what if, yet, and why not
May 14, 2013 § 8 Comments
Over Mother’s Day weekend I captured a spontaneous moment of silliness with both children in a photograph. Sprawled across the floor, sandwiched shoulder to shoulder between my children I managed the impossible: a glimpse of contentment in the steadfast gaze and relaxed smiles of my favorite people. If I were to scribble a reminder onto the back of this image to hold it present across an unforeseen future it would say What If, Yet, and Why Not.
What If has become my daughter’s favorite question, statement, and challenge. After reading Shel Silverstein’s poem “Whatif” with our longtime family friend and sitter, my daughter has used the phrase in moments of conflict to create reflection or to disrupt boredom with curiosity. Most importantly, she listens to the answers we share then pushes us deeper into our own certainty until we have studied a thought from a new perspective.
Why Not is my son’s manifesto. At each invisible boundary you will find him dangling into possibility, questioning authority and second guessing assumptions; he wears wonder unabashedly without apology. To borrow his own words: Adults over think possibility.
Yet is my new verbal punctuation, ending spoken and unspoken statements with the promise of the unknown. After listening to a speaker address the flexibility of a growth mindset I became enamored with adding Yet to the end of my doubts, fears, and hopes. Rather than rest in a place of complacency, I am gathering Why Not and What If into Yet to create room for a new beginning in an endless adventure.
My children exist in stories unphotographed, images unshared to better ensure their privacy. Instead we mark our journey with words. What If, Yet, and Why Not.
scribblechic 
My six year old daughter, who deplores moments of silence, will always begin with “Daddy, d’you know…..””
So sweet! I miss the presence of a similar refrain in our home. There was a time I felt wise for the ease of my answers.
That’s lovely. And your kids are lucky to have a mom who sees and appreciates the deeper philosophy behind their repeated phrases rather than dismissing them as childish fixations they’ll grow out of.
Thank you. I consider myself the lucky one for the constant entanglement in curiosity, my days are infinitely more intriguing for their questions.
“What If has become my daughter’s favorite question, statement, and challenge. Why Not is my son’s manifesto. At each invisible boundary you will find him dangling into possibility, questioning authority and second guessing assumptions. Yet is my new verbal punctuation, ending spoken and unspoken statements with the promise of the unknown.”
loving your family. i love the way this was written 🙂
Thank you, hopefully you hear the content smile behind my words.
“Adults over think possibility.” LOVE. Your kids sound like people I would want to hang out with. As always, I love the words you choose to illustrate your thoughts.
The possibility quote is among my favorites. Another is: “I wish there were a way to recycle wasted time.”
You are always so kind in your responses, I am sure you would make a great addition to our conversations.