FROM THE BRIAR PATCH - A Miscellany of Thoughts About Life In General

You know ... it seems to me that Uncle Remus was on the mark when he described the adventures of Brer Rabbit and friends within the context of the Briar Patch. Life certainly can be thorny sometimes, and it takes a quick wit such as Brer Rabbit had, just to survive it! The past couple weeks in our Briar Patch have been particularly thorny ... as it is this time of year every year. Gee ... what, I imagine you ask, is so thorny about summertime in Florida? There's lots of sun, beach, shells to collect and so forth. What could be so thorny in that environment ...?

I am tempted to think that folks outside of Florida or California or similar locales just could not possibly figure out where the briars come from in a local that in most ways is as serene and pleasant as a pasture. But, I am not a condescending bunny (and that thought would certainly be condescending). And besides, I have been a student of human nature all of my life, and it seems that the briar patch extends just about everywhere, for everyone, at one time or another in their lifetimes. So maybe your thorns are not mine and vice versa, but, you know what I am talking about!

In this instance, the thorns in my life the past couple weeks have been due to that annual event celebrated by many (though by no means all) parents, known as "Back To School." While I do admittedly fall into the "celebrate the first day of school" crowd of parents, I also fear and dread it at the same time! Why? Because the start of school heralds a virtual mountain of repetitive paperwork to be filled out in duplicate for each kid! And to top this off, there are legions of teachers, no doubt pressured by their principals, snapping and biting to get that paper done and sent back to school with the kid ... no later than 3 DAYS BEFORE HE RECEIVES IT! Geez ... its enough to drive a sane parent insane, and the already insane parent, such as myself (ask my kids ... they will verify it!) ... well ... the picture isn't a pretty one! I have no hair (no pun intended) left at the end of 2 weeks and have to spend the rest of the year attempting to grow it back for the following year's onslaught!

Okay ... I exaggerate ... just a little ... well, maybe a lot ... but no kidding ... teachers start hollaring for their paperwork if your child fails to return it signed and notarized by the very next day! Never mind that you don't even get it until 4 PM when the kids get home from school and finally remember to give you the papers! That's assuming they remember to give it to you at all!

Now ... I have a number of friends who are nice concientous moms (NO CRITICISM HERE GIRLS ... I ENVY YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS!) who manage to comply with the rules, to the letter, and indeed return their paperwork the second day of school. But ... I am not one of them I must admit. Most days I am lucky to remember my name, much less to fill out these forms and return them "on-time." I imagine that I am at the top of many school teachers and administrative staff "most irksome parent" list. I always do the paperwork eventually, and turn it in ... generally within a week. But ya know ... I figure feeding the family, and reading bedtime stories, and such is more important than stupid government paperwork! My philosophy is, and always has been "I will do it as soon as I can, but not a minute sooner!" Lets face it, if hoppy, turtle or fish have a problem ... I'm in the phone book ... and being a small town ... there is virtually someone in each of the schools who knows me personally! And with gasoline at over $3 a gallon ... I don't get around much anymore ... most of the time, I am home!

Here again however, in the midst of the thickest part of the briar patch, the sun managed to peak through! If you have not read the previous entry, by Hoppy toad, please do so, and take a look at the photos he included. The boys have recently indulged in a new interest ... one that involves all three of them in largely cooperative play (a rare event!). I can't remember the company name (but there are at least a couple who manufacture similar toys) specifically, but the boys have been collecting toy figures similar in concept to miniature soldiers, except that they represent both historical and fictional people (kings, queens, knights, egyptians, chinese warriors and on and on) and mythical and real beasts. They are a great learning tool for the homeschooling parent (thats another issue ... Hoppy is staying home for the first time this year, to be home schooled) and others. But perhaps most important to kids ... you can also play with them! And as you can see, the kids are enjoying these figurines immensely! Some days it sounds almost as if a real war is going on in our house, not just the pretend one happening in the back room of the warren. But sometimes the noise is acceptable ... especially when multiple siblings in a single family are cooperating at some VERY IMAGINATIVE play. Hoppy, Turtle and Fish are not content to just put the figures out on the train table and move them a little here or there. Their battles typically involve imagination as they plan out their battles, stage them, and then and only then, fight the battle. It is fabulous to watch as these three very bright creative minds put their talents together in their games. The kids are, in short a burst of sunshine, even in the midst of the deep dark Briar Patch.

The story and photos are, by the way, an assignment for his creative writing class I am teaching!

And so my parting thought for the day ... always remember to look for the sun ... even if you are in the midst of the Briar Patch!! Have a great day everyone!

Mother Bunny - August 19, 2006