Saturday, February 26, 2011

With Grandchildren and Healing

We are spending the weekend with our grandchildren, while their parents take a weekend break to go skiing.
Fun times for everyone.  We are driving up to the other grandchildren to have a lunch date together, going to get nails painted, seeing the unusual snow-capped mountains, going to a great park, having a sleepover party tonight, church and Sunday school tomorrow morning, drumming workshop for all ages, then a birthday party and a wildlife museum….awesome and full times for two almost six year old girls and their 4 ½ yr. old brother. They are close to triplets in size, verbal skills and competitiveness.  Great energy for sure.

I am reminded of when I was a TRUE believer, never considering anything less than Good.  I remember a childhood of freedom, playing easily in the yard as a toddler, riding my bike where I wanted to go with no fear. I remember knowing nothing about violence, robbery or kidnapping or molestation as a child.  I remember a childhood of perfect trust in the Good in my world.  I was encouraged to speak with my elders as their equal and having discussions about love and kindness, sharing and fairness and a greater perspective of being a good neighbor.  I never considered anything other than Goodness in everyone and everything.  Life was innocent, sweet and good.

Sunday
Today children are exposed to violence in cartoons and even Disney movies as toddlers.  I can remember my upset at 5 of age when my uncle, trying to be funny, told the story with Goldilocks jumping out of the window and breaking her neck. I cried and cried, rare for me, and told him to stop telling it wrong.
I am relooking at how we are teaching our children about wrong, evil, bad guys, lying, cheating, stealing and violence. Doesn’t it see more valuable to focus on demonstrating kindness, sharing, good manners, helping and being of service to others?

How can we teach our world to sing?
How can we show our children respect?
How do we change our feelings about our bodies?
How do we use our minds for creating what is beautiful and good?

Can we adults be models of everything we want our children to be?
Can we use our technology in ways that create more respect and responsibility?
Can we show other nations how we are good neighbors and of service?
Can we use language that shows we speak to others as we want to be spoken to?

I am learning how to model with everyone what I want to see in my world.
I am forgiving the places where my world has forgotten.
I am willing to be a loving and respectful reminder.
Let’s remember that we are teaching our children, even in private.

Blessing our children with respect, responsibility and cooperation,
Betty Lue