Last night, they created a new sandbox using only six photos....ones they might use to help write a book for their future students, about something they'd want to share. Because I'm in my childhood home, I modeled a possible kids's book I might write to help young people to understand generations. I was thinking about the number three, and how at any one time, most families operate with three generations: kids, adults, and greater adults. I found a photo of my dad and his siblings from Sherburne, New York, followed with the only adult photo I have of all three, when they united at Casey's wedding. I also shared my parent's 50th wedding cake, followed by a photo of my sisters and I from childhood, an updated photo from Casey's wedding, too, and then a photo of the grandkids, now, and how it all changes rather quickly.
This is generational and it rolls rather predictably as one lives their lifetime. I am, because of the innocent years of perusing yearbooks, draws of photographs, books, and portraits not only in my parents, but at my grandparents, aunts, and uncles. That was my foundation for my adult years: the Crandalls and Ripleys. Of course, this is extended to the Isgars and Barnwells, too.
Generations.
I'm not sure what "kid book" I'll create for teaching purposes, but I had the students read Grant Snider's Poetry Comics and look at Thinking About Thinking so I could make my case about 'blocking out' the stories we hope to tell. With images, we're more likely to have the language we need to share our stories.
I grew excited that the lesson seemed to work, and within minutes the students started filling their sandboxes with the stories they hope to write.
Three. Three kids grew up and had kids of their own. These kids had/have kids of their own. And so on, and so on.
And with that, let March march on. It's April tomorrow and that mean's #VerseLove 2026.
