Wonderings

Wonderings

By Sarah Sexton

06.11.18

A wondering journal is simple.  A wondering journal is where you keep thoughts about mystical questions.  Big ideas.  Small shocks.

I wonder why elephants are afraid of mice?

I wonder why the sky is blue?

I wonder why penguins do not fly?

I wonder why flamingos are pink?

I wonder why my uncle wants me to pull his finger?

My students always kept ‘wondering’ journals.  My journals are mountains.  A compass only I can read.  Messy!  My pen cannot keep pace with my sprinting mind.  I observe! I observe kids.  I observe people.  I observe life.

I have observed wonderful comments from students and now, my daughters.  Many drifted into the universe.  I pay attention…..to life.  Listen.  Try,  you will hear, you will see, you will evolve from cute, funny and raw stories kids spill.  It is the finest teacher’s perk.  And now it is an awarding mom perk.  Hundreds of my stories are rooted from observations of children.

I am a proud author and illustrator of my first children’s book, Love You Too (amazon).  My Caldecott medal shines from the scene of Kate with her stuffed unicorn, Spring.  Kate walked into the sitting room.  Kate was whispering into Spring’s ear.  Next, Kate sat with Spring on our cozy black chair.  Snuggled Spring tightly.  Kate continued to whisper to Spring, softly caressed, Spring.  Kate, a wonderful caretaker spoke lovingly to Spring:

“Spring.  I love you today,

Much more than yesterday.

I cannot even imagine,

My love for you tomorrow.”

Kate quoting my book is money!  Love You Too is now Kate’s favorite children’s book.  Cha-ching!  Every night, Kate reads the book beautifully with rhythm and voice.  We are prepping her performance for an open mic night.  Cha-ching!

Helen had just turned four.  At that age, Helen and her sisters listened to ‘Jungle Jams.”  It was a series of CD’s from my parents.  The CD’s were jungle animals singing silly songs and telling stories with a bible message.

One morning, all mornings!  I was rushing the girls to get out of the house.  I had, baby Kate fussing.  Caroline glued to the tv, a screen I despised, and Helen still.  Still!  Helen still in the bathroom, admiring her reflection in the mirror.  Helen slowly, sloth-ly brushed her hair.

“Helen!  Hurry-up!  We must go!  NOW!”

“Mom.  I am trying to be more peaceful.  Let’s be more peaceful.”

The peaceful message was from Jungle Jams.  The story of the sloth taught us that we need to slow down in life.  Take our time, enjoy and be at peace with ourselves and with others.  Helen stole the show that morning.  Life poured into me.  I stopped and had a small revelation.  Helen taught me to be a sloth, to slow down, enjoy my littles, relish in our shared moments.  Encore, Helen!

I will never forget the kite story.  The symbol that highlights my hopes and dreams.  Caroline was about to turn two years old.  Helen was a newborn baby.  My dad, the girls and I were walking to a local park in our hometown, Royal Oak to fly a kite and have a picnic.  When we arrived at the park, Caroline pulled her kite down.  Caroline hugged the kite right to her lips.  Caroline located the ear of the kite.  Caroline softly whispered, “I will take care of you kite.”  Inspired!  The excerpt is a result:

‘I will take care of you my beautiful blue kite.

I will gently guide and admire your flight.

Bring you back down so you will know,

You are safe with me wherever we go.’

(excerpt from, I Will Take Care of You Kite)

A company was born, a story was written, and we still fly our kites today.  Everyday!

In my beginning years of teaching, Junia, a sweet third grader (Y4) knew the answer to why elephants are afraid of mice.

“Ms. Plante.  I think I know why elephants are afraid of mice.”

“Yes, Junia.  Please share with us.”

“You see elephants have such big ears and mice are so small.  The elephants are afraid that the mice will get in their ears and run around inside of their heads.”

“Spot on Junia!  I love how you are thinking!”

Wondering journals were always great springboards for research reports, conversations and creative writing.

I wonder what’s next?

BIG things!

I wonder if I have another purpose in England?  Like…..sharing with others, laundry does not need to be like this.  I have an American laundry concept.  It could help.