You were never far behind your dad, Candace Rose. You followed him around. Carried his tools when he was remodeling our kitchen. I'm beyond grateful he is your father. He's a remarkable one. What a lovely tribute to him.
I love that you shared this, Mom, as just today, Elena sat with Jose for at least half an hour, helping him put her little scooter back together :) She would hand him tools or different parts and watched him so intently the whole time, not missing a single step in the process. It's very fun to think about how that might have a similar effect on her and shape who she becomes 🤍
Candace, there is no way to predict how seemingly small interactions between parent and child bend the arc of a child’s life. Indulge me in sharing three examples from my own children:
- I love languages and words, those little sound packets of emotions, history, and meaning. I spent a lot of time talking about languages and words with my kids. Results? My son speaks three languages (English, Russian, and Azerbaijani) and my daughter speaks four, or five including ASL(English, Russian, Azerbaijani, and Arabic). She also chose a career as a pediatric speech therapist to give the gift of expression to kids who struggle to communicate.
- My wife and I always grew gardens as the kids grew up. Now my kids and their spouses grow wonderful gardens that surpass anything I ever managed to produce.
- I taught my son to fly fish when he was little. Now that he is a man, he usually finds time to fish a couple times a week. (He’s a catch and release, barbless hook fisherman.) It’s his way of relaxing, thinking, and staying grounded, and the activity is an esthetic endeavor in its own right.
All these things were never part of some great master plan for the kids. They were the small, quiet interactions that can take place between parents and children that set children in wonderful directions that far exceeded the little attentions that were required; they were intimate moments that became lifelong gifts.
Switter, this is such a rich comment, and there's so much to unpack! But I especially love what you shared here: "They were the small, quiet interactions that can take place between parents and children that set children in wonderful directions that far exceeded the little attentions that were required; they were intimate moments that became lifelong gifts." That will definitely be on my mind in the months and years to come with my daughter, thank you 🙏🙏
So much of the gratitude I'm feeling right now goes to you as well! I cannot thank you enough for all of your insights and support as I find my way on Substack -- it's so fun to be creating with you here, and I can't wait to watch EIA continue to grow :) 🎉🎉
Thank you so much for your kind words, Marianne! And I especially love the words you shared about Elena -- as much as I always try to stay in the present and enjoy this stage of life with her, I definitely find myself wondering so often about who she'll become one day and the things she'll do :)
What a lovely post about your creative inheritance! It's great to see your family in the photo and hear about the connection you and your Dad share around art. The gift of creativity, the nurturing of your talent and the shared love of lettering seems extra special now that we know about your Dad.
I have often given thanks for my creative inheritance as well. For me it’s been a little more oblique but the history is amazing when you look at it. On my mothers side I can trace it first with her interior design wizardry, her mothers sewing prowess, her grandmother’s confectionery expertise. And my father comes from a looong line of various kinds of designers and photographers with some fine artists sprinkled in. One of the McCobb’s wrote a book of our history and apparently 3 McCobb’s came to the US in the 1700’s and one of them spawned generations of creatives. Although most were smart enough to leave it as a hobby.
I am glad your newsletter is doing so well. It is well deserved as everyone says. I look forward to more.
PS my mother is Peruvian and I have a cousin there who is a muralist.
You were never far behind your dad, Candace Rose. You followed him around. Carried his tools when he was remodeling our kitchen. I'm beyond grateful he is your father. He's a remarkable one. What a lovely tribute to him.
I love that you shared this, Mom, as just today, Elena sat with Jose for at least half an hour, helping him put her little scooter back together :) She would hand him tools or different parts and watched him so intently the whole time, not missing a single step in the process. It's very fun to think about how that might have a similar effect on her and shape who she becomes 🤍
Candace, there is no way to predict how seemingly small interactions between parent and child bend the arc of a child’s life. Indulge me in sharing three examples from my own children:
- I love languages and words, those little sound packets of emotions, history, and meaning. I spent a lot of time talking about languages and words with my kids. Results? My son speaks three languages (English, Russian, and Azerbaijani) and my daughter speaks four, or five including ASL(English, Russian, Azerbaijani, and Arabic). She also chose a career as a pediatric speech therapist to give the gift of expression to kids who struggle to communicate.
- My wife and I always grew gardens as the kids grew up. Now my kids and their spouses grow wonderful gardens that surpass anything I ever managed to produce.
- I taught my son to fly fish when he was little. Now that he is a man, he usually finds time to fish a couple times a week. (He’s a catch and release, barbless hook fisherman.) It’s his way of relaxing, thinking, and staying grounded, and the activity is an esthetic endeavor in its own right.
All these things were never part of some great master plan for the kids. They were the small, quiet interactions that can take place between parents and children that set children in wonderful directions that far exceeded the little attentions that were required; they were intimate moments that became lifelong gifts.
Switter, this is such a rich comment, and there's so much to unpack! But I especially love what you shared here: "They were the small, quiet interactions that can take place between parents and children that set children in wonderful directions that far exceeded the little attentions that were required; they were intimate moments that became lifelong gifts." That will definitely be on my mind in the months and years to come with my daughter, thank you 🙏🙏
Moms are always so prejudiced about their kids and always so right!
Your success here is RICHLY DESERVED and your dad will be so ridiculously proud of what you're building.
😭😭😭
So much of the gratitude I'm feeling right now goes to you as well! I cannot thank you enough for all of your insights and support as I find my way on Substack -- it's so fun to be creating with you here, and I can't wait to watch EIA continue to grow :) 🎉🎉
"Ridiculously proud" is absolutely right, Mike! She inherited his eye for artistic value and I'm so grateful!
Lovely. So great you have a close connection with your dad and are so talented
Thank you for your wonderfully kind words, Nalini -- they mean so much! 🤍
Lovely essay about you and your Dad. I am thinking your lovely daughter is grown up amongst such talents - we can't imagine the things she can do!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Marianne! And I especially love the words you shared about Elena -- as much as I always try to stay in the present and enjoy this stage of life with her, I definitely find myself wondering so often about who she'll become one day and the things she'll do :)
Congratulations!! ✨✏️✨❤️🩹✍️
Thank you so much, Claire! 😊🤍🙏
What a lovely post about your creative inheritance! It's great to see your family in the photo and hear about the connection you and your Dad share around art. The gift of creativity, the nurturing of your talent and the shared love of lettering seems extra special now that we know about your Dad.
Thank you so much for reading, Donna, and for taking the time to leave such a wonderful comment -- I'm so glad you enjoyed this post! 🤍
What a great personal connection to your stories! Thanks for sharing!
I have often given thanks for my creative inheritance as well. For me it’s been a little more oblique but the history is amazing when you look at it. On my mothers side I can trace it first with her interior design wizardry, her mothers sewing prowess, her grandmother’s confectionery expertise. And my father comes from a looong line of various kinds of designers and photographers with some fine artists sprinkled in. One of the McCobb’s wrote a book of our history and apparently 3 McCobb’s came to the US in the 1700’s and one of them spawned generations of creatives. Although most were smart enough to leave it as a hobby.
I am glad your newsletter is doing so well. It is well deserved as everyone says. I look forward to more.
PS my mother is Peruvian and I have a cousin there who is a muralist.