Children

February 7, 2009 by Usha Pisharody 20 Comments

As each day goes by in our nation, seemingly destined to score another point in a step back in time, to the dark ages, I wonder about what we are finally going to leave our Children. And each day in class, I provoke, prod, instigate and incite them [lol, and pssst… please do not tell the Magagement of the School this :D!!] to be aware, and react.

I think back on those old days when we grew up without a thought of what the world would be like because we knew it could only get better 🙂 and wonder what the kids now would think.

And to go on about children, I thought I would share what these two wonderful writers had to say about Children 🙂 All time favourites for me, both of them.

Thanks Indyeah 🙂 Meg your trip down memory lane, and the sight of Erma Bombeck’s name on the post where you did the tag, triggered this off.. 🙂

Erma Bombeck (February 21, 1927 – April 22, 1996)

Ever since I read this [Indyeah having done the Images and Words Tag:) on 3 rd Feb..:)] in the morning, I have been wanting to share this priceless extract from a book by Erma Bombeck… a writer, mother, Person par excellence! One of a kind…

Erma Bombeck on the growing up process!

She writes :

Children Are Like Kites…

I see children as kites.

You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground…
You run with them until you’re both breathless…
They crash — you add a longer tail…
You patch and comfort, adjust and teach…
You watch them lifted by the wind, and assure them someday they’ll fly.

Finally they are airborne.
But they need more string, and you keep letting it out.

And with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with the joy because the kite becomes more distant — and somehow — you know it won’t be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that bound you together and soar as it was meant to soar —
Free and alone!
Only then do you know you did your job!

Erma Bombeck

She has said it all so beautifully for all of us. Period. 🙂

This is the link, from where I found it on the net. I have it hand written in my old diary [the priceless collections:)], but could not find enough time to sit and type it out. Thank God for the Internet :D!!

http://www.cardthartic.com/reads/a4.asp?fname=children~are~like~kites.txt

Other links to more on Erma Bombeck, if you are interested:

http://www.ermamuseum.org/netscape4.asp

http://www.geocities.com/hotsprings/spa/9599/quotes.html

http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/a/qu_erma_bombeck.htm

***

Khalil Gibran [1883-1931]

Another amazing writer who has been an all time influence for the depth, the simplicity and the profundity of his writing is Khalil Gibran. Here is what he shares of his thoughts, through his book, The Prophet, on Children:

On Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Do read up more on this link, for extracts from The Prophet.
Also here is a website that gives you all of his works, both written and art work as well.

***

Finally a thought, that the wise Indians shared a long time ago [the Red Indians, ie :)]

We do not inherit the world from our parents, we merely borrow it from our children.

I rest my case for children there.

7 February, 2009

Edited to add 🙂

I had to include this video of Whitney Huston’s, “The Greatest Love”. I loved the movie “Bodyguard” that she acted in with Kevin Kostner, and her cover version of “I will always love you” [original by Dolly Parton in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”.. a hilarious rollicking comedy :)]

Lyrics:
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well
And let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty
They possess inside
Give them a sense of pride
To make it easier
Let the children’s laughter
Remind us how we used to be

Everybody’s searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone
Who fulfilled my needs
A lonely place to be
And so I learned to depend on me.

I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone’s shadow
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well
And let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty
They possess inside
Give them a sense of pride
To make it easier
Let the children’s laughter
Remind us how we used to be

I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone’s shadow
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe.
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

And If by chance that special place
That you’ve been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love

7 Feb, 2009, 4.05pm:)