Living in the moment

 I know I'm not alone in this, but I generally have a plan about how I expect a day, a class, an opportunity to go.

You'd think I'd know better by now, but my plan doesn't usually anticipate people not buying into my plan. (sigh)

One mom came in looking rather exhausted today, saying that it's been a looong couple of weeks with a child who is gaining a stronger sense of what she does and doesn't want to do.  Another mom was asking me if I had any suggestions on how to get her child to focus more in class and be less silly during our "organized" activities.  Clearly, this whole idea of wanting things to go a certain way is pretty universal.

As we began the opening "Hello" song, I knew pretty quickly that we had some challenges ahead as the parents were participatory, but the children clearly had other things in mind.  Their own agenda wasn't "bad", just different than mine.   Sometimes I find a little sweet spot in class and have the students in full attention, and other times it is a quest to find the zone of engagement.

You may call it "cheating" - but I call it "creative direction".  When you add a high value item to the mix, everything can change on a dime.  In this case, the introduction of food as a learning tool.  With a cookie "on the table", if you will, suddenly the children were fully involved.  From that moment on (about 1/2 way through class) the whole dynamic changed.  The children were dancing with scarves, using instruments in relevant ways, and open to learning, rocking, sharing, and being in community with all of us.

I'm sure there isn't a child who was there this morning who gave things a second thought, however.  They aren't blogging or reminiscing.  Children live in the moment - good or bad - and then they move on.

Today was a lovely turn of events.  Not every day will be great.  Not every day will be a challenge.  Each moment is just there.  Live.  Learn.  And move on.