inside outside

Today everyone was home from school in honor of Dr. King. (That's how an old client referred to him when she told me about the idiosyncratic and poignant ways she observes the holiday a year ago, and now for me she is mingled with this day and all that it represents). 

Many of my old co-workers and friends from Seeds 4 Success came over with their kids in the morning. Our crowd was 11 children strong, between the ages of 2 months and 8 years old (a twelfth little one, in utero, quietly absorbed it all).

Inside, the mamas and the babies sat and talked in the kitchen, while the girls rainbow loomed and colored at the dining room table.

Outside, Gabriel and Eligh held an epic battle with old PVC pipes encased in styrofoam ("swords" from Gabriel's knight-themed 4th birthday party). (Who let me distribute those to a crowd of four year olds?).

There were lots of other moments that tossed gender stereotypes up into the air like multicolored confetti, with the boys hovering quietly over rainbow looms and the girls jumping off furniture (til I kicked them outside). Hmm. So why did I need to grab the camera when everyone was self-segregated and adhering to gendered expectations? Sigh! Not sure. I thought they all looked adorable. Guess I am just one more adult out in the world reinforcing these behaviors whether I like it or not.

But also - it was excellent to be with so many women I care about, to soak in their sensibilities and humor and experience. I like being with a bunch of women who are acting like a bunch of women. So to see all those little heads bent over crafts in the next room? I liked it. And to look out the window at those two boys hollering and laughing and tackling each other? I liked that a lot, too.

And then later, after everyone went home, it was just us.