MLL
03-08-2004, 10:42 PM
I had to share a wonderful experience I had this weekend. Last Saturday was the Jewish holiday of Purim. A very happy holdiay, where things are turned topsy turvey. Kids ( and adults sometimes ) are encouraged to dressup and come to services to celebrate the story of Queen Esther.
Well our 2 boys (12 and 14) have been very into Punk, and the 14 yr old now has a band, who had their first "gig" last Friday. We have been very tolerant about his look. We don't allow piercing or tattos. ( he was cutting last year, so we have a good reason to set the line there ) But he has a bright green mohawk, and I've even been showing him how to sew patches, and take in his pants etc. It has brought out a lot of creativity that I hadn't seen before.
Well I got the idea that we should be our family but from another universe. I got them to agree to wear dress suits. ( called in a lot of favors :) And I dressed punk. His black boots, camofluage pants, a black tee shirt with saftey pins all over. I even was able to put saftey pins through where my earings usually go. I wore his studded jacket and put my hair up ( not in a mohawk but up and back, with a lot of mousse and some red spray, and eyeliner and dark lipstick. The boys and my husband stopped me when I asked them to write "PUNK MAMA" on my knuckles :) My 14 yr old looked at me when I was done and said "you're freaking me out!" But when we got there we were quite a hit. ( won first prize ) I think they enjoyed the switch, I know I did.
The best part though came later after I had showered and was myself again. I went to thank my older son for loaning me the clothes, told him it was really nice of him. It was something he didn't have to do. I also realized I had really had the chance to "walk in his shoes" I told him that I had good friends when I was his age, but was never the kind of "cool" that he manages to pull off. It was so interesting to see what it felt like to go over the top with an outrageous look and get positive feedback. It sure isn't something I'd do again, but I told them that I loved going to visit their world for an evening. And I am in total awe of the effort they put into their "look".
They are great kids. These times when we can have some fun and really connect on some very important issues, is like gold. I feel very lucky to have them in my life. I am even more aware than before, of how much I can learn from them !!!!!
Well our 2 boys (12 and 14) have been very into Punk, and the 14 yr old now has a band, who had their first "gig" last Friday. We have been very tolerant about his look. We don't allow piercing or tattos. ( he was cutting last year, so we have a good reason to set the line there ) But he has a bright green mohawk, and I've even been showing him how to sew patches, and take in his pants etc. It has brought out a lot of creativity that I hadn't seen before.
Well I got the idea that we should be our family but from another universe. I got them to agree to wear dress suits. ( called in a lot of favors :) And I dressed punk. His black boots, camofluage pants, a black tee shirt with saftey pins all over. I even was able to put saftey pins through where my earings usually go. I wore his studded jacket and put my hair up ( not in a mohawk but up and back, with a lot of mousse and some red spray, and eyeliner and dark lipstick. The boys and my husband stopped me when I asked them to write "PUNK MAMA" on my knuckles :) My 14 yr old looked at me when I was done and said "you're freaking me out!" But when we got there we were quite a hit. ( won first prize ) I think they enjoyed the switch, I know I did.
The best part though came later after I had showered and was myself again. I went to thank my older son for loaning me the clothes, told him it was really nice of him. It was something he didn't have to do. I also realized I had really had the chance to "walk in his shoes" I told him that I had good friends when I was his age, but was never the kind of "cool" that he manages to pull off. It was so interesting to see what it felt like to go over the top with an outrageous look and get positive feedback. It sure isn't something I'd do again, but I told them that I loved going to visit their world for an evening. And I am in total awe of the effort they put into their "look".
They are great kids. These times when we can have some fun and really connect on some very important issues, is like gold. I feel very lucky to have them in my life. I am even more aware than before, of how much I can learn from them !!!!!