Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting 4-month old Sophie. In our brief exchange, we had a conversation of substance that I rarely experience with grown adults. As she gurgled and grinned her brilliance my way, I felt satisfied and met in our interaction. Now, I won't propose to know what this blue-eyed angel was attempting to communicate; however, I can say that the purity of our eye contact and exchange of energy delivered its message clearly.

In college, I spent time working with young children while pursuing a degree in Psychology & Human Development and Family Life. I have always been very comfortable with children. Even as a teen, at family gatherings you could often find me at the kids' table, striking up conversation with my younger cousins and feeding off of the joy they exuded. You see, I have always understood the brilliance of youth. I have never understood why we are so encouraged to put a lid on the light that burns through us. The hushes of relatives ("simmer down now!") always felt stifling to me. In fact, they still do! Of course, a healthy degree of self-restraint is a discipline worth sharing. Nevertheless, how often do we ask ourselves when we have crossed the line from disciplining to controlling our children? How can we guide them honorably - acknowledging their unique self while facilitating its expression in an unpredictable world?

I believe with all of my heart that children are here to teach us. Our job - as parents and as the village that supports - is to nurture and facilitate each child in his or her unique talents and passions. A child is a clear mirror that reflects the light shined upon it. Certainly, a reflection of his or her environment and experiences. Yet a child is also an essential piece in a future that is unknown to all that came before. His or her brilliance is unprecendented... and each child deserves to be honored and celebrated for his or her contribution to the whole. And ironically, it is the contributions that are the least understood that will have the most lasting impact on the greater good of the planet in years to come. I invite us to judge less, and to look more closely. (As a very simplified example: Hyperactivity in children is at an all-time high. Perhaps we are being encouraged by our children to find avenues for physical energy that are constructive... as sitting in desks for long periods of time is unbearable for a new generation of kids who dare us to rethink the way we educate. Again, a simplification of a multi-factored reality; nevertheless, a popular perspective in many circles.)

I have found that the most powerful way to approach my work with children is to honor them as complete. Children are sometimes surprised by a primary and guiding principle in SHiNE sessions... that they have as much to share with me, as I with them. The recipe for success for connecting with a child of any age?...

Listen. Plain and simple.

And yes... even gurgling has its own message to deliver, if your ears and mind open wide enough to receive it.


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