Ah, nostalgia. Like a flavor you've had before but can't quite place because it's combined with new flavors. Masked but not forgotten, and then you remember and a slice of life comes back to you in a rush.My mother sent this book to me and my girls for Christmas, and I can't quite describe the joy I feel at reading stories to them at night that were such a strange and integral part of my own childhood. On just about every car trip I can remember (round about at least twice a year to southern California) we listened to the old cassette version of Free to Be... and though we knew each story and song by heart, I think we were always too young to fully grasp the meaning behind each of the self-affirming and socially-educating tales.
It makes me wonder how my girls' experiences with them will differ as they are read with pictures for added understanding. From the tailored perspective of two babies in a hospital nursery detailing misconceptions about gender differences (quite hilarious), to the heroic Atalanta who raced her way to the option to choose the course of her life - I love having shared experiences with my children. And ones that teach lessons that are hard to find in today's society? Even better.
But, of course, the best part has been the stories that are songs. From the recesses of my memory, the music has flowed like a river of love washing over my children. I remember them all so vividly, and for the first time I am singing them with understanding! What fun! And my girls have even started to join me on the chorus lines. Don't you just love those moments in life where you can sit back and realize as it happens, that something is occurring that you will always hold on to and cherish? Me too.
So, if you've never experienced the fun that is Free to be You and Me, or Marlo Thomas' more recent collection Thanks and Giving All Year Long, let me suggest that you pick up a copy, or give one as a gift. Not only will you and your children (or grandchildren) benefit, but so will St. Jude's Hospital for Children and the Free to Be Foundation that carries these stories of cultural relativity and social justice into developing countries and helps them to become realities for growing children everywhere.
And don't forget: Ladies first. :)
3 comments:
Ok, this really goes full circle for me. I always assumed that as we sang along to those songs of social quirkiness, you understood what they were saying... ha ha. Now I am maybe really realizing that you probably DID understand, but on that subconscious level that really matters. The messages help form social opinions that you now own as your personal thoughts on norms. Interesting...
Oh, and I need to add that this was another treasure from Grandma Myrth and her endless resource of opening our world to things we would have never seen or heard, had she not sent them our way!!
We loved playing those songs for you, and loved that you loved singing them. Now, it is even cooler that you are loving them in a different way and passing it onto your girls.
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