Friday, May 28, 2010

I want to be a kid again

There is no greater example of presence than in a young child. I walk my kids to school; fair weather of course. If not it is the SUV, and the trip much more abbreviated, and a lot less beneficial.


I find that many of the things I find myself coaching my kids to abstain from, are simply the examples of youth, innocence, exploration, and harmless expressions of being present in the moment. They often mention to me, “Daddy, I want to grow up right now!” I recoil in horror as many of us wish we could turn back the clocks. I say this not in the dream of having the svelte and slender frame I had as a youth, as somewhere my six-pack turned into a keg; but that the circumstances of our life were so different. It was all about the context.

We had fears, we had obstacles, we had dreams, and we had relationships as we do now, but man oh man, were the contexts much different.

I want to go back. I want to go back to appreciate when my “deformity” was that I was too short to reach the Choc-Ola at the bottom of the soda cooler. I remember my life’s goal was to be able to enter Bud’s Carry Out on Elm Street, through the flimsy screen door, across the creaking wood flooring, to proudly bend over the cooler, and reach a Choc-Ola drink without my mid section being the fulcrum between my dangling toes, and me taking a nose dive into the beverages. Those were goals–achievable and certain goals!

The only ladder we had to climb was to get the Frisbee off the roof.

I want my Sunday school God back. When I was young, we would hear a lesson of love and of compassion, we would make a cross out of Popsicle sticks, and life was recharged. All I knew was God was great, He was everywhere, He loved me, He loved you, and He was in control and everything would eventually be okay. I lament that the innocence of the Divine concept has been changed. Too much of “my” God will kill those who follow “your” God is in the world. Too much of “how” I am supposed to praise, and in what way has taken away the ability to just connect and enjoy. It is like someone telling me how to hold my daughter’s hand.

War. War was a game we played with cards. We would get through the deck and yell, “Two out of three, okay?” The only blood we would experience would be from a skinned knee while climbing a tree. Miracle cures were mother’s kisses. Rebuilding devastated civilizations were what ants did if we stomped on the little mounds of dirt we found punctuating our play areas.

Fear? In short, the boogie man. Okay maybe strange noises coming from outside your window in the ink of the night. Fear could be erased with a crack in your bedroom door and a hall light, and not a monthly prescription.

You fell from social graces not by racial slurs but by yelling “poopie-butt” at your friend because it was the absolute worst thing you could ever dream up. “Wardrobe malfunctions” were mismatched socks and uncombed hair. The “style trends” were when your friends all planned to wear swimsuits under your clothes so after school you saved time getting to the pool party. Garanimals. “Nuff said.”

Snap back to reality...

I guess I find that it is spending time with my kids and their friends that allow me this stroll down memory lane. It happened to me yesterday as I encountered a stranger on the street outside my business. Casual pleasantries about the weather detoured into a string of minutes discussing moments from my small town that would make Norman Rockwell proud. I found he was a widower, a handful of years my senior, and after our brief chat, strolled onward with a smile he did not arrive with. Like my kids share their presence with me, I shared with him. That’s how it works.

I like being where I am I guess. I can now reach the cookies unassisted; once being another life goal. I can go as far as my car can take me as opposed to how far I can peddle. Maybe a little more freedom, but the interpretation of that statement leaves itself for another discussion.

Nothing is stopping me from stomping in puddles, running wildly, humming at the table, or making weird noises while I eat. I guess I could if I wanted to. Some days I still may not comb my hair. I am thankful to still be able to recall the joy of those moments. I hope those are the memories that are the last to fade.

As the presence and living in the moment is precious to a child, it is the ability to be present myself that allows me to recognize these things happening in my kids and around me. If I am in-tune, I can tune-in to what my kids are experiencing more so. Although presence of mind is a true gift, I find it is still healthy to occasionally take a little vacation.

5 comments:

Ardith Haws said...

I love the honesty of your writing; I love its accessibility. I love how you tap into childhood memories that we all shared in one way or another. Thanks for the smiles.

Stefanie said...

Thanks for the stroll down memory lane. I remember walking to the corner store, by myself, to get an ice cream and candy...playing kick-ball in the cul-de-sac until well-past dark...imagining that I could do ANYTHING when I grew up--no limits! I have to remind myself that I am only confined by my own barriers.

Bigskygirl said...

One of your best writings ever. Really well done. I remember catching fireflies in jars and poking holes in the top and adding a few leaves so they would feel at home and using it for a night light. I remember leaving the house barefoot in the early mornings and playing in the woods and on the beach till dinner time when my mom rang a big cast iron church bell that hung from the cottage rafters to call us home from wherever we might be. It echoed a loooong ways. And no fear. Sucking on freshly picked sassafras, stoppin in at the Soda Bar for some penny candy or a milkshake. On and on...
What a great time.

I had a similar experience to what you describe watching a small child play at the edge of the shore the other day...took me back.

Thanks for rekindling the eyes of my childhood.

Marcie J said...

oh the life-changing goals we had when we were young! I had many of them - like being able to ride my bike down a huge hill without flinching or being tempted to hit the brake...thanks for this stroll Tony - and for the reminder of being in-tune...

Timberwolf123 said...

If we could all learn to look at the world with a child's eyes the world would be a better place. We lose the joy of childhood not because of growing older but because of the growth of our EGO. We begin to feel disconnected from everything because the EGO wants to be the only one.

You're right that children understand better then anyone how to be in the present moment & we can all learn how to return that.

Thanks for the thoughts as always...sorry it took me a while to get over here.

Hugs,

Bill