Thursday, November 11, 2010

Our Day with the Children

Every week on Thursdays Robert and I spend with our three Alameda Grandchildren.
When they are in school, we usually volunteer in their classrooms for some morning time.
We often take walks, prepare lunch and dinner, make household repairs, do errands and help out their working Mom and Dad. We have lots of time for talking, curiosity, outdoor play, learning new skills, and expanding their awareness of what works and what doesn’t.  We are inspired.  We learn.
We are challenged.  We are exercised.  We enjoy.

Today there is no school, so we get to have a field trip to our Rio Vista home, which requires a 90 minute drive and plenty of time for singing, sharing and conversation.  If there is left over fatigue from a busy week, there will be some napping.  We will fix lunch together, swim in the indoor pool, take walks, watch the birds, enjoy exploring our home and doing crafts, playing games and the piano.  Childhood is such a precious time.

What do you do with the children in your life?
Do you teach them about kindness and respect?
Do you live in a way that they cherish being with adults?
Are you giving them an opportunity to explore another way of life?

It seems to me that adults need to grow up in order to be good role models.
It appears that people often demand too much and give too little to children.
Yes, adults seem to give things, but not enough positive attention.
Adults often talk too much and listen far too little.
Adults tell children what to do, but forget to ask them what they want to do.

When children are bullyed or criticized, they learn to bully and criticize.
When children are picked on, teased or ridiculed, they learn to do the same.
When children are loved, hugged, encouraged, they learn to give love and encouragement.
It is so obvious that our children need our very best.

Let us begin today…with every child.

Loving you and all in everyway,
Betty Lue