Play is serious business. For reals.

Here's a recent Daily Groove post about the serious importance of lightness + play. Thought it was both obvious + enlightening (as so many good things are, yeah?).

:: Taking Children Seriously ::

We live in a society that doesn't take children
seriously. Sure, we care deeply about children's
welfare; we do our best to help them to grow into
healthy, successful adults.

But we, as a society, rarely take children seriously
the way they take *themselves* seriously.

To children, *play* is serious business -- channeling
enormous creative energies and making huge
discoveries. But to adult society, it's "just" play,
so interrupting or limiting it is not a big deal.

To children, *feelings* are extremely important,
not "just" feelings.

If you want to take your child more seriously, don't
do it the conventional adult way, which is to assign
*weight* to the child's concerns. That only teaches
heaviness.

Children take *lightness* seriously. And when you take
their lightness seriously, *you* benefit by learning
to take yourself *less* seriously! :-)

Oh, yes, play is very serious for Leah. It's an all-day endeavor for her, clearly. I can see her thought process at work as she seeks out the next Thing To Do. Sometimes I'm tuned in + can help her pursue her plans, but other times I just want to do what I want to do... because it's more important. (Sometimes it is, but, well... most times it truly isn't.)

But there was no conflict on Saturday, while Rob + I attended my boss's youngest daughter's Bat Mitzvah. (Which is kinda crazy, because she was just Leah's age when I started this job!)

Anyway. Partying with an enormous group (84!) of ecstatic-ly loud 13-year-olds was awesome. Just completely full of joy, exuberance, and loud, loud music! So much dancing. A great time. Leah would have approved, but she was happily playing - well past her bedtime - at home with a new babysitter. Lightness for everyone.