It is the six year anniversary of this little blog of mine and it is finally clear to me why I do it. I always thought I was someone with too many interests to have one true passion. But then I went to Craftcation and I met an amazing group of makers and it clicked: I am wildly passionate about raising the next generation of makers.
People who make things are the coolest people I know. I use maker in the broadest sense: it's about creative expression, hands-on creation, and self-sustainablity. It's about making dinner, making poetry, making memories. It's about raising kids that become adults who take ownership of their life in a tangible way. I want to raise kids that feel comfortable being creative and who know how to use their own two hands for more than typing. And what's more, I want to inspire and teach parents and caregivers to do the same.
One thing I'm worried about is getting too precious about raising mini makers. I plan to keep it extra real. I promise you won't have to start drenching yourself in pachouli or raise the funds for a homestead. My ideas won't require an art degree or the patience of a saint (I have neither of those things). In fact, the content here won't change much, it will just be more intentional. From now on each post on this site will fall into three categories: model, collaborate, and enable. Some projects will help you learn to make yourself, so that you can model making. Many posts will give you ideas for collaborating with your mini maker, things you can create with or alongside your kids. Lastly, I hope to give you ideas that will enable your kids to create on their own.
In discussing this philosophy with a dear flamenco dancer friend of mine, she summed it up perfectly. When her now grown son was very little he wanted to help her make tortellini and like any sane woman trying to make tortellini for a family of six, she said no. But then he looked up at her with sweet wide eyes and said, "But if you don't teach me how to make tortellini, I will grow up to be a man who doesn't know how to make tortellini."
He had such a great point. I hope you'll join me. Let's raise men and women who know how make tortellini!
