August 25 2023

Murphy, the one who looks like a Murph, snuck a toy car to school on his first day of kindergarten. He took it out at his desk, and his teacher (who is fantastic) saw it an asked him to put it away, which he did.

Ten minutes later she saw him playing with it again and told him to go into the hall and put it in his locker, which he did.

Thirty minutes later she saw him with the car again. Murph had asked to go to the bathroom, but instead of going to the bathroom he went to his locker and got the car.

I received a very nice email from his teacher about the whole thing. I told her, “Welcome to Murphy. Enjoy the ride!”

Murphy and I talked about it that evening. I told him that he needs to wait at least a week before taking anything else to school. (How can a boy’s pockets not be filled with collections, with wonders?) Then I told him I’ll give him something small to sneak in to school (maybe a little keychain or a fridge magnet). His task will be to sneak it in, never take it out of his pocket, and return it to me that night. Then we’ll pick another item for the next day.

Murph gave me a huge hug.

My boys will be domesticated during their childhoods, which is inevitable and neither good nor bad, but who will teach and guide them to be wild in a way that is honoring, kind, curious, and mischievous? I will, and others I trust will as well.

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Has Anyone Seen the Boy by Rumi

Has anyone seen the boy who used to come here? Round-faced troublemaker, quick to find a joke, slow to be serious. Red shirt, perfect coordination, sly, strong muscles, with things always in his pocket. Reed flute, ivory pick, polished and ready for his talent. You know that one.

Have you heard stories about him? Pharoah and the whole Egyptian world collapsed for such a Joseph. I would gladly spend years getting word of him, even third- or fourth-hand.