Take Chances. Get Messy. Make Mistakes.

Last night Erik, Annika & Jonathan introduced me to The Magic School Bus, some cartoon episodes on dvd that teach kids about science. The teacher rarely lectures about anything, but instead takes the kids on field trips and encourages them to explore and make connections to help them piece together facts about the natural world. The bus is able to shrink, turn into boats and planes and all sorts of other handy tricks to assist in their learning process, thus its magic. As Miss Frizzle sends the kids on their way she frequently imparts the following words of wisdom, "Take chances. Get messy. Make mistakes."

Where was this advice when I was a kid? I seem to remember teachers consistently telling us not to make messes, mistakes were heavily disfavored and heavens, don't take chances. Chances and safety just don't go hand in hand and above all, you must keep safe. We teach children (and then continue to reinforce into adulthood) to fear mistakes, chances and messes because they are much easier to control when they don't do these things. The problem is that we then have a bunch of spirits dying to explore, break out and be themselves but crippled by fear.

I love the teacher's advice. Spiritually, I find it invaluable. Chances, messes and mistakes are how we learn, grow and find our place in the world. As a babysitter though, I'm much more conditioned into those old thought patterns. I'd prefer that the kids I'm watching didn't get messy, mostly because they aren't yet adept at cleaning messes, which means that responsibility falls to me. No one makes better physical messes than a curious child. The more complicated emotional messes are typically the handiwork of grownups. I hope that they don't take crazy chances (chances yes, unwise or unhealthy ones, no) and as someone who occasionally has to issue consequences for mistakes, I hope for less of those too.

I don't want to stifle their learning process but I do care about them being safe, as I'm sure those who instilled the fear of lack of safety in me did too. So, as with so many things in my life I'm seeking a balance. In my own life I frequently vacillate between caution and bravery, carefree and responsible, willingness and boundaries. I understand that none of these are direct opposites but I still often find myself torn between lending a hand or letting someone figure stuff out on their own. Certainly my intuition, passions and goals help me to navigate but I find myself wishing it were simpler or that I had more patience with the process, which of course is really just the same as saying that I wish life was easier but I know that I don't learn when I'm not challenged.

So I'm back to a common refrain in my life. Just for today I'm going to take chances, get messy and make mistakes. I'm going to encourage others to do the same. If I need help, I will ask for it and if someone else needs help I will give it. I will not fear mess, risk or mistakes because they are all part of the learning curve; for me and for those I love. If I end up with a lap full of goop, food and toys because I've encouraged the children to make messes, I will help them learn about cleaning and Not get cranky. Just for today. Tomorrow, whether I succeeded in these endeavors or fell short, I'll take a deep breath and try again.