Handle with Care

Recently I have had the honour of discovering some children's ambitions for the future. I enjoyed reading what my son and his classmates wrote for their grade 4 memory book. More recently, a young girl I know told me that she wants to write a book. Actually, she wants to write a series of books. I was thrilled that she told me this and I responded positively to her. I can sure relate to wanting to write but I mostly kept the focus on her. She even showed me the book she's working on.

I don't know if I can express how precious I believe these dreams and plans of children to be. If they share them with us, they are allowing us to view valuable, delicate and fragile treasures. They are also allowing themselves to be vulnerable. How we react, what we say matters. We must not shatter their dreams.

I expect that some children don't get the right reactions when they share their dreams, some don't get opportunities to do so and some probably wouldn't dare try. Children need us to nurture their visions. The world will need them to become who should they be.

Handling with care is a lot more crucial here than it is in moving boxes of breakables. I hope that I always live up to the highest standards in this regard with my son and all children who tell me of their dreams. I believe that it really matters.

JAHD