Kids Are Awesome
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of
spending some time with little kids and have been reminded of why I like
hanging out with kids. Last weekend, I went over to my friend’s house and her
5-year old cousin was staying over. At first, her cousin was very shy and just
smiled at me. A short 2 minutes later, she was jabbering like she had known me
for forever. She told me about her favorite foods, shows, and her school. I was
reminded of how much uncontained energy kids have. They open up to strangers in
a blink of an eye and speak their mind without a filter. As we grow up, we
slowly form a filter and think more about what we should and shouldn’t say. We
don’t have the vibrancy we used to have as kids. Her cousin’s childlike energy was
contagious and made me reminisce about my early childhood years when I was just
like her and couldn’t stay quiet for more than 5 seconds.
I was also reminded how determined
kids are. Her cousin really wanted to play with her, but she told her cousin she
couldn’t because she had to do her physics homework. Every 5 minutes, her
cousin would peek her head through the door and ask if she was done yet. This
situation is a prime example of how kids do everything they can when they
really want something. Although they may go about doing this in an annoying way
sometimes, they often get what they want in the end because of their
determination. Unfortunately, the tenacity we once possessed when we were
children often dampens as we get older but spending time with children can inspire
us to reclaim the determination we had as kids.
If you haven’t noticed, children also
have an uncontrollable curiosity. I have spent a lot of time with a family friend’s
daughter this week, Amy. We were in the car on Wednesday when it stopped
raining abruptly. “Why did it stop raining?” she asked. “Why do white clouds
become grey?” Question after question streamed out of her mouth. I told her simply
that clouds turn grey when they gather more water, and once the clouds have a
lot of water, they look grey and it rains. Because I didn’t know the exact
science behind it, her questions encouraged me go home and search it up. As
I’ve gotten older, I don’t ask as many questions as I used to, accepting many
things as just the way our world works. Amy reminded me of the curiosity we
have as children. Kids have so many questions about things they observe in the
world and have a matchless eagerness that inspires me to want to learn more
about how things around me work too.
While some people see children as
ignorant or annoying, I admire so many qualities they have. I highly recommend everyone to spend
some time with younger kids. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from
them and many characteristics they have that you wish you still possessed. What
are some traits you admire in children?
Awesome insight on how wonderful children are! Interacting and talking with younger children is fun for me because as you said they are really energetic and that attitude tends to rub off. It also briefly reminds me of the innocent stress-free lives of children that I envy and miss so much.
ReplyDeleteNice post! I also agree with your admiration in children. Hanging out with younger children often gives me perspective (I was once this little, energetic, and stress free). I've heard a phrase: "Never lose the child in you," and I believe this is the idea your getting at. Children possess many great qualities that are often forgotten/lost over time.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE little kids. I teach little kindergarteners at my Saturday school and it's one of the things I look forward to during the week. They're so adorable, and like you said, they ask so many questions about the randomest things! Their energy is infectious and I love being around them! They also really like being carried by someone and giving hugs and I absolutely love that because getting hugs from little kids is the most heartwarming thing ever! Great post!
ReplyDeleteEvery few years, my family drives up to Winnipeg to visit family there. My grandmother had 4 siblings, and all of them moved to Canada with their families from the Philippines, so I have a huge extended family up there. I'm the oldest in my generation by a few years. It's really fun hanging out with my cousins because they like the same video games that I liked when I was their age, so we have a lot to talk about. They're all super energetic and just love playing around with each other. We weren't able to go last year because my grandmother forgot to renew her passport, but hopefully I can visit them sometime soon (and be sad at how they're all probably taller than me).
ReplyDeleteIn general I have never really liked kids, especially after a short teaching job in China over the summer. This is probably more me than the kids, I tend to be quiet, so getting along with my own classmates is already difficult enough let alone dealing with kids. Whenever I have encountered kids, I have found them annoying, and I often just wish they would leave me alone. This is a mindset I should change.
ReplyDelete