Wilder Tribe

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Rainyrain, Ross, Marina and Malachite playing in the sandbox at Emerald Earth

Wilder kids

In parenting, we try to give Rainyrain and Malachite freedom to explore and learn in their lives. We try to have fun and learn lotza different things. I use an inflated vocabulary with them and demand a level of negotiation from them that's really beyond them developmentally. Sometimes this breaks down, but our kids also often favorably impress people with their negotiating skills and vocabulary. They are bright, amazing, loving people. Though both genetically male, we don't refer to them as boys. When asked if he's a boy or a girl, Rainyrain will often say "I'm Rainyrain." And Malachite is a girl named Sara about half the time (though even as a girl, Sara/Kite is decidedly a tom-boy). We like that fluidity in them and want to foster their explorations outside the gender boxes. We read a lot. We like to go into nature. I like to do projects with them at home when i can, and we include them in chores like food preparation and storage, cleaning, gardening, (etc) where we can.

Our niece, Eliza, lived with us for 5 years as well. She was reunited with her mom last summer and she's part of the reason we moved to Oregon. She remains an important part of our Wilder Tribe.

Malachite and Rainyrain dressed up for Beltane

Malachite: "I'm 4 and I live in Berkeley on Dohr St. I'm good at scaring bugs in the house. Sometimes I've seen bugs in the house and scared them away when no-one even knew. I've done that quite often, really. I have a ball python, her name is Siren. My name is Malachite Walker Wilder, but people call me Malachite."

Rainyrain: "I like trains. My birthday is May 30, 2000 and I'm gonna be 4, but I'm 3 right now. And I like my Mama and Malachite likes his Dada."

Malachite: "We're a loving family."

Rainyrain: "We're a loving family and it's this kind of family that we like. Favoo and this is the story. The End."