Sometimes, I find myself debating with some friends about the virtues of adapting the child's mentality vs.the sheer need to be more grown-up. More times than not, I find myself on the losing side. Which side am I on? The child's side, of course!! =))))
I have very good reasons for siding with the kids and I think they're valid despite me being out-voted.
A child's mind is open...yes, sometimes too open...but open. Open to ideas, possibilities, hope, creativity, imagination, new things....everything. They don't close it up for fear of someone judging them (they will learn this amazing ability later on in life when they have to pay bills, turn up on time for work and drive on the right side of the street). And I love that about kids' minds.
Secondly, I think kids don't think of potential problems first. For example, if you asked them if they would like to go sky diving, the first thought to pop up in their heads isn't likely to be imminent (possibly messy) death. Well, they usually don't think about it until the adults remind them. They'd likely think...cool, I've never done that! Let's go!
And because of all the positive vibe that they give out and harbor, I find that they have so much more energy and enthusiasm for life.
Sure, knock them down a few times and they might start having the same kind of mentality we sorry old folks have. But the bottom line is, if you tell them that something is possible, they'll go for it. They won't make excuses like 'What if...', 'Should I...' or 'What if....' and 'Should I.....'.
The old people mentality steps in only when we put a lid over their minds. Tell them that they can't, they have to conform, they have to, they have to, they have to, they have to....and they'll be...just like us!
It is true that they have to learn how to live a life as a responsible adult and parents should not sugarcoat things for them. It's a difficult balance, actually, trying to teach the kids about responsibilities without snuffing out their flames of enthusiasm.
But that's the job of a parent and that is why we're old, they're young and we're paying the bills like robots and doing our work with as much passion as we would when writing 'I won't kick my brother' ten thousand times.
At the end of the day, you know what I think?
I think when working and paying the bills, we should do it like grown-ups (as in we won't throw tantrums at the unfairness of not being given free electricity or put booger and snot on our boss' chair). But when we are off work, we should think like children. When a friend asks you out for drinks, stop yourself from looking at your bank account or your watch. Ask the inner child in you, 'Would you like to go?' If the child answers 'yes', then ask the inner grown-up to STFU.
I have very good reasons for siding with the kids and I think they're valid despite me being out-voted.
A child's mind is open...yes, sometimes too open...but open. Open to ideas, possibilities, hope, creativity, imagination, new things....everything. They don't close it up for fear of someone judging them (they will learn this amazing ability later on in life when they have to pay bills, turn up on time for work and drive on the right side of the street). And I love that about kids' minds.
Secondly, I think kids don't think of potential problems first. For example, if you asked them if they would like to go sky diving, the first thought to pop up in their heads isn't likely to be imminent (possibly messy) death. Well, they usually don't think about it until the adults remind them. They'd likely think...cool, I've never done that! Let's go!
And because of all the positive vibe that they give out and harbor, I find that they have so much more energy and enthusiasm for life.
Sure, knock them down a few times and they might start having the same kind of mentality we sorry old folks have. But the bottom line is, if you tell them that something is possible, they'll go for it. They won't make excuses like 'What if...', 'Should I...' or 'What if....' and 'Should I.....'.
The old people mentality steps in only when we put a lid over their minds. Tell them that they can't, they have to conform, they have to, they have to, they have to, they have to....and they'll be...just like us!
It is true that they have to learn how to live a life as a responsible adult and parents should not sugarcoat things for them. It's a difficult balance, actually, trying to teach the kids about responsibilities without snuffing out their flames of enthusiasm.
But that's the job of a parent and that is why we're old, they're young and we're paying the bills like robots and doing our work with as much passion as we would when writing 'I won't kick my brother' ten thousand times.
At the end of the day, you know what I think?
I think when working and paying the bills, we should do it like grown-ups (as in we won't throw tantrums at the unfairness of not being given free electricity or put booger and snot on our boss' chair). But when we are off work, we should think like children. When a friend asks you out for drinks, stop yourself from looking at your bank account or your watch. Ask the inner child in you, 'Would you like to go?' If the child answers 'yes', then ask the inner grown-up to STFU.
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