This past Monday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our celebration didn't quite pan out the way I had planned but it was still wonderful. We were going to go with some friends to the Wadsworth Antheneum. The museum is opened to the community free of charge every King Day and there are all sorts of art activities, concerts, and other happenings to celebrate the day. Eden had just visited the museum for the first time a few days earlier and loved it. I just knew we would have an awesome time.
Well Monday dawned with Greg very ill. My good friend offered to help watch children at the Wadsworth. Such a kind and generous offer, but I figured we would need at least three adults to help since I knew at least two of my children would be likely to wander. Plus she had her own child with her. So we scrapped the idea until next year.
Instead of the museum, we made play dough and played in the cold.
We had some hot cocoa with marshmallows.
We also cozied up in the warm house and read about Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi in Ten Amazing People. We talked a little about economic, social, environmental and legal rights and what that means. I was pleased to hear the kiddos' questions too.
We also played Wildcraft!, a cooperative board game. The kids and I loved it. The object is to get every player up the mountain to gather hucklberries for grandma and make it back down to grandma's house before nightfall-together. Along the way, one can get into trouble (bee stings, sprained ankle, etc.). A player also gathers herbs to help cure the trouble along the way. The aspect I like most is that there are cooperation cards a player receives. This card allows a person to use one of their herb cards to cure someone's trouble or catch a player up along the board if she is behind. The first person who gets to the mountain starts gathering pails of berries for himself first and then everyone else until the necessary amount of berries are gathered. It doesn't matter who gathers the berries or if everyone doesn't make it to the patch. When we played Elijah got to the mountain first. He started gathering berries for himself, me and Helena. Helena and I gathered one more pail each for ourselves. Then we started back down the mountain together.
I love the spirit of cooperation, compassion and kindness this game encourages. The kids feel quite good and competent when they help each other as they play. We have an extremely competitive and anxious player in the house. This game helps quell that anxiety and the resulting unpleasantness as there is no stressing over who is ahead or behind. There is enough of that in real life already.
Right now playing Wildcraft! is more enjoyable than traditional games, although we do play those and they have their place. I thought this game was quite appropriate for King Day and really exemplified in a small way how a person can help and respect others. Indeed, I can live my life the way I do and have my family because of the sacrifices of Dr. King and others. For that I am truly grateful.
Well we are off to enjoy another snow day. I think pie, snowplay, art and some more Wildcraft! are in store. Have a peaceful and fun weekend!