{SQT} Writing, Reading, and the Theater

1. Neil's Obituary

I finished writing Grampa Neil's obituary and had it published in his hometown Sunday paper, exactly one month after his passing. I'd be so honored if you would read it (click here).

2. Weekend Visits

The children's godmother visited us on Saturday (click here) and we visited the children's grandparents on Sunday (click here).

3. A Street Musician

One day, Mary (8) was the last one with any duties remaining so, while her siblings enjoyed the gorgeous weather outside, Mary simply brought her violin outdoors for her practice session.

Thomas (2) danced.

4. Exercise Is Slow Going

The weather is cooling off.

I'm eight weeks postpartum today.

I managed one exercise walk this whole week. Please tell me that one is better than zero.

It took 45 minutes just to get the children dressed and with shoes on, ready to accompany me, by which time I was actually crying. (Does crying burn calories?)

The process of finding childcare or bringing six children along during exercise is exceedingly harder than the exercise itself.

5. First Play of the Season

On Thursday, I took the crew to see a two-and-a-half-hour production of "Mary Poppins" at the children's theater. I couldn't enjoy the musical, but I did appreciate some social time with other moms in the library where I stayed with my three youngest.

After the play, we had just enough time to eat lunch at home before I took the children to Scottish dance, where I occupied my youngest four out on the playground for an hour and a half.

Then I managed to turn the normally one-hour drive home into a two-hour drive home due to rush hour traffic, stopping to nurse the infant (again), and getting drive-through dinner. There was much wailing. It was a good day, but a long one.

6. Cupcake Rosary

On Friday after CCE, we enjoyed a "cupcake rosary" in honor of Our Lady during this traditional month dedicated to her. The mom in our community who organizes this event each year does a lovely job: various cupcakes make up the decades, the lights are dimmed and candles lit, the statue of Our Lady is adorned with a tiny rose crown, and the children lead the decades. Afterwards, frosting and crumbs abound!

7. Roald Dahl

Only my bibliophile friends will care about my decision that I've decided not to include Roald Dahl in our family's reading.

This is big, folks. He's an icon in children's literature.

I still own my childhood copies of all his books and remembered their zany humor with fondness. A couple of years ago, I read aloud both "Danny, Champion of the World" and "James and the Giant Peach" to my children. I chose those intentionally, considering them to be the least dark and twisted of Dahl's works . . . but I felt hesitant and awkward throughout. The morals presented did not fit with the morals we want to teach our children. I felt repeatedly pricked as I read aloud (and my children delighted) that I was not forming them correctly.

So, I was drawn with great interest to this article: "Descending into the Chocolate Factory: Are Dahl’s Works Worth it?" by Sean Fitzpatrick (Crisis Magazine, 9/26/2017).

I read along and agreed with Fitzpatrick's criticisms of Dahl's works and felt that he was leading me to the conclusion I'd already been flirting with: no, Dahl's works are not worth my children reading. But no, at the last second, Fitzpatrick says our kids should read them anyway, despite the "viciousness," being "devilish," and the "mad kaleidoscope of humor, hysteria, and horror" that are Dahl's writings.

Feeling quite confused--because remember, I loved reading these books--I consulted with a very devout Catholic who is also an educated reader, and I will quote liberally from this anonymous friend:

"He's a very good writer, but dark. I do not think he has a proper underpinning for the children to read. His outlook is bleak, fatalistic, and truly godless. I repeat that he is a very good writer---but that is not enough. So is Nabokov and one is to avoid Lolita.
I remember Chocolate Factory. There is a thin vicious undercurrent regarding his flawed characters. I think what it is, is that the author lacks charity for his characters, there is a kind of cruelty in Dahl.

. . . .

"Also, I remember a most gripping book of his short stories. He always teases out the most horrific dark strand in human nature and then presents a shocking ending scene.
. . . . I do not give my thumbs up, but thumbs down. Pass him by.

. . . .

"All that the essayist says is accurate about the kind of writer Dahl is, but I do not agree with his conclusion at all; for all the moral story telling of Dahl, for spiritual development of children he is not worth 'the risk'. And what is the 'risk'? I think it is that in pulling out the delight and delectability that children (all people) have for the 'bad' (concupiscence), from a Catholic point of view, this is simply a temptation to either identify with the gross characters and their actions, secretly wishing one could do likewise, OR . . . a worse temptation, one of indulging in the delectable sin of revenge--delighting that someone got their comeuppance.

"His charity gauge is way off. Compare with E.B. White's Charlotte Web; Templeton is not an attractive figure, craven and covetous and gluttoness, the gander is silly and 'goosy' -- most of the chartacters are distinctly flawed, but they are a community and they put up with one another and all rally around Wilbur and then the dying Charlotte. The book is infused with love, affection, humor, charity for the characters.
E.B. White stands head and shoulders above Dahl."

So, I am convinced by the nudging in my own conscience, by Fitzpatrick's article (but not his conclusion), and by my holy friend to say goodbye to Roald Dahl. I won't be introducing him to my children.

My bibliophile friends will understand how hard a break-up this is.

For more 7 Quick Takes Friday, check out This Ain't the Lyceum.