Those of you who have kids know that writing prompts aren’t just for breakfast anymore.
Once the property of Natalie Goldberg and writing workshops for grown-ups, writing prompts have become a fixture in the elementary school classroom.
And they pretty much work for kids the way the work for us — intermittently.
"It’s like bad prompt week at school," one of my girls will say.
"Today’s prompt was so random that I pretty much didn’t even get it!" the other chimes in.
(Side note: Doesn’t it just kill you when kids (of all people) call something random?!?!)
Other times they rave.
"I could’ve written for my writing prompt all day today!"
"I started writing about my dream but then it took off into the greatest story!"
Every so often one of them will want to share what they’ve written, and tonight was one of those nights.
I asked permission to share this with you all.
It just seemed so dang pertinent.
It’s by my Tall One. Enjoy.
If I Could Create a New Holiday…
If I could create a new holiday it would be called W.A.O. day. W.A.O. stands for We Are One!
It would be an international holiday.
Why would we celebrate it? Well, in my opinion, if we would come together and make peace we would have a better world. So this holiday would celebrate that.
It would be in November. November 7th, to be exsact.
I would have it take place in different continents ever year, and different countrys. I think it should start in Malaysia. We would all go down to were ever it was held and have a big picnic with everyone.
N. America bringing soup. Everon in S. America bringing muffins, bread and sandwiches. Everone in Europe brings vegis. Everyone in Asia bringing fruit or rice or soup/sushi. (Its so big it needs a lot of potluck items) Then Australia and Africa bring beans and meat and fish.
Any ways, then we would have a talent show and some contests. Then music and some danceing. Then we would all get to talk for 15 min. Then would come the grand finale.
We all would get in a HUGE circle and all say an oath that would go like this:
I say now that I will live in peace, speack up, and have responsibility.
I will help others and respect youngers and elders.
I oath.
Then we would all bow or say amen or say ommmm or whatever you do.
Then there would be more music and fireworks.
It would be a great holiday.
No kidding.
And according to her calculations, it’s tomorrow.
In Malaysia.
You coming?
I’m bringing soup…
I love reading kids’ writing. My favorite part here is where she says “make peace” as if it were the same thing as, say, making dinner. Which, you know, why isn’t it? This kind of perspective is one of the reasons I work with children.
I know, right?
She’s only giving us 15 minutes to talk because, for godssake, lets get on with it and make peace…
I will bring green chile chicken stew. And my dancing shoes.
That’s gonna go really well with all the muffins and such from South America…
i TOLD you there was no way to narrow down the top 10 greatest things about the tall one. she’s too too too. i love that girl.
i oath it!
I oath it, too…
W.A.O. rhymes with wow.
I’ll get a pot of cream of broccoli soup ready and I’m going to buy the first plane ticket to tomorrow (in Malaysia) that I can find because kids like your daughter(s) are going to be there!
Amen, M.L.
TadMack says: 🙂
Since I am in the UK, I guess I’m bringing veggies. I will avoid, for all of our sakes, the turnips and parsnips, but will roast some beets and drizzle them with olive oil and black pepper and snips of fresh rosemary and sea salt. And of course, there must be “tatties” fried with onions and mushrooms on the side.
And I will bring a skirt that looks good when it flares out so I can spin.
If she plans it, I will come, so I oath. Ommm and Amen.
Re: TadMack says: 🙂
TadMack — Beets are Tall One’s FAVORITE VEGETABLE! You would win a spot at the head table, except that there won’t be one because it would be too heirarchical.
“Then we would all bow or say amen or say ommmm or whatever you do.”
I love how The Tall One is so open. You did good. And I’ll help celebrate! Cupcakes, anyone?
I can’t take credit. I think this generation just arrived very wide awake…
I love the tall one!! I think Obama needs her in his cabinet. Of course I’ll also bring some soup; the alphabets will spell “I oath.” Dip in, everybody!
If he calls her, she will come. I oath.
I’m in. I have so many good soup recipes that it will be difficult to choose. Do you think they’ll let me bring it on the plane? It will, after all, be more than 3 ounces!
And Tanita, what’s up with the root vegetable snub? Bring it along and we’ll make a terrific soup!
If only more adults thought this way, because I’m sure there are plenty of great kids who do. We do need some kind of unifying day that goes beyond religious celebrations. We darn near had one on Tuesday night, as it seems everyone around the world celebrated with us.
Yes, indeed, Tricia. Tuesday was a virtual WAO Day…
I love that we can only talk for 15 minutes! Is that just to encourage us to break some rules or what? LOL
I’ll bring chips and salsa.
I know. It’s sort of like when we give kids a “5 minute warning” and then proceed to talk to the parents for an hour and a quarter…
I oath.
ommmmmm
And namaste…
Oh for crying out loud. Or for laughing out loud. Or both. That is my niece. That is my niece’s priceless, right-on precious self shining through in her writing.
Love it! I am so going to celebrate that holiday.
caribookscoops