When ever has “do as I say, not as I do” worked in the long term?
We often hear that leading by example is the most effective way to teach a child, but living by example is the true key to shaping a child. The entomology of the word discipline, in fact, finds its roots in “disciple” suggesting behaviour is shaped through being rather than through instruction, or worse, punitive measure.
Summer for our little family is filled with music and travel.
My daughters have long enjoyed the freedom found within the safe confines of festival gates and as they grow, they now have the wisdom and wherewithal to come and go with fewer check-ins, more pocket money (which means I am not called upon to stand in as many endless food lines!), and choose their own music and activities throughout the day.
They’ve gotten to a point where they crave the excitement and anticipate the experience of running barefoot across dusty fields, finding taps or misting stations in which to cool off and hydrate, and discovering new artists and their own musical taste – within the wide window of what they are exposed to at folkie-type settings.
By and large these festivals have come to define our time off school.
And now, and as the girls are older and have more independence, it’s given me the impetus to return to volunteering.
In my free and easy days pre-kids I used to volunteer at the Winnipeg Folk Fest, the mother-of-all-Canadian-folk-festivals.
I relished the opportunity to do something to help out that had nothing to do with my day job as a music publicist and artist manager: I drove golf carts weighed down with performers and their gear around the expansive festival grounds. Our crew was called, for obvious reasons, The Schleppers. Incredible conversations were had and lifelong friendships were made.
So when an old friend, and former Schlepper herself, put the call out on social media asking if anyone could lend a hand doing exactly this at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival this past weekend I think I jumped a bit in my seat. “Sign me up!” I responded without thinking twice.
Over the course of my first shift, I had made a number of what I suspect will be enduring friendships and become part of a solid team who have been working together for close to a decade.
It’s like I was initiated into a secret club!
After we wrapped on Day 1 the crew remained together relaxing in the sun and enjoying everything the festival had to offer.
My girls were heartily embraced by my new tribe. Everyone wanted to meet them. Treats were shared. Accommodations were offered to save us the trip to Squamish and back over the weekend.
In a nutshell, we were all welcomed into the fold and it felt fantastic.
Our crew co-ordinator, who has been running things seemingly since the dawn of time, introduced us to her son, who at 13 runs his own crew which is responsible for charging and providing batteries for all festival walkie talkies. (And he’s been doing this for years!)
Upon seeing other kids close to their age volunteering my own children started to inquire what they could do to help out next year, how old they had to be, and what the commitment would be.
Talk about a proud momma moment. Time will tell how the story plays out, but I’m confident that I’ve got a couple of future VFMF volunteers in the making.
And I’m sure the volunteer t-shirt, delicious meals, and backstage passes have nothing to do with it.
