Three Dots at the End….

It amuses me how everything at this age (almost 3 years) is a firm declaration. Ending with an exclamation point.

“You did it! Yay! That was a great song! I’m going to ride in the boat! Oh no, lotsa water! I need a napkin! (wipe-wipe-wipe) I wiped it up!”

When did we lose that certainty, that self-assuredness? That absolute conviction that what we were doing was truly important, that the world was safe to explore, that other people needed to know what was on our minds…I suppose we can’t stay that way. Part of maturing is losing that self-centeredness, it’s just unfortunate that the confidence has to disappear with it.

Wouldn’t it be beautiful if we could grow and become less self-absorbed, more socially conscious, but without losing our trust in our inherent goodness and instinct? Is it really possible–growth without pain?

Maybe the kids will be my social experiment on the idea. Maybe I can help them be kind and generous to others, without losing respect and trust in themselves. Imagine Amanda, at 15, declaring, “I did it! All RIGHT!” (Probably without her pants on her head, though.)