Since our children were born, we've been speaking with them about the multitude of ways people build a family. And there are excellent books that can be used to discuss adoption (for instance, A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza) or used to discuss donor gametes or fertility treatments or why some children have two mommies and others have two daddies and others have a mommy and a daddy or simply a mommy or a daddy. But there wasn't one song or one book or one movie that we found that we liked that explained all of these ideas with one simple analogy. Our biggest reason for wanting one single song instead of an entire album of songs was that we didn't know how we were going to add to our family again and if this next child wasn't conceived via fertility treatments, we wanted all of our children to understand that regardless of how they came into the family, they were all equally precious and wanted and special.
We were waiting and waiting for someone else to write this song or make this movie, but when it didn't happen, we decided to do it ourselves.
We wanted a simple idea that could be used to explain the multitude of paths used to create a family with the understanding that some families are created through one means--every child via IVF, let's say--and others are a gorgeous patchwork quilt of paths--with one child adopted and another child from fertility treatments. And we wanted one song that explained this so every child in the family could be covered in the song as well as every classmate or cousin or neighbour. One song--many paths--one explanation.
We made this song and movie first and foremost for our kids. But then Josh threw out the idea of posting it so that other people could show it to their kids in case they needed a song/movie like this. Our kids call it their flower song and request it often. They've even made up their own dance to the song that involves a move that is vaguely reminiscent of a swimming stroke.
So sit down with your children and watch the cartoon together and use it as a jumping board to discussing how each flower that appears in the garden is meant to be in the garden--whether it was planted there or sprung up unaided.
This movie is one of two parts. The second song and movie are coming soon and will be a simple analogy aimed at children to explain pregnancy loss since too many times infertility and pregnancy loss (and part of the definition of infertility is pregnancy loss) go hand-in-hand. Like this song on building families, we wanted one song that explained loss--from chemical pregnancies to late term loss to stillbirth to medical terminations. That song and film are still being made, but they accompany Mother Earth's Flower Shop as a two-part explanation for children of infertility and loss.
If you've been looking for a similar song for your own children or children-to-be, we hope you enjoy this one and find it useful. Our kids now like to tell people, "I'm a special flower!" And I hope they always remember how much they were wanted and how thankful and grateful we are that they are finally here.
Every flower that grows in a garden is meant to be there and nowhere else--whether it was intentionally planted or sprouted unaided. Therefore, every bloom is loved and cherished. It is the diversity and hidden surprises of a garden that make it beautiful. The most gorgeous flower beds come together with hybrid blooms, transplanted flowers, gifted seeds, wild dandelions, and even the spaces where ladybugs can crawl unhindered by plants.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
33 comments:
And here I am totally crying over that beautiful video/cartoon. I absolutely loved it-brilliant!
it made me cry too! simply beautiful, Mel and Josh. well done.
I can't watch the video at work (boo on Corporate Policy - no YouTube!), but the lyrics are fantastic.
Well done, the both of you.
Oh, I'm so glad you finally posted this...I love, love, love it!! You guys are so creative. What a perfect way to explain to young children how much their parents went through to have them. You wouldn't think that a cute kids song would make me cry, but it did!! I love when Mother Nature hugs the sad flowers and when the little flower started to bloom and then shrunk that did me in. Then I had to have a good laugh when I saw Uncle Gamete's Extra Special Seeds!
I hope one day I can share this with my little ones so that they can understand how much they were wanted! I worry everyday how the world will treat my future children and I'm always thinking of ways to reassure them that the way they came to be maybe different than most, but it doesn't make them any less loved or wanted!
I came to late to join the lushery. The first I've ever missed :(. But, in perfect time to see your beautiful video. LOVE IT. What a special gift.
Oh my god, this is brilliant! I've totally bookmarked it, and am going to figure out how to save it for my kids one day.
aww... it's lovely!
I love this! This is just the kind of thing I hope to share with my children one day to help them understand their origins and how special and loved they are.
Mel, this is beautiful. I love the analogy and the song is awesome. Can you sell it to Sesame Street or otherwise get it on TV? That would be an awesome public service announcement.
You rock.
This is awesome beyond belief. I love it. I'm showing it to Zak in the morning...because we've had some talk about how the next children that come into our family will not grow inside me. What an awesome thing you have done for the universe here.
~Carole
so sweet
thank you
It was really great to meet you tonight! And now I'm still racking up points for the commentathon, despite the fact that I'm falling over from exhaustion! You have created a monster! :)
That was so neat. What a great way to share our journey with our kids! Thank you so much.
Beautiful, made me get teary eyed and smile at the same time.
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with us Mel.
Holy hat, Batman! What a beautiful and wonderful video, I just love it. Thank you for sharing.
It was a true pleasure to meet you tonight. Sort of like meeting the Dali Lama, only you were way more fun and much better looking. :-)
Not fair!!
**stomps feet**
Some people get all the creativity!
I love thinking of your family doing this together.
This is beautiful! This song is going to be a HIT someday soon. There are so many children that need to hear their special story. Now start writing that childrens book that will sell perfectly with a DVD of the song in the front sleeve. ;)
Dear Mel, I've only read the lyrics so far, but they made me cry. And I don't cry easily.
Well done. What a beautiful, beautiful idea.
It is as usual, fantasticly done, with perfect lyrics and a really inspired theme!
BRAVO! BRAVO!
ENCORE! ENCORE!
That was great, Mel! I shared it with my little boy last night. He's only 3 so I'm not sure he understood everything, but I helped explain to him that families grow in all different ways. I think this is great and I hope I can share it with him again when he gets a little older.
Bravo! Bravo!
Thank goodness for Mother Earth's blend of Aunt Clomid's Special Soil. Among other things.
I truly love the song and video. LOVE. High fives to you, Mel and Josh.
Beautiful! What a great message.
I love it Mel...very easy for kids to understand!!
This is so wonderful. I can't wait to share it with others outside our realm.
Thank you for a job beautifully done.
Thats really sweet - thanks for sharing. It's amazing how much emotion can be portrayed via animation and song. This is touching.
It made me cry too. (But it made my daughter clap and smile). Thank you! And it was great to meet you in person last night.
Wow, that made me cry. I don't do crying. It is beautiful.
Thank you.
You never cease to amaze me! I have no words to express how touched I am by this video… Thank you so much. I can’t wait to get my special flower!!!
it's really great. i only wish there was a single mother in there... for people like me...
I've been thinking about how I first learned about ART/alternative family-building methods since seeing this. My introduction came hot on the tail of sex-ed at the beginning of primary school.
In our class we had a girl who had been adopted (international/interracial adoption) an one who had been born by donor conception to a single mother by choice. I think the reactions of all us children were very much guided by the reactions of their parents.
Bea
it's brilliant. YOU'RE brilliant! it's beautiful and brilliant. THANK you for your work and creativity! THANK YOU!
What an awesome concept. I love it. :) What a neat tune!
Post a Comment