Three of the people that one would think I know the most are my three children: Max, Duncan, and
Franchesca. Although I know a lot about them, I am by no means an expert. The vastness of each of their intellects, emotional complexities, and world views is beyond mappable. I want share what i see however, and thought it would take as many years as they have been alive to unfurl all of the things I know about them, I will see what abbreviated observations I can make here.
My three kids have five years difference between them and their closest siblings.
Max, who at this writing is five years old remains unrelentingly amazing. The thing about Max that grips me so is his questions. Not that he asks questions, and not the amount of questions that he asks, but it is the quality and complexity of his questions. I must say that I have re scoped and re visited my world view and beliefs because of his inquiries. There is a certain fantastic logic through which he perceives life.
Like most kids his age Max certainly lives in the moment, but at times he seems to transcend everything around him. It is almost as though he crawls through the portal of his activity and is there fighting alongside Luke against the Dark Side and yet has a complete understanding that not only is this a play, but the story is a play as well. To be able to descend into what seems real but to keep a deeper eye observing oneself engaged could possibly be the definition of genius.
Max rarely dangles his affection as a trap, he loves genuinely and wholeheartedly when he trusts. He understands that people need affection, and he fully understands that he needs affection to thrive. His dreams and talks about his mother's kisses like our Proust's narrator but without the madness.
Duncan is 10 years at this writing. His soul is noble and gentle. He is a giant hidden in the trees making the most of who he is while understanding where he is an expert and where he is not. Duncan is full of passion and compassion, and seems to be devoted to process and accomplishment. It's no wonder that he has such and enormous difficulty with losing and loss.
The dynamics of Duncan are subtle and often missed by the casual observer. Even I who know him as well as anyone, see that the best components of my son Duncan are rich beyond measure, not common enough to perceive with the usual receptors. You see, Duncan has a way of putting one at ease, to take the building pressure out of a room To broadcast a new kind of goodness. This is both matchless and somehow eternal.
The best way to describe Duncan is to be by his side in one way or another for as many years as possible and glean that goodness and learn to let it bloom in ourselves as well.
Franchesca at 15 years is one of the most stimulating conversationalists I know. It is her intelect that drives her passion for understanding the dynamics of people, how they think, and how we can motivate them to greater things. Ches is wonderful to spend an evening with chatting and observing. It is impossible to escape her charm and grace and her motivation to lead. What a beautiful teenager, passionate about life and making a difference.
Ches draws you in an makes you want to be a part of her world, her project. She studies individuals and the human condition, not to take advantage of it, but it find her place in it and in them. I think her motto is make a difference. And i certainly can say that she has made a difference in my life and I see the difference she has made in others.
