One of the things that my mom taught me about having people over to dinner and especially for having a party is to make sure that everything is planned out. She never makes some new recipe for these occasions, but spends at least a week working out all the kinks before offering something to somebody else.
Me? One of my qualifications for being able to teach children’s cooking is that I can improvise. Forgot to buy an ingredient? Don’t know what we’re making till I go to the market that morning? Half the recipe spills out onto the floor, but we still need to feed 30? Someone stuck a booger in the batter? Let’s just see what we can do.
One of the ways that I made my way in the world of yoga teaching when I was a very young (21 years old!) teacher was to take any subbing gig I could get at first. A lot of new teachers hate doing this since you have to get up in front of a group who wishes that, instead of you being there, their usual and beloved teacher was there. Sometimes a substitute is met with palpable anger or, in the very least, irritation. It was a specialized training, this coming in and having to find the opening into a class’s heart. Sometimes it was relatively easy, and the class went with the new situation. Sometimes, well, it was harrowing. It felt like I imagine a stand-up comedian feels on stage, but after a few months of practicing it, the fear just dissipated for me.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” I thought.
Then, yesterday, we had our class party for the big cooking class, and one of my friends called me “sensible”. I had to stop and think hard about that. Really? After the years of yoga teaching and afterward teaching kids and wrangling my own two, I have learned a lot of tricks: that you don’t reveal the dessert till the children have eaten at least a bite or two of the dinner or that there’s hardly anything in the kitchen that cannot be cleaned up with a bunch of dishrags and some soapy water (more formally known as: don’t cry over spilled milk), and that a little bribery (re: chocolate) never hurt anyone.
Sensible, though? Hmmm. I just thought I was improvising.
Other looks at being in the moment:
08/12/2010 at 4:32 pm Permalink
ugh, “sensible” is like being called “crafty”
08/12/2010 at 5:11 pm Permalink
I knew you wore the crown of improvising! xo
08/12/2010 at 5:50 pm Permalink
Interesting thoughts, and I agree with Joyce, yours was the first blog I went to to check out “improvising”
09/12/2010 at 12:40 am Permalink
I like your thoughts on improvising !!
09/12/2010 at 6:33 am Permalink
Improvisation can be art and way of living… It’s a dream to know parties like yours!
09/12/2010 at 8:42 am Permalink
I think anyone who works with children or has children has to learn the art of improvising. Maybe it is sensibility. I have never thought of it that way. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
09/12/2010 at 4:36 pm Permalink
As a mother I think a LOT of improvising goes on ~ I had no idea I had it in me to make it up as we go along. :>) I Love your Corner View today. Cheers~
09/12/2010 at 8:51 pm Permalink
I love what you said about finding your way into the class’s heart. That right there- that desire to do that with a class you’ve never met, don’t have to be invested in, may never see again- that desire is what makes you an excellent teacher! Hmmm….sensible- well I’m sure it was meant as a compliment- you say potato, I say….etc.
With the Elf- that’s a good question as to if Zuzu knows it isn’t real. I don’t really know, I would guess that to her he is as real as her baby dolls and Santa himself! Her whole world is pretend at this age. I think the line between real and imaginary doesn’t quite exist for her yet. Or she very well could just be that wise as to know to go along with what makes me laugh and gets her toys
!
10/12/2010 at 5:33 am Permalink
Looks like the way you found is just right!!!
10/12/2010 at 9:55 am Permalink
It took me a surprisingly long time to learn that little bribery trick!
12/12/2010 at 8:03 am Permalink
i loved this cate.
p.s. do you miss teaching yoga?
xxx
23/12/2010 at 12:19 am Permalink
I like your attitude and easy going nature … I also admire your balance. Improvising and going with the flow…