Pumpkin seeds

One of the very best parts of being a teacher is that you get to learn, explore and experience that sense of wonder right alongside your students...


Back in October of last year, we did "Pumpkin Math" in our classroom. One little side activity was planting three pumpkin seeds in three clear plastic cups, which we placed very tenderly in Roman’s window—he sits by the window. (I know we should have put one in the closet to see what would happen but as far as I am concerned, that is plant abuse! Everyone with a brain knows it is not going to grow.)

Within a few days, one of the seeds popped up through the earth. Everyone was, of course, utterly elated by this. We looked at it, along with Mrs. Stokes class, with the “Scope on a Rope” and were amazed at all the little silvery, feathery hairs on its pale green plant skin—it looked so alive, so vigorous and so beautiful! We were very proud of our little pumpkin plant. It continued to grow and flourish—it now has four distinct leaves and a long stem and it leans in toward the sunlight with genuine eagerness. (Our gifted pumpkin, perhaps?)

A week or so went by and there was no sign of life from either of the other seeds. We were concerned that perhaps they were “duds”—you know, like in Charlotte’s Web. We continued to water them, to send them our loving energy and to hope in all earnestness that they were just not ready yet…

And then, low and behold, over the weekend, they germinated! When we walked in on Monday, one was almost catching up to the "gifted" plant…it was so big. The other one still had its seed coat on his head, but he had decided to issue forth into the light.

A perfect metaphor for all of us…each and every one of us is on our own journey in our own time and place.

Youthfulness...

Youthfulness is not about appearance, except that it shines through any age of person, and for that reason, they may appear youthful. Youthfulness is an attitude a person maintains about Life. Boundless energy, resilience, fascination with the world around us—these are attributes of a young heart and mind. To be young is to have a sense of wonder. To be young is to rejoice at the tiny fern frond which unfurls itself and stretches toward the dappled light dancing on the forest floor. To be young is to stand before the light of a full moon and not be afraid to howl. To be young is to breathe deeply the heady scent of a Mr. Lincoln rose and to practically swoon over its magnificence. To be young is to listen to and play with children, to know how tender they are and how important it is to be gentle with them—because you remember what it was like to be a child, when everything was new and yet to be discovered. To be young is to eat an orange with the amazement and attention to detail that you did the very first time you ate an orange—tiny droplet of pulp by little tiny droplet. To be young is to feel the mystery of life, to sense its magic, and to realize that it is but a momentary fling! To be young is to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can fly—even if it is just with your heart.