I received this in amongst some notes from school and it really hit home how great it would be if we, as adults, would allow children just to be ..........
(Obviously I am back from my few days in Sydney! Had a great time but missed the children very much, hence the renewed feeling of sentiment methinks!)
Notes On An Unhurried Journey
When we adults think of children, there is a simple truth which we ignore,
Childhood is not preparation for life: CHILDHOOD IS LIFE
A child is constantly confronted with the nagging question
What are you going to be?
Courageous would be the youngster who, looking the adult squarely in the face,
would say,
I'm not going to be anything, I ALREADY AM.
We adults would be shocked by such an insolent remark, for we have forgotten, if indeed,
we ever knew, that a child is already a participating and contributing member of society from the time he or she is born.
Childhood isn't a time when he or she is moulded into a human being who lives life,
He or she is a human being who is living life.
No child will miss the zest and joy of living unless these are denied him or her by adults who have
convinced themselves that childhood is a period of preparation.
How much heartache would we save ourselves if we would recognise the child as a
Partner with adults in the process of living, rather than always viewing him or her as an apprentice.
How much would we teach each other.
Adults with the experience and children with their freshness.
How full both our lives could be.
A little child may not lead us, but at least we ought to discuss the trip with him or her.
For, after all, LIFE IS HIS AND HER JOURNEY TOO.
- Professor T Ripaldi
(Obviously I am back from my few days in Sydney! Had a great time but missed the children very much, hence the renewed feeling of sentiment methinks!)
Notes On An Unhurried Journey
When we adults think of children, there is a simple truth which we ignore,
Childhood is not preparation for life: CHILDHOOD IS LIFE
A child is constantly confronted with the nagging question
What are you going to be?
Courageous would be the youngster who, looking the adult squarely in the face,
would say,
I'm not going to be anything, I ALREADY AM.
We adults would be shocked by such an insolent remark, for we have forgotten, if indeed,
we ever knew, that a child is already a participating and contributing member of society from the time he or she is born.
Childhood isn't a time when he or she is moulded into a human being who lives life,
He or she is a human being who is living life.
No child will miss the zest and joy of living unless these are denied him or her by adults who have
convinced themselves that childhood is a period of preparation.
How much heartache would we save ourselves if we would recognise the child as a
Partner with adults in the process of living, rather than always viewing him or her as an apprentice.
How much would we teach each other.
Adults with the experience and children with their freshness.
How full both our lives could be.
A little child may not lead us, but at least we ought to discuss the trip with him or her.
For, after all, LIFE IS HIS AND HER JOURNEY TOO.
- Professor T Ripaldi
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