AND ONE MORE THING

The presence of children make adults younger

Wherever kids are found there will be noisy restless bodies in every size and shape. There is no getting around it. It is a fact of life—precious young life.

Others don’t agree necessarily. The further removed from kids and grandkids by age, the more annoying children are to them.

There are outstanding lessons to be learned from little kids if you are willing to give it a chance.

There was quite a stir on social media sites last year when a restaurant would not allow children under the age of six to dine. Chatter was a flutter with opinions right and left of the fork.

Mike Vuick, owner of McDain’s Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville, Pa., took a stand. He was quoted in newspapers all over the country in July 2011. Vuick said that he was doing this on behalf of all the kind, refined people who had emailed him about ruined meals. He decided someone in society had to dig in his heels.

It is inevitable with kids that meltdowns come with their little psyches. Frequently it happens at the most inopportune time. Those cherubim wings have been left behind in the van to reattach during snooze time on the way home. That’s the nature of growing up. Observers can be sympathetic or downright nasty.

In public places parents fret at their lack of control skills. It leaves them in a tizzy and in desperate need of affirmation from friends and family who have wisdom to impart. Sometimes the kindly words from a stranger right on the scene can be reassuring, too.

I get my feathers ruffled when those around me complain about kids in certain settings. You wonder about their personal issues that bring out their negativity with everything within range. It’s all in how parents deal with their kids that makes or breaks the deal.

Having a bad day? Down in the dumps? There is nothing like going to a kid zone—a fast food establishment, a G movie or a kid- climbing zoo to boost your spirits, though.

The laughter and natural freedom to take risks and experiment is so pervasive. What delight to watch kids connecting with other tykes and tackling a slide, or each other?

A lot of life’s lessons about getting along start on the playground. It might be a good reminder to phone someone, laugh a bit more at everyday things and stay active physically.

As adults we are so controlling and directive. The clock is ticking and life’s calendar forces us onward. Oh, the liberation a little one has to appreciate his surroundings.

Watch a two-year old on the playground who has spotted a ladybug crawling over his shoe. How long will they just look at each other while the toddler takes in the wonder of the colors, textures and sense of togetherness with nature? The wheels are turning in his head.

Everyone is aware that a successful fishing trip can’t be rushed. Help a little one learn to fish and you will have a companion for life! Whether it is at a special catch and release pond where training is in session, or a good old-fashioned stream nearby, there are opportunities for the asking.

“We wind the grandkids up and send them home.” Grandparents are alike everywhere. It’s at grandma’s house where the kids get the heaping bowl of ice cream not once, but twice in a day. And grandma places no limits on how many chocolate chip cookies (because she said it was okay) with a wink of her eye.

I love it when a preschooler asks me if I would read him a story. Suddenly a stack of favorite, worn books materialize from the bedroom. I am on my honor to read exactly what’s on the page with no skipping of pages allowed—no, not a single sentence. Those are the (unwritten) rules. Otherwise, do I get reminded in no uncertain terms!

Dr. Seuss has his way with words, and those sayings are crucial to a little emergent reader. There is comfort in hearing the familiar phrases when mom is away and someone else is taking up the slack.

Years ago Art Linkletter wrote a book, Kids Say the Darndest Things, based on an early television show where he interviewed children. Of course, the answers were clever and cute. Viewers were awed. You have to remember that this was during a period when kids were beginning to be heard instead of silenced in an adult world. Today, whether or not a show like that would work is a different matter. Kids pretty much say it like it is.

Still out of the mouths of babes can be some really prophetic and choice words to make adults chuckle! Kids are perfectly honest, too. That might prove to be a good lesson for adults to live by instead of dancing around things that should be said to one another.

The next time you see a kid collapsing on an escalator refusing to move upon the command of his dad, let it go. When you see a kid bouncing from under the clothes rack in the department store playing hide and seek with his mom, let it go. The next generation of inquisitive minds is being developed right underfoot.

Appreciate young children for all they are worth. Run away with a fresh spirit instead of stomping down in irritation.