Savoring simple daily pleasures
In the space of a handful of days this week, I have been taken a back in a wonderfully surprising way by children showing respect, manners and tradition. Its so easy to lump them into the same box of too much screen time, no respect, no boundaries, technology driven, computer game altered..... they get a bad wrap a lot of the time these kids, (and by kids I'm referring to my personal experience dealing with 5-11 year olds on a daily basis.... and teens at home).
While many of these less desirable attributes can be witnessed and more often than perhaps we'd like, there is always the counter characteristics. This blog, and indeed everyday contentment is very much built on seeking the positive, remaining present, and practicing daily gratitude, so with that firmly in mind, I have three heart warming examples of beautifully mannered emerging adults who, I believe are a credit to their caregivers and society.
The first instance I witnessed was a new student who had transferred from a different school, he was confident and excited and very polite. During an exchange and conversation taking place in the office, an elderly gentleman waking in- now, this gentleman is a whole 'nother story, but this student would have had no idea who he was or what his relationship with the school was. When it became apparent the local gentleman was leaving, our new student didn't hesitate to jump up and hold the door open for him, and when thanked for doing so, was gracious in response and gave eye contact in doing so. For a boy of 10 who surely must have been really rather nervous and anxious on a first day of a new school, I was really blown away with his self-assured confidence, and his grounding of good manners and respectful behavior.
That same afternoon, as I walked home, the local high school bus pulled into a stop just ahead of me- I make sure to always greet the ex students I am familiar with- and gauge my level of interaction by the, sometimes, Luke warm response I receive in return- indeed, its not uncommon for an 11 year old primary school student to be somewhat needy, openly tearful and rather immature throughout their 6 years - then all of a sudden they are in a different uniform, its a handful on months down the track and they dont so much as grunt at you- let alone offer a smile or any kind of greeting, despite patching their knees up for years with band aids and sellotaping their first teeth Safley to note paper so as not to get lost before the tooth fairy visits! Its astounding that they can suddenly be so uncomfortable and embarrassed just to acknowledge your presence in passing! (Hey ho!) On this particular afternoon, a young girl who had been rather awkward and uncomfortable in her own skin for years then, happily, blossomed and transformed, waiting at the bus stop when she had just got off the bus, as I started to pass her I greeted her as usual and she said, "I was waiting for you, I just wanted to walk with you for a bit if that's ok?" I was so touched, as she chatted easily about her day, told me about her class mates and how the school cross-country had gone- this little girl had historically become so distraught when she'd had any issues at school, or minor injuries and upsets-and he she was, choosing to accompany me and chatter away. I was tickled- and really rather touched.
A day or so later, a neighbor called to ask if her son could walk home with me as she was caught up. When I went to find him and give him the message, he lit up, he said, I'd love to walk home any day- anytime! As I walked away, I overheard him announce to his friends that he was walking home with his neigbour afterschool like it was such a treat. He chattered amiably all the way home, telling me all sorts of things and engaging in conversation- even thanking me for walking with him once we reached his drive.
These children. These examples. These are what we need to focus on and encourage, nurture, and yes, appreciate. They are gold. Absolute nuggets to cherish and glimmers of a real, genuine, hopeful future, where our world will be run by this passionate, respectful confident generation.
Yes, there will always be those less respectful, less desirable, but there have always been those characters, in my youth and in my grandmothers, and her mothers- they just present a little differently each time the generation rolls round. What we need to do as parents, teachers and society, it nurture and encourage those gems, give them the space and room to blossom, and grow and mature- focus on these amazing GOOD kids. Not dwell on the behavior and traits we don't appreciate in some of their peers.
We should have their backs.
I'm proud and honored to have been part of their little journey so far.
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