Mafe Maria: A Creative Playground by Maria Q. Stultz

To give you a sense of what goes on in the romper room, I’ll share a few moments from a Son-Rise session Joaquin and I had this week. In the previous days, we had spent a lot of time around the blackboard and a piece of paper, writing down numbers he would dictate to me. He’ll give me a piece of chalk or a crayon and say a number, very often avoiding eye contact. The activity is an ism because, although it is not exclusive, it is repetitive and inflexible. It’s progress, because it involves me. So, rather than imitating (which is what I’d do if he was tuning me out), my way of joining is playing the small part he wants me to play with energy excitement and enthusiasm, until a time when he gives me a “green light”, meaning a moment where it feels like he’s open to something out of his ism. At that point, I’ll try to change it just a little bit by introducing something different.

So I had spent about three fun days doing this with him, and during those days I really enjoyed it while my heart was full of love and awe for this strange tiny creature who adores numbers this much. My attitude must have been right on because I felt great, and every morning, Joaquin could not wait to get us in the room to “play”. But on the fourth day, I felt like I needed a change of pace… I had started preparing a game many days earlier, and that night decided to finish it and introduce it next day. … Continue reading »