Words! Words! Words! pt One
This is a meme that is just starting to go viral on my flist. It's a departure from the clickybox what shade of blue are you "quiz" thingies that I try not to fill out too often. Rather, it's kind of introspective. On a coolish, dampish, greyish day, a bit of introspection suits me well. So:
Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your LJ and explain what they mean to you. If you comment without shouting "Words!" at me, I will respond but won't give you a list. No pressure ">
*****
These words were given to me by strixluna:
Design
For me, this would particularly refer to designing knitwear, of course. I see it as a natural progression from a passion for knitting and a drive to fiddle with directions and tweak ideas to make things a little ...better. I honestly cannot remember the last time I knit a pattern exactly as written. Add to this mix a couple of kids with very strong sensory issues and/or taste in what they will/will not wear, and I don't see anything satisfatory to knit for them.
I was working on my youngest son's most recent sweater when another knitting mother of school-aged boys expressed interest in the pattern, and I realized that I am not the only person who sees a real lack of knitwear being designed for boys between the ages of five and 25. There are hundreds of designers making patterns for women, but even the top designers usually design for men and kids as an afterthought. Just grabbing my nearest knitting book (Alice Starmore's "The Celtic Collection") and flipping through the pages, the first seven patterns are for women. The eighth pattern is a cut-down of the seventh, for a child (girl). The tenth pattern is finally designed with a man in mind. So almost halfway through the collection of 25 patterns before you find something masculine? No wonder it's so hard to find a pattern I'd want to make for one of my guys!
I've tried desinging then knitting, and selling the completed knitted product, and it's far too much work when compared to the monetary returns - I see selling patterns as not necessarily less work to create the end product, but that product can be duplicated much more cost effectively and thus the returns would be more reasonable. Certainly not enough that I'd quit my day job any time soon, but enough to justify the work going in.
Although, being me, monetary return is never my ultimate goal. Knitting satisifies something deep within my soul, and being able to share my creations with 'the world' is a joyful thing.
***
Heyoka
Eee, yah... Heyoka is ...difficult. Etymologically, it is a Lakota word. I am not, btw, Lakota-metis; our familial background is Anishnabe-Wynadot (Huron), but the conceptual idea of the heyoka is none the less the best 'fit' for how I see I have been chosen to be in this world.
The closest European concept to heyoka would be the court jester - one who was allowed to speak the unspeakable, criticizing and mocking their lord and saying the things that needed to be said with less (not none - court jesters were often deemed to have gone to far and were put to death) fear of punishment. The role of the heyoka is to point out the rediculous, and also to reinforce social rules by breaking them and thus demonstrating how important they are. Heyoka open the people to prayer through their rediculousness - through laughter, for there can be no healing without laughter.
Heyoka are the 'sacred clowns,' both more and less than a shaman. Not usually considered healers, the aid of a heyoka is generally powerful and often frightening - appropriate to a group of people who's patron is Wakinyan Tanka, Chief of the Thunderbeings (see my post Under Wakinyan's Wings to see how I feel about thunderstorms and thunderbeings).
I am heyoka, both less and more, creature of contradictions. It is what it is.
***
Raven
Raven is my guide, my mentor, my friend, my cousin, my Totem. Raven at his best is the protector of human creatures, a Grandfatherly figure who pokes indulgent fun at his favourite creatures, and delights endlessly in the antics of human beings, poor, illogical creatures that we are. A Promethean figure who brought light and warmth to the world (albeit for his own ends...).
At his worst, Raven is gluttenous, deceitful and cruel, using his trickster powers to ensnare his foes, often with deadly results. The more difficult Raven myths are much like the Djinn myths of Arabia, reminding us to be careful what we ask for lest it be turned against us. It is this aspect of Raven that makes me hesitant to intercede on behalf of people I care about, for while I trust Raven to make good in the end, it can be a very bumpy ride.
Being part of Raven's clan makes my life ...interesting, but I find the more I trust him, the more often I find myself laughing in joy at the end.
***
Cookies
Love in a hand-held package! I know well that baking all our cookies does not save us any money, nor are they 'healthy.' ...but to me, home-made cookies in a child's lunchbox are a message of Mother's love.
I make a couple dozen chocolate chip oatmeal cookies every two or three days. It only takes me about an hour, and the results are soooo good. Now that summer is coming and schoolmate allergies won't be an issue, I'll be adding crunchy peanut butter to the recipe. Mmmm...
***
Raising Boys
This might be a controversial position to take, but I think that boys in our world start out at an extreme disadvantage. There is this pervasive expectation that boys don't cry, that boys will be boys, that it's bad to be a momma's boy - all things that push parents, and mothers in particular, to remove themselves from the process of parenting their male children at a shockingly early age.
They are taught to be ashamed of their feelings (boys don't cry), unless those feelings are of anger - anger is somehow acceptable - so when they grow up they really don't have the vocal/intellectual/physical language to appropriately name, understand, and express their emotions. A boy child's emotional needs are much less frequently met, so they learn to repress their feeling needs. They learn that their emotions are not important. ...except anger. So they act out of anger, because at least that nets them some emotional attention...
...and of course, when they act out of anger with violence or bossiness or anti-social behaviour, they are not appropriately disciplined. Because, y'know, boys will be boys. It's a cop-out that prevents boys from being taught appropriate, respectful, loving boundaries. A boy who is allowed to beat on his sibling/parent/playmate/teacher with nothing more than a shrug? I always feel so badly for the child who is so clearly reaching out for some sort of guiding limit and is just being allowed to spiral more and more out of control.
...and if Mum should buck the trend and offer solace to a sad boy, respond affectionately to a happy boy, comfort a frightened boy, or limit an angry boy, she is criticized for trying to make him a wuss, a momma's boy.
Yo. People. My job is to raise whole, respectful, respectable human beings. Nature, genetics and hormones will make sure they are also men. ...and the doll and pink sunglasses? Those things will not cause my child's penis to drop off.
Reply to this meme by yelling "Words!" and I will give you five words that remind me of you. Then post them in your LJ and explain what they mean to you. If you comment without shouting "Words!" at me, I will respond but won't give you a list. No pressure ">
*****
These words were given to me by strixluna:
Design
For me, this would particularly refer to designing knitwear, of course. I see it as a natural progression from a passion for knitting and a drive to fiddle with directions and tweak ideas to make things a little ...better. I honestly cannot remember the last time I knit a pattern exactly as written. Add to this mix a couple of kids with very strong sensory issues and/or taste in what they will/will not wear, and I don't see anything satisfatory to knit for them.
I was working on my youngest son's most recent sweater when another knitting mother of school-aged boys expressed interest in the pattern, and I realized that I am not the only person who sees a real lack of knitwear being designed for boys between the ages of five and 25. There are hundreds of designers making patterns for women, but even the top designers usually design for men and kids as an afterthought. Just grabbing my nearest knitting book (Alice Starmore's "The Celtic Collection") and flipping through the pages, the first seven patterns are for women. The eighth pattern is a cut-down of the seventh, for a child (girl). The tenth pattern is finally designed with a man in mind. So almost halfway through the collection of 25 patterns before you find something masculine? No wonder it's so hard to find a pattern I'd want to make for one of my guys!
I've tried desinging then knitting, and selling the completed knitted product, and it's far too much work when compared to the monetary returns - I see selling patterns as not necessarily less work to create the end product, but that product can be duplicated much more cost effectively and thus the returns would be more reasonable. Certainly not enough that I'd quit my day job any time soon, but enough to justify the work going in.
Although, being me, monetary return is never my ultimate goal. Knitting satisifies something deep within my soul, and being able to share my creations with 'the world' is a joyful thing.
***
Heyoka
Eee, yah... Heyoka is ...difficult. Etymologically, it is a Lakota word. I am not, btw, Lakota-metis; our familial background is Anishnabe-Wynadot (Huron), but the conceptual idea of the heyoka is none the less the best 'fit' for how I see I have been chosen to be in this world.
The closest European concept to heyoka would be the court jester - one who was allowed to speak the unspeakable, criticizing and mocking their lord and saying the things that needed to be said with less (not none - court jesters were often deemed to have gone to far and were put to death) fear of punishment. The role of the heyoka is to point out the rediculous, and also to reinforce social rules by breaking them and thus demonstrating how important they are. Heyoka open the people to prayer through their rediculousness - through laughter, for there can be no healing without laughter.
Heyoka are the 'sacred clowns,' both more and less than a shaman. Not usually considered healers, the aid of a heyoka is generally powerful and often frightening - appropriate to a group of people who's patron is Wakinyan Tanka, Chief of the Thunderbeings (see my post Under Wakinyan's Wings to see how I feel about thunderstorms and thunderbeings).
I am heyoka, both less and more, creature of contradictions. It is what it is.
***
Raven
Raven is my guide, my mentor, my friend, my cousin, my Totem. Raven at his best is the protector of human creatures, a Grandfatherly figure who pokes indulgent fun at his favourite creatures, and delights endlessly in the antics of human beings, poor, illogical creatures that we are. A Promethean figure who brought light and warmth to the world (albeit for his own ends...).
At his worst, Raven is gluttenous, deceitful and cruel, using his trickster powers to ensnare his foes, often with deadly results. The more difficult Raven myths are much like the Djinn myths of Arabia, reminding us to be careful what we ask for lest it be turned against us. It is this aspect of Raven that makes me hesitant to intercede on behalf of people I care about, for while I trust Raven to make good in the end, it can be a very bumpy ride.
Being part of Raven's clan makes my life ...interesting, but I find the more I trust him, the more often I find myself laughing in joy at the end.
***
Cookies
Love in a hand-held package! I know well that baking all our cookies does not save us any money, nor are they 'healthy.' ...but to me, home-made cookies in a child's lunchbox are a message of Mother's love.
I make a couple dozen chocolate chip oatmeal cookies every two or three days. It only takes me about an hour, and the results are soooo good. Now that summer is coming and schoolmate allergies won't be an issue, I'll be adding crunchy peanut butter to the recipe. Mmmm...
***
Raising Boys
This might be a controversial position to take, but I think that boys in our world start out at an extreme disadvantage. There is this pervasive expectation that boys don't cry, that boys will be boys, that it's bad to be a momma's boy - all things that push parents, and mothers in particular, to remove themselves from the process of parenting their male children at a shockingly early age.
They are taught to be ashamed of their feelings (boys don't cry), unless those feelings are of anger - anger is somehow acceptable - so when they grow up they really don't have the vocal/intellectual/physical language to appropriately name, understand, and express their emotions. A boy child's emotional needs are much less frequently met, so they learn to repress their feeling needs. They learn that their emotions are not important. ...except anger. So they act out of anger, because at least that nets them some emotional attention...
...and of course, when they act out of anger with violence or bossiness or anti-social behaviour, they are not appropriately disciplined. Because, y'know, boys will be boys. It's a cop-out that prevents boys from being taught appropriate, respectful, loving boundaries. A boy who is allowed to beat on his sibling/parent/playmate/teacher with nothing more than a shrug? I always feel so badly for the child who is so clearly reaching out for some sort of guiding limit and is just being allowed to spiral more and more out of control.
...and if Mum should buck the trend and offer solace to a sad boy, respond affectionately to a happy boy, comfort a frightened boy, or limit an angry boy, she is criticized for trying to make him a wuss, a momma's boy.
Yo. People. My job is to raise whole, respectful, respectable human beings. Nature, genetics and hormones will make sure they are also men. ...and the doll and pink sunglasses? Those things will not cause my child's penis to drop off.