As I’ve mentioned previously, I’ve been doing the Artist’s Way over the last 11 weeks. It’s a book about reigniting one’s creativity, which really seems to be about regaining custody of one’s inner child in order to be creative for the sake of it, rather than obsession with end results. I always thought the inner “child” was entirely figurative, but actual engagement in childhood activities is a big part of the process. It got me thinking about the things I love most about people who manage to preserve their inner child, who stay young.
Maurice Sendak with Terry Gross: This is the best podcast interview I have listened to in my entire life, in which the incredible author of children’s books like “Where the Wild Things Are” and “In the Night Kitchen.” He talks about childhood, death, being human, being gay, parents who fight, Jewishness, and more. The last part was recorded right before his death, when he says:
"I have nothing now but praise for my life. I'm not unhappy. I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can't stop them. They leave me and I love them more. ... What I dread is the isolation. ... There are so many beautiful things in the world which I will have to leave when I die, but I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready."
On Being, with Krista Tippett and Kate DiCamillo: This is now the second best podcast interview I have listened to in my entire life. Krista Tippett is a soft and sensitive person, and Kate Di Camillo wrote some of my favorite childhood books. A quote:
Each and every one of us is a former eight-year-old — wide open with yearning and possibility; almost unbearably alert to the world’s wonders and its dangers all at once; understanding exactly how troubled the adults around you are, even if they think they are hiding it from you. In her writing, it is Kate DiCamillo’s gift to make bearable the fact that joy and sorrow live so close, side by side, in life as it is — if not as we wish it to be.
Little girls in the American Girl Doll Store: When I was a kid, I wanted nothing more than an American Girl doll (Samantha to be precise!) These dolls are meant to be stories of girls from American history. The American Girl Doll store in Rockefeller Center is a magical place where you can take your doll for tea, to buy new outfits and books, and go on adventures. My favorite thing about the store was that it let your imagination run wild. My doll died a sad death when my sister colored her face with green marker (!) and cut her hair. This cover story is enchanting.
Jacob Collier’s childlike joy: I saw Jacob live this week and it was an incredible experience. He is the inheritor of the “crown” in jazz-pop — Quincy Jones (who wrote Thriller, never forget) said, “I have never in my life seen a talent like this. Beyond category. One of my favourite young artists on the planet — absolutely mind-blowing.” Jacob’s talent is striking, but what transforms his performance is the sense that he’s just playing with his friends on stage. I loved this talk he gave on remaining childlike.
Ezra Klein with Alison Gopnik: I first listened to this episode years ago! But the thing I constantly remember is the quote about the “numinous.”
So there’s this lovely concept that I like of the numinous. And sometimes it’s connected with spirituality, but I don’t think it has to be. It’s this idea that you’re going through the world. And often, quite suddenly, if you’re an adult, everything in the world seems to be significant and important and important and significant in a way that makes you insignificant by comparison. My colleague, Dacher Keltner, has studied awe. And awe is kind of an example of this. But the numinous sort of turns up the dial on awe.
And part of the numinous is it doesn’t just have to be about something that’s bigger than you, like a mountain. It could just be your garden or the street that you’re walking on. And suddenly that becomes illuminated. Everything around you becomes illuminated. And you yourself sort of disappear. And I think that’s kind of the best analogy I can think of for the state that the children are in.
The Miseducation of Maria Montessori: On my first day of second grade, I told my public school teacher that I didn’t feel like math at 9am, but according to the contract that I had written up for that day, I would get it done on my own time. This is the tell tale sign of a Montessori kid! I think if I had continued with Montessori, I would have been even better prepared for real life. I loved this deep dive into her methods.
Hazie Motherhood: This is an unhinged recommendation, but it’s a Youtube channel I sometimes watch to unwind — it’s an Australian nurse named Hazie describing her tactics for caring for her children the Montessori way. It’s incredibly soothing and very aspirational! I want someone to make me a tactile water bead table and mini kitchen!
A train entirely operated by children in Budapest: What?! This is so adorable. Per the Montessori way, you’re supposed to give children real jobs. Train conductor counts!
The sinister behind Peter Pan: Of course there’s a dark story behind Peter Pan — but the center of that is the tradeoff of childhood “heartlessness” and selfishness and the act of growing up and feeling empathy for others. I thought this was a very well-written analysis.
Everything you need to know about artificial womb research: This is only tangentially related to children, but boy oh boy do I wish that we’d made more progress on artificial wombs. They’d be the ultimate solution for women’s bodily autonomy. I really hope that by the time I die, we solve this problem for the next generation of women.