Ponderings of Theodore--the teenage years.

The teenage years are often a difficult time as we transition from childhood to adulthood. During this time, we try to figure out who we are and who we want to become. We explore, we retreat. We're popular, we're invisible. We're happy, we're sad. In other words, we're in limbo, not quite sure where to land. During some of Theo's teenage angst years, he wrote about this. One of those times was in today's poem.

                                                                 Limbo

                                                            by Theodore

                                          How can you be falling if you never hit the ground?

                                          How can you be flying if you never touch the sky?

                                          How can you love yourself if you never are good?

                                          How can you hate yourself if you never are evil?

                                          When people stare in awe and wonder

                                          And flee before your touch

                                          Neither heaven nor hell will take you

                                          And you want nothing so much

                                          As a solid place to stand

                                          And someone to take your hand.

Ponderings of Theodore--the Early Years

The Joys of Winter

by Theodore

Snowflakes falling onto the ground,

Into your yard without a sound.

When you wake up, they will

Cover the ground to your window sill.

Break out the shovels, winter has come.

Clouds have just blocked out the sun.

Backbreaking labor, isn't this fun?

It's snowing again before you're done.

Scrape the ice off your car

Then start cursing when it won't go far.

Lose your key and get locked outside,

Winter time, it's so divine.
_________________________________________________________

Theo's thoughts on winter when he was nine.

New Beginnings and Spring Ponderings of Theodore.

Spring is here and it's time for new beginnings--both in a BIG way and in a small way. The daffodil blooms have followed the crocus blooms to signal a new beginning on the earth. This is the BIG new beginning that holds such promise this time of year.  Also, I have cleaned out the refrigerator, gone through the mail, and gotten ready for work tomorrow after being away for a while. This is the small new beginning that holds the promise of a return to a routine, "normal" life. I am really looking forward to both of these new beginnings.

Also, here of some ponderings from Theodore about Spring from his early years.

Signs of Spring

Icicles shed tears.

Trees grow green.

New plants sprout.

Old ones awaken.

Borne upon a sunlit era.

Life awakens once again

In this never ending cycle.

Rejoice!

For it is Spring!

Ponderings of Theodore--the Middle Years

On the Internet

On the Internet, 

I am free to do anything I want.

There are endless possibilities.

I am anonymous.

I like to play Pogo games,

Like Word Whomp,

Turbo 21, and chess.

I am anonymous.

I can read books for free,

Study for tests,

Buy stuff, and talk to strangers.

I am anonymous.

It is a world of information,

Being shared freely,

I like to be on the Internet.

I am anonymous.

Theodore wrote that poem when he was in grade school. I think it spoke to his growing awareness of the Internet. Fast forward to today. Theodore is now in a situation where he cannot afford Internet service and has no easy access to it. His lack of it has pointed out how much I have come to rely on the world wide web. I tell him to look up an address to find something. Then he reminds me that he doesn't have the Internet. I tell him to look up a recipe that will fit the ingredients he has on hand. He reminds me that he doesn't have the Internet. I tell him to check his email because there is an interesting email that he should see. He reminds me that he doesn't have the Internet.

However, he's doing much better than I think I would. What's he doing? He talks to his classmates, he listens to the radio, he plays cards, and he reads. Maybe I should be without the Internet for a while to see how well I could adjust. As much as I would like to pretend that I'm not hooked to my computer, I don't think I would fair very well.

Do you think you could give up the Internet?

Ponderings of Theodore--The Early Years

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck had an axe?

How many banks could a robber rob, if security was lax?

How many shells could Sally sell, if no one really cared?

How many tongue twisters like these, are slightly impaired?

(One of Theo's ponderings from elementary school.)

__________________________________________________________________________________

But Wait, There's More.
Here are the original tongue twisters mentioned above.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck? 

by Mother Goose

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck

If a woodchuck could chuck wood?

As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck,

If a woodchuck could chuck wood.

 She sells seashells by the seashore.

She sells seashells by the seashore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Ponderings of Theodore--The Young Years

Theo's Thoughts about Reindeer and Santa
(when he was in 2nd or 3rd grade)

The reindeer that pull Santa's sled,

Are nothing but a bluff.

No reindeer live that far north, 

The weather's too cold and tough.

And if no one sees Santa,

How does he get his food?

Because way up at the North Pole,

Growing will do no good.

The only picture I could find with Wally and Theo visiting Santa.

Ponderings of Theodore

or How to Blow Up a Balloon Carefully

Ponderings of Theodore--The Early Years

or The Young Economist


  Theodore is majoring in economics in college. Looking back, he had an interest in it all along. Here are some thoughts from his younger years.






"I like my jalapenos like the way you pay for the house--in small installments."

"If money becomes less valuable, will Daddy get a larger paycheck?"

"If the government is so much in debt, who do they owe money to?


However, those questions were often interspersed with typical boy ones like, "If you could fill a frog with water, what do you think would be the first part to burst?"

Ponderings of Theodore--the early years

The beginning of the school year is always an adjustment especially going to bed and getting up earlier. Here's what Theodore had to say about that when he was younger.

Too Early

My mom makes me wake up early.

Because of that, I am surly.

Why can't she let me sleep,

And near me her silence keep?

Ponderings of Theodore--The early years

Theodore could always get right to the point, especially when he was little. Here's a good example. 

 
He was playing outside with his friend, Kelsey, when it started to thunder. 

"Theo, I'm afraid of thunder. I'm going inside."

"Kelsey, you don't need to be afraid of thunder. It's just sound. It's the lightning that will strike you dead!" 

Ponderings from Theodore--the Early Years

Theodore always had an answer for everything.

"Theodore, leave Wally alone and stop pestering him."

"Mama, there's a reason that I am bothering him so much."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"I'm trying to make him lose his temper. After he loses it, he won't have it anymore and we won't have any more problems."

School Days-- Ponderings from Theodore

School Days is a reoccurring feature in which I ask people about their early memories of school. Everyone has a story to tell about this and I hope to give them a voice here. 

Here is Today's Story

Theodore started first grade in Houston, TX,  at age six.

Below is a series of conversations I had with Theodore during his first couple of months of first grade. I wrote these exchanges down after we had them, so they are fairly accurate as to what actually took place.  As you will see, he was not too thrilled about going to school in the beginning.

September 15

Theo, how was school today?

Fine, but I didn't learn anything. I never learn anything at school.

But Theo, look how much better you can use scissors than when you first started school. 

No, Mama, what I mean is that I never learn anything I NEED to know.

Late September

Theo, you have to go to school.

I'm not going. I never learn anything.

Maybe you already know how to read and write, but you are learning other things like how to walk in a line and behave in a group.

Mid October

I'm not going to school. It's a waste of my time.

Theo, you have to go. It's the law. Daddy and I will get arrested if you don't go.

October 25    The tide starts to turn.

I don't think I learn anything at school but I must be learning something. I'm just not aware of it while it's happening. 

October 28    Finally, it all makes since to him.

Mama, I know why I'm not learning things at school. You learn "things" in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. You don't learn "things" in first grade. First grade is for learning how teachers teach. And that is different than the way you and Daddy teach me. 

After Theo had figured out the reason for first grade to his own satisfaction, he went to school willingly.

Ponderings from Theodore-the Early Years

Theodore has always been a thinker--meaning long after I have moved on from a subject, he is still pondering it. Occasionally, we are going to visit some of his questions and observations from his earlier years. Some are serious and others are humorous.

 ____________________________________________________________________________________

This is one of the things Theodore was trying to figure out about Christmas when he was younger.
  

                                   Elves
                       For almost all eternity

                       Santa's working elves,

                       Are making toys for girls and boys 

                       To put upon their shelves.

                       It strikes me a bit strange,

                       That no one's noticed yet,

                       If Santa never gets paid,

                       How are the elf wages set?

Ponderings from Theodore-the Middle Years

Theodore has always been a thinker--meaning long after I have moved on from a subject, he is still pondering it. Occasionally, we are going to visit some of his questions and observations from his earlier years. Some are serious and thought provoking and others are humorous.
 ____________________________________________________________________________________

December Snow

 I am listening to heavy rain that will soon be turning to snow --then all will be quiet. Here's what Theodore had to say about that subject when he was younger.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes falling from the sky,
Landing softly on the ground,
Often times I wonder why,
They never ever make a sound.

Landing softly on the ground,

Snowflakes white and glistening,

Nothing ever to be found,

For someone who is listening.

(Picture is from a December snowfall in 2009. It is looking out from our front stoop.)

Ponderings from Theodore--The Early Years

Theodore has always been a thinker--meaning long after I have moved on from a subject, he is still pondering it. Occasionally, we are going to visit some of his questions and observations from his earlier years. Some are serious and others are humorous.

 

Policies 

Theodore approached me one evening, when he was eight, 

with the following idea.

“I think we should have a family goal for each month. For this month, I think it would be good for us to have no more electronic entertainment such as TV, computer, and video games.” 

He then went to the next room, turned on the TV, and started watching cartoons. I came into the room and asked what happened to his new plan. He looked at me and said, “Well, you know, it's not policy until it's in writing.

Ponderings from Theodore-The Early Years

Theodore has always been a thinker--meaning long after I have moved on from a subject, he is still pondering it. Occasionally, we are going to visit some of his questions and observations from his earlier years. Some are serious and thought provoking and others are humorous.

Today's question he asked me when he was nine. 

"Do you think it's better to learn as much as you can or better not to know everything?

What do you think?