Do you remember what it was like to be a kid?
I’m talking about being an eight year old. Or maybe ten. Twelve at the most.
What a time.
Your only worries were whether to play baseball or hockey. Go to your friends or have them to your house. Or which magazine to read first.
No bosses. No mortgages. No email.
Look at your calendar. Your June 1st of many moons ago was a welcomed date. It signified that your school year was coming quickly to a close. That your summer break was just a few weeks away. Your teacher was creating fun activities versus drafting tests.
You weren’t thinking of hitting your Q2 numbers, about covering for a co-worker’s vacation or if you were even going to be able to take your own.
Kids have nothing to worry about.
If you believe that, then perhaps your head is buried deep in the sand of your summer cottage rental.
I have no expertise on the subject, but through my work with several clients in the sector, it’s abundantly clear that today’s children face more issues than those of my generation could ever imagine. Divorce. Bullying. Depression. Obsession. Poverty. Obesity. Violence. Isolation. Racism.
Today, our country’s children need us more than ever. As adults we are not the only ones dealing with a more
complex world, a more complicated existence, a more demanding society. Don’t believe your TO DO list or your unread email. The stress they emit are not your exclusive domain.
Unfortunately our kids are stressed. Worried. Pressured. Besieged.
Unfortunately our kids are not always allowed to be kids.
Unfortunately our kids need us more than ever.
Thankfully, there are people much smarter than me who have figured this out a long time ago. Thankfully, there are experts who have solutions to these problems. Thankfully, there are people who have dedicated their professional lives to helping deal with these issues.
The cliché is that children are our future. I would argue against that. I believe they are our present. What hurts a kid hurts us as adults. What brings sadness to the young is contagious to the old. What stops a kid from playing or running or jumping or laughing leaves us working, sedentary, broken and moody.
Changing lives is not easy. It’s not child’s play. But we have the power to do it. Start by entrusting those agencies that are doing it. Volunteer your support of time, money or skills. Support someone who supports them already.
I spoke recently of “playing to win.” I think today’s words are a companion message appealing to you to ensure that our kids get the chance to as well.
Today.
What a great message.
As adults we are often told to let our «inner child» out. We should do that more with the children, ours or others, because they are finding their «inner adult» way too soon!