Be like Them

Yes, I said it. I’m asking, praying, hoping my children turn out  like that child at the park.

• The one that indulges my child’s insistent yammering.
• The one  who lets my son follow him around and includes them in play.
• The one who says Okay to everything my son suggests and becomes a part of the elaborate story he’s concocting.
• The one happily agrees to be the ” bad guy Loki ” playing hide and seek.
• The one that teaches my kid to do head stands and twirl on the swing.
• The one that laughs happily at the funny things my kid says.
• The one that offers to share their treats even though they have never met him before.
• The one that holds his hand as he tries to copy their moves.
• The one that tried unsuccessfully to show him how to jump rope.
• The one that looks at my daughter and says ” Baby “.
• The one that stands by my stroller and tries to play with a 11 month old baby Knowing full well that the baby doesn’t even know they exist.
• The one that claps heartily when my little one reaches out to touch them.

Every time I go the park with my kiddos, I’m elated by the warmth displayed by some of the children we encounter there.

The world is scary place. Every time I hear scary stories of  people, even children being mean to each other I feel anxious for the kind of future in store for the kids I brought into this world. But when I see such kids I feel so much better that neither my children, nor I need to be as cynical as I fearfully think.

I don’t know what my children will become. Being practical, I know success and failure is a result of combination of hard work and luck. I certainly cannot and do NOT want to compare their learning curve of that of another, for each child has their own pace and talents. But  growing into a kind person is mostly learned behavior and what I pray in my heart that they will be. The world certainly needs much more understanding and love.

The way my heart wells up with gratitude when someone treats my children with kindness and love is something I wish others’ someday feel when they look at my child. Also, I hope that as they grow they keep meeting such kind, generous, playful, loving people who help guide them to a better, beautiful Life full of happy memories.