The Catholic Leader - 22 April

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The Catholic Leader, April 22, 2018
Family + religion
“I Can Spell Belonging”
a book about the Church for
young people
By Selina Venier
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Family Faith
HE was writing his name and reading well be-
yond his age level.
Above all, he was actually asking to do maths.
I was told such a mathematical reality was “more a boy thing”
and it was true that his sisters were nowhere near as competent at
age four.
My preference however was to think it was just “him”; there’s
no reason girls can’t be engaged with all things mathematical at
any age.
But when the first day of Prep this year rolled around, and the
Australian flag was hoisted at the first school assembly with stu-
dents seemingly confidently singing along to the accompanying
national anthem, I wondered if we’d somehow failed our Master
Four.
I’ll never forget him standing there in a type of bewilderment,
although that probably was mostly to do with the flag-raising
itself of which he had a bird’s eye view, the reality being we’d
not actually taught him the national anthem.
Writing his name – yes; recognising letters and numbers –
sure; reading key words – more gold stars; simple addition and
subtraction – he’d done that almost himself; peddling a bike and
riding a scooter – of course; swimming, albeit imperfectly, was
underway; kicking a ball – that was a given; as was the learning
of the prayers and traditions of the Church; but sadly, the anthem
– not so much.
Was it a failure?
Should such an understanding be hoisted right up there with
knowing the Hail Mary, Glory Be and Our Father?
Beyond first knowing anything by rote, I’m a stickler for actu-
ally understanding the correct words and their subsequent mean-
ing, for children especially.
In terms of the anthem, the words “girt” and “toil” require time
and explanation and as the first school term of the year rolled on,
so did the Monday-morning flag and anthem ritual.
While we hadn’t been very good at the instructional part of the
anthem I honestly thought the teacher would aid all the Preppies
in their correct understanding, other parents concurring.
For a host of reasons, that didn’t quite come to fruition.
So when we arrived at the recent Commonwealth Games flag-
hoisting ceremonies, a joy to witness, soon came the accompany-
ing four-year-old-plus lyrics.
“Australians all let us rejoice, for she is young and free. With
golden soil and just rejoice, our home is God by sea … (some-
thing ambiguous) … of beauty rich and rare … (more ambiguity
and asking what’s the next part, then a drawn-out, just like the
anthem itself) … Ad-vance, Austra-lia, D-ay.”
“Oh dear”, was my first reaction although, look, I was glad
God was mentioned even though He isn’t ordinarily.
Master-Going-on-Five sang his version of the anthem with
such pride and emphasis, imperfectly echoing its melody, and
making our hearts melt.
He simultaneously announced he “wants to be in the next
Commonwealth Games for backstroke”.
“Right, best get busy about correcting or even attempting
both”, was my next thought.
With so many blissful opportunities to witness the Austral-
ian flag being hoisted and sportsmanship celebrated, the recent
holidays offered fluid chances to improve.
When the Term Two school flag-raising ceremonies now pre-
sent themselves, I know the parenting role we’d previously failed
to complete will take its own strides towards the finish line.
Master-Going-on-Five is also growing in an understanding of
has second language, Italian, spoken a great deal in our home.
Never too late to learn from children
By Selina Venier
Selina Venier is an author and works in faith
education.
I’ve written before about how his absorbent mind can, for
example, hear a question addressed in Italian and convert it to
respond in English.
It’s fun to witness especially as his Italian phrasing is also
gaining confidence so he often flips between the two options or
blends them.
When asked to offer the meal-time prayer among family re-
cently he began the Our Father in Italian.
“Padre nostro” translated to, “Our Father”, we heard, “Che sei
in piedi,” of which we paused because “che sei in piedi” means,
“Who is standing (up)”.
The correct version is,“Che sei in cieli” or “Who art in
heaven”, but he’d mistaken “cieli” for “piedi”, convenient that it
rhymes.
Essentially Master-Going-on-Five said, “Our Father, who is
standing”.
By Selina venier
It was one of those moments when it’s not terribly helpful to
laugh or over-correct but simply to explain the error, to guide
discussions towards the truth.
At any rate we were delighted that he was giving it a go.
And what is parenting if it isn’t exactly that, encouraging our
children to try, to learn from mistakes of any measure, and to
try again?
As parents we sure make our fair share of mistakes and as a
child, teenager and young adult I certainly made enough of my
own. But did I learn? Did I try again?
Did I have the type of adults around to not scold but encour-
age? Did you?
My maternal Nonna (grandmother), whom I often write
about and has had the most profound impact of anyone on my
life, has a simple almost daily saying, to “keep going”.
She says it in this classic Italian way which is more, “keepa
going”, I think you could imagine if you too say it like that.
My paternal Nonno (grandfather), now gone to God, spoke
of an unforgettable “coraggio sempre” or “courage always” and
I can still hear echoes of his encouragement.
Let’s offer our children and grandchildren, in fact all young
people, daily encouragement for everything from imperfect
lyrics of an invaluable song, to getting back onto playground
equipment after a fall, to turning the figurative “page” after a
significant hurdle.
And when we do, it’s likely us imperfect adults will learn
something too.
Proceeds from the sale of Br John's book will go to the MAPS (Marist Asia-Pacific
Solidarity) which is administered by the Marist Brothers. MAPS provides financial
and material support as well as education and volunteers services for Marist Brother's
ministries.
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Learning moments: “I’ll never forget him standing there in a type of bewilderment, although that probably was mostly to do
with the flag-raising itself of which he had a bird’s eye view, the reality being we’d not actually taught him the national anthem.”
And what is parenting
if it isn’t exactly that,
encouraging our children to
try, to learn from mistakes
of any measure, and
to try again?