Parenting, and Play

play is how children learn
play is how
we
all
no matter how old
connect with the joy
of discovery
and being alive

sports
are usually a pale
and overly stident aspect of play

if your child can invent games
in the mud
and at the creek
and with a ball
and with a basketball
and with a rock
and with an acorn

better off
i'd say
than all this organized
stuff

and yes
yes
soccer
is wonderful
and basketball
and playing the piano

and still
play
that is made up
and unsupervised
and doesn't have the time stamp
and the pressure competition
stamp
and doesn't have the endless
chauffering stamp:

just outside
with a couple other kids
or by themselves:

that might very well
be the best sort



word count: 21,006
NaNoWriMo
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