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Life of a Writer Mom Column Parenting in the Imagination Zone by Carla Charter A writer's imagination manifests itself in many ways. Through the stories and poetry we write, the ideas we see popping up and waving at us everywhere, and in my case, through my children. I often joke, that life with dreamers is like parenting in the third realm, the imagination zone. Let me explain by example. When children are young many parents deal with the monster under the bed problem. I've never had to deal with that problem, exactly. With my oldest child, Samantha, it was pink alligators singing Christmas carols under her bed that were disturbing her slumber. I suggested she sing along with them until she fell asleep, it worked. Hey creative problems take creative solutions right? My middle child, Hal, or sci-fi boy as I like to refer to him, had aliens from another planet, jumping around under his covers. He was dutifully trying to chase them out, which is what all the noise was about. A small cardboard box they could use as a mother ship, gave the aliens a place to settle down for the night. My youngest, Matt, had a different problem. What was bothering him weren't exactly creatures at night, but shadows that creeped up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder when he wasn't looking. Those shadows can be sneaky, I've heard. I suggested he tickle the shadows back and they would disappear. (Hey it was late, I was tired and it worked!) So let's fast forward a couple of years. The kids are now all school age. Other than that, not much has changed. Join me in my yard on a recent warm spring day during school vacation, and you'll understand what I mean. Understand that winters in New England can be long and brutal. So the minute a warm day arrives, I shoo all the children outside into the fresh air. After doing some quick housework, I join them. As I step out the door, I am greeted with a
manifestation of my imagination once again. Samantha wanders by with a blanket
tied to her waist and another draped over her head. One hand holds a camping bag
over her shoulder and another a homemade walking stick. "A weary traveler fleeing the city, from those who seek to do me harm," she replied. I just smiled and let the traveler go on her way. Hal had his beloved plastic dinosaurs set up on a rock. He was lost in the Jurassic era. I didn't disturb my seven-year-old time traveler but it didn't look like things were going overly well for the plant eaters of that era. Matt had found the freshly tilled garden, perfect for multiple race tracks for his cars. All of the races of course were complete with spin outs, crashes, blown tires and a hundred other disastrous scenarios. In the middle of it I sit, writing away at the picnic table. Content, letting my imagination and theirs take flight. I admit, parenting in the imagination zone, is a unique experience, but something I wouldn't trade for the world. Carla Charter is mom to Samantha (12), Halden (5), and Mathew (4). In addition to being a mom, Carla is a freelance writer specializing in newspaper and magazine journalism. Among her publication credits are Woman's World, American Indian Report and New England Business Journal. Online she has been published in Scubasource.com and Military.com. She teaches creative writing courses at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Ma. Recently her novel Across Lots has been serialized at http://www.newenglandwow.com. She may be reached at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net. |
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