We think because she’s already such an empathetic and sweet gal, this ‘teen shift thing’ will not be as painful as it is for some. It’s not great, mind you — she’s still testing boundaries and throwing a little shade but it’s very performative and feels very shallow; we don’t expect it to stick around. She does like school but she has also already figured out that this one might not be ‘the one’ for her; she could take it or leave it long-term (though, she’s only been in for a month, so let’s give it a little more time).
So far, she’s had her first dance (thought it was too loud but fun though she decked out her own dress with new sleeves and ruffles), went to a school ‘trunk or treat’ (which we could do without), brought home the school plague (for me and her, I’m still recuperating), has a dance recital coming up, and is generally having a good time. Parent/Teacher conferences are next week and we think we know what will be recommended (for better or for worse). We thought she would be learning more than her current habit of lazing about watching a lot of bad Korean animation drama but we are not so sure — she does more than we think, and maybe more than they offer.
Lately, she’s been trying to squeeze in both sensibilities — all the school work but then also designing many costumes (making her own patterns, lining fabrics, using her dress form, handsewing, machine sewing), drawing beyond the assignments (Victorian characters, idea-mapping, watercoloring drawn landscapes), baking/making much food (busting out ramen bowls for J’s b-day, with roasted veg and marinated beef tips), participating in ‘zine making workshops at the shop (they did blackout poetry this time!), wytching it up by building herself a nature/apothecary/altar, sitting around having conversations about Plato’s Republic (and clarifying how the misinterpretation leads to Freud’s penis envy and the Monroe Doctrine), early American history (Salem witch trials/aka critical thinking suppression and oppression of women, and eugenics specifically in the history of Indigenous peoples), financial literacy (and commercialism, taxation, and fiscal responsibility), astronomy and the recent views of the Northern Lights, the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet, and the Harvest Supermoon, war and conscription, and our usual talk about the importance of food sovereignty and security, hanging with other amazing women, and playing family games.
We managed to celebrate J’s big b-day with homemade Sundaes (with hot fudge, peanut butter sauce, whipped cream, sandwich cookies, peanuts, graham crackers — the works — because all the ice cream shops were closed for the season! How we managed to find all of our goodies in a clean sensible fashion is amazing! Thank goodness there are some food companies who care.), and a Ground Cherry Bundt cake.
Keepin’ it real.
Rock Bottom Homestead 