I Instagrammed this image of Macy’s homework a few weeks ago. After she had carefully traced the outline of this word she was searching for, she asked me if they would let her do it this way. I said no. She sighed and declared, “Well, they should,” even as she flipped her pencil over to start erasing.
I was surprised by her recognition of a very real yet ambiguous THEY. For Macy this was some combination of her teachers and maybe the creators of the word search. But maybe it was larger too. Maybe she was asking about the world in general. What are the rules? And who is enforcing them? Or if it isn’t really about the rule, maybe it’s about the standard practice, the status quo. How is this done? In essence, what is expected of me and am I measuring up?
The other thing I noticed about Macy’s reaction was her resigned reflex to begin erasing. Even though she felt like it should be okay. Even though she had worked so hard to find that beautifully creative and clever solution to her search. She started erasing.
And in the moment, I let her. But as I’ve been thinking about it since, I wish I had told her to leave it. Her teacher would have had a good laugh over it, and eventually Macy will run into enough word search puzzles to figure out the rules. We need rules. But maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll keep finding new ways to solve the problem, despite unwritten expectations. Maybe she’ll keep going.
Way to think outside the box Macy! And good job Felic for recognizing that trait.
I think the world will be a better place when Macy is running it.
it is the ones who don’t let the rules and the status quo shape who they are that shape new futures for all of us.
That’s true, isn’t it? Now you’ve REALLY got me thinking! : )
I’m with Brian. I always feel this little war inside me when the boys want to say or wear or be something outside of convention. I don’t want them to get stepped on, but I so want them to be what they are supposed to be. And it is the people who think outside the status quo, who change it.
Those who think outside of the box are the world’s greatest artists, scientists, writers, inventors…..
When the voice of “they” is quieted, who knows what may be possible?
It has been my long held belief that if kindergartener or first graders ruled the world, it would be a very fun and awesome place to live. I’d vote for that any day! They are my people! 🙂