Her Heart Melted...
The purity and innocence of children is what draws us close to them. They look to us. They learn from us. They teach us.
While sitting at the dinner table, my wife and our middle child, Henry (2 years old) were having a fun conversation about members of the family. Henry is silly and likes to think the couch, the TV and other inanimate objects are considered family (in his mind this may very well be true!).
Every so often, my wife would throw out the "possibility" that people are part of the family as well...he obliged. As a matter of course, my wife had not gotten to herself as one of those people when our oldest (3-year old Ava) chimed in and said, "Mommy, you are part of the family, too. Do you know why?"
We all stopped and waited for the mind of a three-year old to reveal itself.
"Because we love you" flowed from the child.
I turned to my wife and I saw, from the expression on her face, that her heart was melting with love for her daughter.
Kids understand that love is all there really is. They strive for that love each day.
Being a teacher of 10 years and working directly with children for 18 years has afforded me a unique opportunity to experience the impact a child can have on a life. They draw you in and capture your soul with their curiosity, eagerness to please, forgiving nature and unconditional acceptance. Each year I work with them I find that helping them grow as students, as people and as citizens is a unique experience with each child.
Their sense of humor and their purity in heart, when coupled together, often makes for those moments of "melting hearts". Good feelings follow laughter and from that, love can spring forth. Kids know this.
Henry loved playing the silly family game with mommy and Ava felt overwhelmed with love for her mother in that play.
Look to your children to find the place where your heart melts.
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
The purity and innocence of children is what draws us close to them. They look to us. They learn from us. They teach us.
While sitting at the dinner table, my wife and our middle child, Henry (2 years old) were having a fun conversation about members of the family. Henry is silly and likes to think the couch, the TV and other inanimate objects are considered family (in his mind this may very well be true!).
Every so often, my wife would throw out the "possibility" that people are part of the family as well...he obliged. As a matter of course, my wife had not gotten to herself as one of those people when our oldest (3-year old Ava) chimed in and said, "Mommy, you are part of the family, too. Do you know why?"
We all stopped and waited for the mind of a three-year old to reveal itself.
"Because we love you" flowed from the child.
I turned to my wife and I saw, from the expression on her face, that her heart was melting with love for her daughter.
Kids understand that love is all there really is. They strive for that love each day.
Being a teacher of 10 years and working directly with children for 18 years has afforded me a unique opportunity to experience the impact a child can have on a life. They draw you in and capture your soul with their curiosity, eagerness to please, forgiving nature and unconditional acceptance. Each year I work with them I find that helping them grow as students, as people and as citizens is a unique experience with each child.
Their sense of humor and their purity in heart, when coupled together, often makes for those moments of "melting hearts". Good feelings follow laughter and from that, love can spring forth. Kids know this.
Henry loved playing the silly family game with mommy and Ava felt overwhelmed with love for her mother in that play.
Look to your children to find the place where your heart melts.
Mr. Casten
March 11, 2011
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
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