with zero hesitation…
Son #3: “I’ll have you know…
that pivotal people in the history of the world…
utilized finer tobaccos.
Winston Churchill, a famous cigar smoker…
Son #5 innocently interrupts:
“Don’t you need to make your mouth…
into an “O” so that you can make rings?”
#3 continues:
“C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien…
both preferred pipes.
There is a lot of information here.
May I go now?”
Me, as he is leaving…
“What happened to the Bad Ass book?
#3: exuberantly…
“Oh, I’m still reading that too!
And when I’m finished…
and put all 3 of these together…
you and I are going to have…
the most incredible colloquium…
you’ve ever experienced!”
Help me, Jesus.
The picture above…
was taken in Santa Monica last summer…
where he met…
this flavorful individual on the beach.
He was enamored.
I had visions of him living…
in a retro VW bus…
while earning a living…
in a similar fashion…
singing…
while encouraging people…
to revisit the art of hoola-hooping.
Last week…
we attended a Leadership Summit together.
It was simply incredible.
Son #3 loved it…
took interesting notes…
while also doodling non-stop.
“Mom”, he said at the end…
“I absolutely love Seth Godin.
I so relate to him!”
Whew!
Slowly at times…
but surely…
we’re making progress.
It really is…
far less beneficial…
to shout…
rather than whisper.
First, keep on keepin’ it real it is appreciated
Second, I think I have seen your hula hooping friend on the boardwalk in Venice, I’ll have to find the pics we took of him
Third, can I please listen in to THAT colloquium?? Please, please, please…that is going to be pure comedy and brilliance wrapped into one and I would love to be a fly on the wall
and Fourth…#3, #4, and #5 were amazing with Lincoln…those boys are wonderful and L loved every minute with them oh and the bull in a china shop info was priceless!!!!
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Teri I am sorry (well not really) to say but I made it halfway thru that book and haven’t touched it since. In this case I agree with son #3, and could he get me a copy of the cigar book? it looks quite interesting. Also if you could record that colloquium I would very much enjoy listening to that.
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Haha! Isn’t motherhood a riot?! I’m taking lessons from you Teri. My children are quite young yet, but my turn is coming! Cigars hey? A friend’s awesome teenage son is sporting dred locks and having a rough time finding a job, but his mom keeping her cool cool and keeping her mouth shut too. I love it that she is enjoying being a mom of four teens and I get that from you too. Sounds like fun albeit a little stressful!
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Jane Eyre is my mother’s favorite book. She reads it annually because she loves it so much. I’m with Son #3. I cannot understand the appeal and even though I have read the book both as a teen because it was required reading and as an adult by choice rather than compulsion, I am still remain unconvinced of the value of Jane Eyre–literary or otherwise. May your colloquium be joyful!
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