Last night I had a little look into MY being born “different”
I bounded through the door home from Te Reo class (Maori language)
My beautiful 12 year old son right there
Oh man I said to him
I don't know how children do it
How YOU do it
Sitting in class most of the day as a way to learn
I feel for you and all the children everywhere
I had just sat for an hour
learning Te Reo
So firstly I had to sit to learn in this class
I learn best with movement and experience
Then I had to know how to play the card game FISH
Yeah I know it's simple
But I am shite at cards games my brain is just not wired that way
Then I had to learn how to translate the game into Te Reo
So I could play the game...
So when I get hellvya nervous
I either cry and get anxious as all hell
or I laugh and laugh and make jokes about myself
to ease the pressure
or I get super serious and try to look like I got sh*t handled
or I swear like a mofo
sometimes I run away
not often though anymore
Luckily I have come to know all my classmates so well
and they are a dear bunch of friends
Most of them teachers
So they have the patience of Saints
So the stress is getting to me and I am laughing nervously and trying to work the whole game out and my answer and then translate it.
And sit still doing it !
So I look at one of my friends he is always smiling and ready for a laugh
Because he knows it is always a bit of mixed bag with me...
I am doing my best here
I have a Queen and I want a Queen from him if he has one
But instead I ask him for a PIG !
The words are kind of close in pronunciation and visually too
But to tell the truth not really
I roar with laughter
Everyone roars with laughter
But really I thought I had it down
and that my simple question I would pronounce correctly...
So I say to my son
Honestly I just have to accept that I am different
Like jeez if you asked me to talk with your dear Cat that has passed away
or your darling Mother on the other side
And bring through a message from them
I can do that in a heart beat
With ease
With love and flow
But that other stuff
It burns up my energy and has me way out of my comfort zone
Nervous as all hell
But I keep turning up
Mostly because of the love, laughter and support from my awesome friends
You all know who you are and our incredible teacher Gabi too
The power of Community
The power of Love and laughter
and my language
which will come through me in some way I know for sure
Thanks to my Tipuna (ancestors)
Art by me
