We Never Outgrow.........

The longer I live the more I become convinced that we humans never outgrow our need for a mother. 

Daddies, do not get me wrong, here.  You are vitally important, too.  That is why God made the requirement that it takes both a man's and a woman's contribution to create life.  Fathers' roles cannot be understated nor underestimated, but the role of a mother might be in a slightly different category.

"Where does this undocumented and un-researched observation come from?" you may ask.

Working with larger groups of people and my own experience.

Before you leave me and my train of thought, allow me to explain.

From the perspective of working with groups, I am convinced that both men and women need/enjoy/crave some sort of mothering.  Not smothering, not nagging, not hovering - just some "mother-henning", if you will.  And, no, most men do not want or need mothering.  But as co-ed and single-gender groups go, perhaps nurturing is a better term, although I do believe that nurturing is closely aligned with mothering.

Doesn't almost everyone, from somewhere deep inside our souls and psyches, respond to the warm feeling that arises when we realize that someone else cares for us?  The psychology of a group is not immune from needing to feel wanted and appreciated and isn't that one of the traits of mothering?  (Fathering, too!)  Think about where the term "mother hen" comes from.  The instinct of a mother hen, goose, duck, loon, other water fowl, etc. to tuck her young ones under her wings to protect them from danger, the elements, or predators.      

From a personal perspective, I am discovering that I am not too old to miss my mother, as evidenced recently after a particularly long string of rough days, when I informed poor Capt. SO that I really wanted my mother and Max, neither of which are available any more for comforting moi.  This recent remark was not my first "I-miss-my-mother!" wail nor will it probably be my last but it did make me sit up and take notice of the strong feeling that comes from missing one's mother.

So, what did I just say?  That mothering is a naturally occurring human need, regardless of gender, number or age AND that having a dog or a puppy can be a suitable substitute for missing one's mother.

Yes, I just said it and I mean it.  I believe I've mentioned this before.

Ancora imparo 

Kansas City, There I Went

"I'm goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, Here I Come!" 

That is what I said on Wednesday morning as I prepared to take a three-day, eleven-hundred mile round-trip journey, with seven other people. Two vehicles of four-each made the trip - safely, I might add thankfully.  Our two drivers were skillful, especially so when navigating complicated interstate highway exchanges in larger cities along the way.  Even driving in the greater KC metro and suburban areas was non-eventful for these two drivers. 

Upon arrival at our hotel, we checked in and checked out our digs for the two-night stay.  I was assigned to a room with two other women and it had been years since I shared a room with anyone other than immediate family members.  "This,", thought I to myself, "will be quite the adventure!"  The rooming adventure turned to be quite the non-event, as we spent very little time in our respective rooms and when we did, my two "room-mates" read with their Nooks and I played with my phone.  Never once did we turn on either one of two televisions.

The conference we attended was held at the largest Methodist church in the United States.  Quite a distinction and the building(s!) and grounds were impressive, if in nothing else other than the scope of the property.  (Over seven-thousand people worship there each week.  They have three other campuses.) This congregation holds this leadership conference each year and the level of organization, preparation and execution was impressive, to say the least.  It was staffed by maybe hundreds of volunteers, all armed with the necessary information and a genuine smile, to boot!  And if I thought the volunteers were helpful and people-oriented, the staff was even more so.  Each break-out session I attended was closed by words from the staff member leading it, with something to the effect - "You have my email and phone number.  Do not hesitate to call or email me.  I can give you more materials if you need them or can explain in more detail if you desire." 

I came away with more good ideas than I can ever implement in my lifetime so my challenge will be to filter through what I gleaned and get to the imminently germane ideas that I might want to implement.  I left feeling somewhat inadequate after witnessing great skill levels in areas that I will never be skilled in.  This feeling was not unexpected as this is the way I have always felt after leaving professional conferences.  There is always so much more to learn.

To quote my favorite line from the movie, "Smokey and the Bandit",
"We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there......"

I'd better get started!

Ancora imparo

Sometimes......

I actually just heard a line on a television show that inspired me.  It was something to the effect that we won't have answers so we live with the questions. 

Do you ever have questions?  I do - daily.

Sometimes I think I question too much.  Sometimes I overthink things, situations, dilemmas, problems.  Sometimes my questioning morphs into worrying - and that's not good. 

Sometimes I wish I could just shut off the crawl line that runs through my brain on an almost constant display.  Do this.  Do that.  Check on this.  Check on that.  Call this person.  Jot this thought down on paper.  Don't forget to check this list.  Don't forget to check that list.  I really appreciate many of the features of my phone but I think I over-use the Note feature.  I'm up to 65 notes - most of which I check at least once a week.  Two or three of the notes get updated daily. 

I think I'm addicted to notes.

I think I dislike unanswered questions so much I spend far too much time trying to come with answers and solutions. 

I just read about a local teacher who has been invited to be on a team that re-writes AP tests.  I feel like every day I re-write a test - hence, I never get close to the answer because I constantly change the questions. 

I wonder what will become of me if I ever achieve "Supreme-answer level"?  Will I be satisfied or will I simply compose a new set of questions? 

It is no wonder I do not sleep well.  Sometimes I feel like my brain competes in cerebral Olympics every night.  I wonder why?

Ah..............a new question.  I rest my case.

Ancora imparo