May 12, 2006 - Day 3 - Week 6 -
Children as Teachers
In the 1970’s the famous
oceanographer Jacques Cousteau proposed a sensible
solution to the cold war with Russia. At that time
we were worried about mutual annihilation, so this
world traveler offered a suggestion that resonates
with me to this day. He conceived of a plan whereby
all Russian children in the 8th grade
would be educated in America, and all young people
from our country would live with Russian families
during their 8th grade year. The effect
would be dramatic on the lives of thousands, perhaps
millions of people overnight, and no leader would
authorize nuclear holocaust under these
circumstances.
The protection of children is
at the core of any civilized nation, and now I also
realize how much I value the next generation in my
process of getting well. Children will help me
heal.
If you have not had the
privilege of being a grandparent, borrow grandkids
from a friend or volunteer at your local preschool
one day a week. Easier than parenting, observation
of children as an adult, especially when they go
home someplace else, is a life’s lesson just waiting
to happen.
A few weeks ago our
granddaughter Megan celebrated her 3rd
year of existence with 15 other youngsters and their
parents at Mark and Jen’s home in Huntington Beach.
I did not feel particularly stellar on that day, and
took the opportunity to sit and watch kids from the
age of 3-13 interact in the pool and during lunch.
Granted they were on their best behavior, but the
joy of living was certainly evident in the squeals
of laughter throughout the 3 hours of the party.
Non stop joy was evident.
The children’s trust in the
adults to provide for them a safe healthy
environment was unspoken. Every adult there was
present to insure that the children had a wonderful
time and they did. I became 3 again as they slammed
into the piņata, jumped off the edge of the pool
into the waiting arms of the proud parent, and ate
more cake than sandwich. Their energy was limitless
and to a child a smile defined who they were on that
sunny afternoon.
I came away emboldened by
children once again, two of my own family, and 11
essential strangers. There was no hierarchy of
importance, save for our birthday girl Megan to whom
we sang, and for whom the Hello Kitty cake was
special. All the children as a collective reminded
me that we need creative endeavors today to fashion
for them a viable and healthy future. Unless we
have people of vision striving to make the world a
better place, our children may not have the security
Jacques Cousteau envisioned 35 years ago with his
radical, though sensible proposal.
We will never trade our
children, but we must guarantee them a long term
sense of well being, such as they felt on that
Sunday at a simple birthday celebration. Children
are children, and having the freedom to be children,
and Peter (affectionately known as POPEYE) having
the opportunity to observe and celebrate that on a
regular basis will get me well and keep me well.
Maybe I will start a new
company called “Rent a Grand Child.” I bet many of
you reading this will sign on immediately.
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