Ammu retrieves from the very back of her grandfather's book shelf the small things of her childhood, a Notebook of Wisdom containing favorite stories, lessons to be learned, punishments and practices, her own mother's handwriting from the distant past.
If you were to open the Notebook of Wisdom of your childhood, what would be there?
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If I found my Notebook of Wisdom the first thing the book would mention is vegetables. As a child I hated vegetables with a passion, as a infant my babysitter would force me to eat platefuls of brussel sprouts and spinach even after I cried, kicked and screamed. I think next thing would be me listening. This is one of the most important lessons I learned as a child. The more you listen and less you talk, the more you know than someone else. Another will probably be my first time in a bouncy house. This is the most fun I ever remember having as a child.
ReplyDeleteIf I found my notebook of wisdom then this book would contain all the wisdom and knowledge I have collected over the years of trying something, failing at it, or having it not go as well as I felt it could’ve, and then learning lessons from those trials, and putting the lessons learned into success in the future when I went onto something new. Through your early years, to really gain knowledge and wisdom you try things on your own without the help of your parents or other adults, and must ultimately figure it out yourself. This is seen as early as succeeding at taking your first steps and saying your first words.
ReplyDeleteAlex Dessin
My notebook of wisdom would contain, I feel, various things that it’d be very hard to comprehend but I think that’d be an accurate representation of what I’ve still preserved about me. Even now, I’m still pretty hard to understand. I think my notebook would contain all my stories and poems I used to write as a kid. It’d contain all my pondering questions that I was too shy to ask others about. It’d have drawings of landscapes or images that sparked an idea in my head. It’d also have angry sloppy writing from moments I were upset with my parents.
ReplyDeletepd.5
My notebook of wisdom would have a mess of things in it. It would have detailed sketches and poems and stories, horror movie DVDs and VHSs. It would also have a few blood stains from all the fighting I used to do as well as tearstains from childhood trauma. Lastly it would have many wrinkled and crumpled pages from several moments of blind anger.
ReplyDeleteIf i was to open the Notebook of Wisdom of my childhood, there would be probably be some clothes with dirt all over them from me always being active outside. It will also contain my favorite shoes i wore everyday during any giving period. Most importantly there would be my basketball, and the ass wiping i got from my mom as a punishment for my wrong during like staying outside too late.
ReplyDeleteIf I found a Notebook of Wisdom of my childhood it would contain of a lot of family time. I was always around my family when I used to live in Florida and now that I live in Maryland I don't see them as much anymore. My cousins and I all went to the same schools, we would have cookouts every weekend, and visit the beach at night.
ReplyDeleteFamily is very important to me, so every time I get to see them throughout the year I value every moment with each family member.
In my Notebook I would find that everything leads to something else. I would find something yellow that represented my happiness as a child and my favorite color. I would find a space of emptiness from suppressed memories and many photographs of my family.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook of wisdom would tell my how to interact with members of my family that wouldn't upset them. It would also lay out the rules for myself about relationships I made. It would have all of my childhood books and stories like If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. I would definitely find lots of pictures of me and my family. I would find all of my Halloween costumes from Elementary school.
ReplyDeleteIn my notebook, I would have everything my grandparents told me growing up. I would also have all of the stories they told me about how they grew up. The stories they told me had a profound affect on me as they helped me figure out who I was. I would also have all of the struggles I went through and how I changed. I would include growing up in an extended family household as well.
ReplyDeleteIn my notebook of wisdom, it would have ways to deal with problems in my relationships and how to maintain them. It would have all my drawings and crafts I often made when I was younger. There would be many books ranging from those written by Kevin Henkes to Mary Downing Han. It would also have my collection of pink clothing items.
ReplyDeleteShannon L.
Pd.5
christine! period! 5! :)!
ReplyDeleteI actually used to have something like a Notebook of Wisdom in elementary school! My Notebook of Wisdom would be all about how I learned to treat other people. During my childhood, I was the mean kid because those were the only types of kids I was surrounded by in school. As I would figure out right from wrong and all the answers to all my “why”s as a child, I’d write all of what I learned in the Notebook. From “don’t hit anyone after the Marcella incident” to “hey, the moon actually doesn’t follow you home at night!”, all my lists of stupid stories, trials, and errors would be on there just like Ammu’s Notebook, but definitely with messier handwriting.
If I were to find my notebook of wisdom I think i'd find motivation. In other words, i'd find stories about my family and the way we've lived, to motivate me to go back to my roots from time to time. I'd find the lessons from the countless books i've read and funny stories, to motivate me to walk in the direction of a fulfilled and wise life. I'd hopefully find an enormous list of my wrong doings and imperfections, to motivate me to be better as a person. I think my notebook of wisdom would be a sort of teacher.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to find the Notebook of Wisdom, I would find memories with me and my older brothers. I've always been really close to my brothers. I look up to them more than anyone else and they have taught me so many valuable lessons. I have so many memories with them such as snowboarding, traveling to Argentina, and playing video games. Throughout my life, my brothers have always made sure that I am fine and have everything I need. They have played a huge role in who I am today.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook would be filled with stories about my parents. I've learn many lessons from decisions they've made. For the most part, both the mistakes and the positive choices tend to put me in challenging situations. In recent years I've learned that my parents stubbornness and passion for doing the right thing stems back generations, and a good deal of who I am has evolved from simply observing my family. I would appreciate having it all written down in a neat little notebook.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook would probably contain all my anger and things that made me upset when I was a kid. As a child, I was very quiet about things that made me mad because if anyone ever heard what I was angry about, I would get into enormous amounts of trouble. One of the things I did was write it all in my diary. It was a way for me to relieve the anger in my life. For example, if my sister was being mean and bossing me around, I would write about the occurrence in my diary since I couldn't say anything without getting into trouble. If my sister heard me complain about her, she would tell on me to our parents and I would get in trouble, so writing in the diary allowed me to say what I wanted without my parents or anybody finding out. Very similarly, the notebook would be the place where I let all my anger and frustration out.
ReplyDeleteVickie Tu
Period 2
If I were to open the Notebook of Wisdom of my childhood there would be lots of stories about different injuries and getting hurt, because I was a very energetic and adventurous kid and pretty accident prone. One of the stories that would be in there would be about the time I cut my forehead because I was climbing a tree and cut it on a branch. I still have a scar there today and after that I learned to be more careful when climbing trees.
ReplyDeleteIf i were to open the book of wisdom of my childhood there would be a bunch of stories about how hard it was for my family to get to the U.s and how even before how poor El Salvador in the 60's and during the 70's there was a war between the military and the guerrilla and what they done to avoid any conflict or to be taken to be part of either side.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to open the Notebook of wisdom of my childhood, I would believe there will be life lessons I had to learn as I grow up. For example, don't put your heart and soul for someone if they won't do the same. Also, I believe the Notebook will have things to help me know that I should love myself and don't believe other's opinions. In middle school, a situation happened to me and everyone found out about it and some people spread rumors about me while I was going through a rough time. And some people bullied me from it because they never knew exactly what happen. The Notebook will teach me ways how to treat myself right and not push myself down in hard situations.
ReplyDeleteThe Notebook of Wisdom of my childhood would contain entries of books I loved at the moment, what Disney and Nick shows/movies I was excited about, my parent’s stories about their immigration and adapting to America, being an older sister, being disciplined, etc. It would also contain the neighborhoods I grew up in and how I became accustomed to the English language and American culture. Last but not least it would contain the (written)evolution of my self-perception and what I liked and didn’t like.
ReplyDeleteCameron Dewey PD 2
ReplyDeleteIf I were to open the Notebook of Wisdom from my childhood, the first couple of pages would be filled with different variations of my name. In elementary school, I was constantly practicing my signature in the event that I would become famous. There would also be a good amount of original stories because in fourth grade I was convinced I was going to be an author. The notebook would also contain day-to-day entries about my family, what it was like having a baby brother and then eventually a baby sister, and what my experiences were like in elementary school. There would probably also be some song lyrics and entries about my favorite artists; I had a major Avril Lavigne and Justin Bieber phase, and an even bigger One Direction phase.
The eclectic pages of this metaphorical journal would need an entire rosetta stone course to decipher. I guarantee the phrases and terms I've used every single year have changed wildly to the point where 5 year old Joel would be speaking essentially a foreign language.
ReplyDeleteAmongst the chaos of my documented stream of consciousness, there would be a few notable pages: the plethora of single paged stick comics my childhood friend and I would scrawl on every scrap of paper we could find, thinking we were the inventors of some great new art form; the condensed journals detailing the mathematical journey I've taken and the mental and emotional ties each stage has brought with it- the love for something so abstract yet so real, the hate for something so challenging but the determination that always drew me back; the twelve diary pages I once wrote, believing it would help ease a recurring inner turmoil; but most importantly, the list of everything (and everyone) I ever wanted to be. That single list would theoretically reveal more about myself than anything else confined within the old, leather binding.
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ReplyDeleteJessie Tabe If I were to open the Notebook of wisdom from my childhood I would see all the lessons and boundaries my mother set for me. My mother taught me never to trust nobody and there is no such thing as a "best friend". She engraved in me their is nothing more important than going higher in your education. My mother let me have a sleepover over any of my "friends" house nor even let me go places with them. She instilled rules for me to obey and till this day I am very grateful, I am one of the children who still to this has not touch or tried illegal drugs. My mother literally guided me through life and gave me the keys to success.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook would contain lots of papers, with my half written stories. From a young age, I loved to write. For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of being published. So, in my free time in middle and elementary school, I came up with plots for different novels. I would come home from school, and write in my room until it was time to set the dinner table. I delved into every possible genre, writing from perspectives that ranged from my pet dog to time-traveling mutants. I remember always begging my mom to buy me new journals, which, each time, I was confident I would fill up, but somehow, always abandoned. Whenever I would start something new, my grandmother would ask about my “Great American Novel”. No matter the excitement I’d get when hearing her response to my idea, I’d without fail got bored of my original idea within weeks. Hopefully my bland characters and nonsensical outlines weren’t all for nothing. If they couldn’t provide any wisdom, maybe at least a laugh.
ReplyDeleteMy note book of wisdom would contain many pictures of sweet memories that made me feel the shame when I disrespected my grandmother, but they would also envelope me in the love and security of my grandma's firm grasp of her soft hand to my chubby fingers as we prayed around the dinner table. There would be notes telling my younger self to just say hi to that person and not fear others judgement. The notebook would remind me to keep laughing. Share you endless giggles with your best friends to the world.
ReplyDeleteAmera Mohamed 5: My notebook would be filled with ingredients on how to make traditional foods that my mother would have me make with her as a child. It would also have some of the journal entries from elementary school. I was a very opinionated little child so when the teacher would have us write our opinions I would go on and on in the sloppiest attempt at cursive possible. Most importantly I think my book of wisdom would have the stories that my family has passed down of their journey to America and the struggle it was to get out of the country. Those stories were told to me almost every night and they really stuck in my head. I loved hearing my grandfather's journey from Ethiopia to Sudan and the whole reason why we are where we are.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook would be filled with the stories my dad used to tell me when we pretended we were in space, but we were just under the bed covers. It would be filled with all the adventures that we both imagined we would take if we could really go to space in that moment.
ReplyDeleteAnything my mom has said to me would be in the notebook. “Go to college” would probably be written 100 hundreds of times over. Anyway my mom has taught me everything about this world and the obstacles and that may come with it. And also lessons of personal growth which have been essential to my growth and has made me who I am today.
ReplyDeleteIf I found my own “notebook of wisdom” it’d most likely contain a lot of “to be or not to be” written over and over, as my father would make me write this as a child 100 times to help advance my literary skills. My parents are very big on education and understanding so it would contain lots of notes on the value of education. It would also contain family recipes passed down to me as my mother has always tried to teach me how to cook. It would also contain many examples of personal expression, like drawings and haikus, as these were things I loved to do as a child. My parents always fostered a creative mindset in me and always indulged me with creative outlets. My literary understanding, creative skills, and viewpoint on education are all very important pieces of what has developed my personality and viewpoint of the world.
ReplyDelete- Caitlin Henderson
In my notebook would probably be the correct spelling of every english word ever found. Growing up, a staple of education was punctuality with spelling. In other words if you can't spell a word, you might as well avoid using it until you can.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook of wisdom would contain all the memories I have with my cousins growing up. Times when my family and I would go to Canada to go camping or when my cousin and I would bake cookies and watch movies all of Christmas Eve. In the moment, I always took the time I had with my family for granted. As we’ve grown up, it has become impossible to make time for each other, but has become even more impossible for everybody to be together in one place.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook of wisdom would contain all the memories I have with my cousins growing up. Times when my family and I would go to Canada to go camping or when my cousin and I would bake cookies and watch movies all of Christmas Eve. In the moment, I always took the time I had with my family for granted. As we’ve grown up, it has become impossible to make time for each other, but has become even more impossible for everybody to be together in one place.
ReplyDeleteMy notebook of wisdom would contain all the reminders and things that my parents told me. I would find all the words of motivation they gave to me, and all the things they did to push me to be the best version of myself. The notebook would be all the things I've learned throughout the years, that shaped who I am today
ReplyDeleteMy notebook would contain a list of all my mother's recipes I helped write down with her as a kid. There would be life lessons that my father has taught me growing up, about being a strong woman and learning from my mistakes. My memories as a kid, growing up on a homestead and all the weird and often labor intensive jobs I had to do, that also shaped who I am today. Finally, all the fights my sister and I have been in that has later developed into a unbreakable bond.
ReplyDeleteIt would be much the same thing that Ammu saw in her book. My family tells stories that make me understand what's really important in life, they make us disciplined and we have our own "traditions".
ReplyDelete