Families Grow in Strange Ways

When I talked to my brother and sister on the phone today, I was struck at how mature they are becoming, and how this is evident in the way our conversations are rapidly developing into thoughtful discourse. Between catching up on the day-to-day and sharing stories or jokes, we are able to discuss the nuances of our shared background and interest as well as learn from the other’s special interests. Today Josh explained to me some of the basic machinations of gaming, doing so on both an intellectual, social, and personal level. He laid out a rational explanation for how the games work, and then described how they related to one’s health and could be used by different age groups. He revealed his sensitivity to the well-being of others when he excitedly explained how the new system was designed to be easy on the eyes of the elderly. Many people denounce gaming as a dangerous waste of time, but my conversation with Josh helped me to see how it too can be part of a balanced life-style. He said that his favorite place to game was in the car, but that he had not played his game for several days because he was captivated by The Hobbit. My younger brother possesses a remarkable capability for balance that I admire deeply. Appropriate balance and moderation are something that I am continuously experimenting with in my own life, especially learning the difference between making wise choices "most of the time" and setting unrealistic expectations. I like talking to Josh, because we are alike in that we both have a wide variety of interests. The pursuits of Josh include robotics and technology, and I sense that gaming has become a source of inspiration as well as entertainment for my brother. Hopefully, I will be able to learn more about the positive aspects of gaming from him in the coming year, and see how he applies his skills in his robotics research and science projects.

The highlight of my day was when Josh told me that he was learning to knit. Over the holidays, a family of clicking of needles made our home cheery as I sat down with Anna and Melissa for a garter-stitch tutorial. Discovering that the lesson had continued after I had returned to Conway makes me even more pleased with the creative and emotional benefits of knitting. Melissa has become skilled at casting on and casting off, and has used her knowledge to craft high-quality, efficient dish cloths. Anna is using her new skills to make a scarf for her American Girl. And now, Josh has picked up the skill. This connects him with his guy friend who is currently knitting a scarf. Josh looks forward to eventually knitting a pirate beard. This makes my recent tinkering with cables and picot edgings even more enjoyable. I do not know if knitting will be a passion that they will find rewarding in the long run, but I am glad that they can take pride in the work that they accomplished and that we enjoyed the experience of learning a new skill together.