... And A Child Shall Lead Them

I've been accused of being childish, and it was not meant as a positive comment about my character. I understand what people mean when they use that epithet: that the person is either selfish or ill-mannered or spoiled or irresponsible or all the above. Sure that's how kids are sometimes, but as the parent of two-year old, I now can see that being childish is not always a bad thing.

First, my son knows how to play, and I mean to really PLAY. But then again, that's his job nowadays and he does it very well. Through his play, he is capable of deriving pleasure from the simplest of acts. In addition, with his running and jumping and climbing, he is keeping physically fit. Doing a good job and keeping fit are good things.

Second, my son is not shy, but neither is he pushy. He says "Hi" or "Hello" with a smile to practically everyone he meets. If he doesn't get a reaction, he doesn't pursue it. If he does get a response, he has no problem initiating a conversation. Of course, not many folks can understand what he's talking about yet, but HE sure knows what he's saying. Being an outgoing, happy person is a good thing, too.

Third, my son is an adventurer who is not afraid to explore and take risks. Nor is he afraid to try again when he fails. But he is also not afraid to ask for help or to admit his inadequacies or to reach out for the comfort of the ones he knows will be there for him. Being an independent person who knows his limitations is a good thing, too.

Fourth, my son is honest. I know he's not really old enough to have learned how to lie yet, and as much as know it won't happen, I'd like to hope that he never will. Today, if you ask him a question, if he knows the answer, he will tell you what it is. If he has an opinion about something, he will not hesitate to tell you what that opinion is. Also, he is good looking (no, that's not a biased opinion) but he isn't vain about it. He's happy with who he is. Of course, he doesn't know much about being anything else, but being an honest and confident person is a good thing, too.

Finally, my son loves to learn. He is a like a little sponge or a recorder that's always on. He soaks up the world. But he is also learning to love. He shares things with his family, including the dogs. He administers his smiles and hugs and kisses as a means of expressing his feelings to the ones he cares about. Continuing to learn and to love is good, also.

My son is not unique in any of these things, though. Most kids are just like him. We can all learn so very much, both good and bad, from children. Yes, they can be very self-centered and very selfish and very forgetful and even very frustrating, and so can we big people. But they can also be totally accepting and loving and honest, and so can we. We should remember the negative childishness as we seek to better ourselves, but we should also never lose sight of the positive aspects of being a child. There's none of us that couldn't stand to both grow up a little more and to grow a little younger, too.