In the next few months we, the co-authors of the Red Tent blog, have decided to write about parenting. I thought that I might first write about learning to communicate with children whose nature does not appear to be communicative. Ok, I’m talking about my Nomad Son.

When Nomad Son was young, in kindergarten, the standard answer to any question about his wellbeing, the going-ons of the day, the birthday party he just attended, was, “Fine”. Now, sixteen years later the answer to nearly all my questions is still the same. At times, I find this really difficult to accept.

My difficulty stems from the fact that I was raised in a family where everyone talked. Talk, talk, talk, the whole day through. My mother, my two sisters, brother, father, and I were constantly competing for centre stage. What do you expect? We have Irish blood flowing through our veins! Gossip, banter, storytelling, complaining, worrying were all things just waiting to be shared with the next person who entered the room. They were not things that could be kept inside.

So, imagine this scenario... Nomad Son enters my life and proves to be someone with a huge heart, a quick intellect, and quiet curiosity and no need to talk. At two, he hums his way though the day. At three, he learns to speak, but talks only when he needs something to eat or drink. And so he is to this day: a kind, intelligent, curious, quiet, non-communicator.

You might think being in Nomad Son’s company would be a wonderful contrast to the noisy verbosity of everyone else. And, 99% of the time it is so. But, there is the small matter that he is a teenager now, and like all teenagers experiencing, experimenting, searching, and bumbling his way through various new situations.

As a mother, I’d reallyreally like to know how he is doing. And, “Fine” just doesn’t make the cut as a response to my concerned probing. I’d like to know how he is coping Deep Down Inside, and not just in passing. Yes, there is a possibility that he doesn’t know the DDI, and there’s even a larger likelihood that he has no inclination to communicate this knowledge with his mother. So, what am I left with?

What I’ve come to realise is that I have to sharpen my senses. I must try (even if I’ll only succeed rarely) not to interpret or hyperbolise what he says. Instead, I must look at the quantity and frequency of communication and not the quality and intensity. Does this make any sense?

Even more importantly, I have to, as I did before he learnt to talk, learn to read between the lines of his Spartan verbal communication: the tone of his voice, facial gestures, ease of eye contact, and readiness of laughter. For talk is talk, but an image is worth a thousand words. Seeing Nomad Son smile and laugh at some ridiculous family joke will just have to pacify my fearful mothering heart for the moment.

We have decided on the topic of parenthood and parenting for the next few months. We’d love to hear what you have to say about…

…Instilling confidence and responsibility in our children. We know we could profit from the ideas of other parents along these lines. Some possible themes could include financial responsibility, time management, and dealing with friendship/inter-personal conflicts... (more).

Der Herbst steht ins Haus und damit einhergehend häufig schwankende Temperaturen bei zunehmender Feuchtigkeit, die für unser Immunsystem oftmals eine Herausforderung bedeuten.

So möchte ich heute ein paar Maßnahmen und Mittel vorstellen, die in Zeiten der erhöhten Infektanfälligkeit, sowohl für Kinder als auch für Erwachsene, sehr nützlich sein können... (mehr).

caterina von luebeck, deutschland

Ich habe vor wenigen Wochen eine Frachtschiffreise unternommen; durch den Kanal nach Rotterdam und über die Ostsee nach Sankt Petersburg. Ein- und Ausstieg war die Kanalschleuse in Kiel. Ich schreibe gerade an einem kleinen Reisebericht darüber; da es aber noch etwas dauert, bis der fertig wird, hier schon einmal vorab ein paar Buchtipps zum Thema… (mehr).

No other poem reflects the moods of the month September – at least in this part of the world - better, I think, than the poem “To Autumn” by John Keats... (more).

Kaum ein Gedicht gibt für mich die Stimmung des Septembermonats (in diesen Breiten) so gut wieder wie das Gedicht „To Autumn“ von John Keats. Leider habe ich keine deutsche Übersetzung des Gedichts gefunden... (mehr).

Christine responded to my effusive praise of listening to poets read their poems, versus reading poems, with the following comment.

“I find Lia’s opinion that listening to the author is the only way of understanding a poem a bit extreme. What about the poems of authors who died long ago? No chance to understand them? What about music, by the way? Would the only way of understanding Mozart’s music be listening to him playing? Interpreting poems and interpreting music is very much the same thing, basically, and listening to the author can give interesting hints. But how much pleasure can be gathered from trying to seek the truth behind words or keys of music written down long time ago.”

I didn’t mean listen to the poets is the “only” way to understand a poem. It was intended as an exaggerated way of saying it is perhaps the best way, if the opportunity arises. As perhaps fashion conscious women say the only way to understand fashion is to go to the fashion shows in Milan, London, Paris, or New York City.


When I was originally trying to come up with some sort of allegory about how marvellous and entertaining the audio recordings in Poetry Archive are, I did consider for a moment using reading music and hearing it. But, the problem is, composers don’t necessarily play their own music. And, for most people, looking at a sheet of music does not awaken the sounds in their brains.

The fact is, the words in poems stir up images, introduce nuances, and tease or elude us in meaning. Then comes the poet and recites the poem and instantly fills our ears and hearts with all of the afore-mentioned and more.

“Poetry’s a zoo in which you keep demons and angels” Les Murray

A while ago, my brother sent me this link of a poetry website called, The Poetry Archive. An explanation of the site goes as follows:

“The Poetry Archive is the world's premier online collection of recordings of poets reading their work.”

It is a revelation to hear poets recite their poems. It might be apparent to you all, but listening to poems in the last weeks has made me aware of a simple truth, and that is, the only way to live or experience or understand a poem is to hear the author’s speak the words… (more).

Whoever read my entry „Metamorphose der Pflanzen“ might fear that I know no other poems but those by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. That is not the case, though.

I selected this famous poem about the oldest existing species of trees for several reasons:

All through this unusually hot summer I was pleased to see how untouched by any summer tress our little Gingko tree continued to thrive and unfold its interesting leaves. A good reason for me to try and draw attention to this plant... (more).

Wer meinen Eintrag “Metamorphose der Pflanzen” gelesen hat, könnte jetzt befürchten, dass ich keine anderen Gedichte kenne als die Johann Wolfgang von Goethes. So ist es aber nicht.

Ich habe dieses berühmteste aller Gedichte über den ältesten Baum der Erdgeschichte aus mehreren Gründen für den Monat August ausgesucht:

Immer wieder war ich in diesem sehr heißen Sommer erfreut, wie unberührt von allem Sommerstress, den die Pflanzenwelt zu erleiden hatte, unser kleiner Gingkobaum seine interessanten Blätter entfaltete... (mehr)

Just went through my daughter’s bookshelves and sorted out the many children’s books for young children. Some of these books are from my childhood, some I bought as an adult because I’ve always loved illustrated children’s books, some were bought fifteen years ago, when my son was a baby, and some in the last eleven years since my daughter was born. Oh, what wonderful books they are and what happy memories they hold; lying in bed at night reading them to my children.

I will pass a good amount of them on to kindergartens, grade schools, and friends with young children, but some I will hold on to. They are the type of books I will read over and over again. And, might I risk making a wish, to read them to my grandchildren in years to come?

Please go to the Book Corner if you are looking for recommendations of good books for young children... (more)