It’s easy to be cynical about kids, especially today, with so much leisure, so much wealth, so much freedom. I worry about it with my own kids. My daughter is 12 and twin boys will be 10 soon. You wonder when (and if) they will become productive members of society.
This weekend I experienced two things that gave me the greatest hope for the next generation.
1. Our suburban city, Kentwood, held an all-school art festival. What a treat of commitment, creativity, and promise! Art that you instinctively kept you hands off because you knew it was special. And adored not just for the impact of the art, but for the kid who created it.
2. The region’s Girl Scouts held a large award ceremony yesterday. About 200 girls from 11 to 18 were honored with Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. My daughter received her Bronze Award. This time the kids were right there in front of you. So casual about what they had done–they don’t know any different. Helping others and learning are ways of life…already…to these girls.
While I give them my adoration, I also feel humbled by my lack of idealism and effort, both for myself and the community. They’ve already surging ahead, ready to make the world a better place by their actions and their inspiration to others.
What wonderful examples of what is right with kids today. My congratulations to the kids for inspirations given to others. My congratulations to you Dave for recognizing the importance of these deeds and actions. A Bronze Award, huh? Great Job!Oh, and there’s plenty of time for them to be kids before they need to be productive. Childhood is too short now-a-days, try to extend it for them. There isn’t another chance.
What wonderful examples of what is right with kids today. My congratulations to the kids for inspirations given to others. My congratulations to you Dave for recognizing the importance of these deeds and actions. A Bronze Award, huh? Great Job!Oh, and there’s plenty of time for them to be kids before they need to be productive. Childhood is too short now-a-days, try to extend it for them. There isn’t another chance.
Congrats to Dave, your kids, and the city of Kentwood.And the award for worst environment for kids goes to Dubai where I live. Art is dead, social life is dead, family relationship is dead, you dont know your neighbour (and if you know it’s becos you are in the same business networking chapter!) we are all here ONLY to earn our living. I have already started to worry about my Twins which I am expecting this Nov.Thank for the examples, someone here in Dubai should make the change happen.
Congrats to Dave, your kids, and the city of Kentwood.And the award for worst environment for kids goes to Dubai where I live. Art is dead, social life is dead, family relationship is dead, you dont know your neighbour (and if you know it’s becos you are in the same business networking chapter!) we are all here ONLY to earn our living. I have already started to worry about my Twins which I am expecting this Nov.Thank for the examples, someone here in Dubai should make the change happen.
Nima! Twins?!! An early ‘welcome to the club’. I think if you look around Nima, you will find kids like I describe in Dubai. The truth is that they are not common here either. You have to look a bit. And the problems you describe in Dubai are common here. I wouldn’t call things ‘dead’, but they are not healthy.
Nima! Twins?!! An early ‘welcome to the club’. I think if you look around Nima, you will find kids like I describe in Dubai. The truth is that they are not common here either. You have to look a bit. And the problems you describe in Dubai are common here. I wouldn’t call things ‘dead’, but they are not healthy.