On Making Adults

Children should not learn

independence or self-sustainability

by being forced to go it alone.

The way is not to abandon them,

deliberately,

watching from a close distance

as they flail and fail,

forcing them to fend for themselves.

No.

You teach them all you can,

and then you set them loose in the world

to learn what you can't teach,

to discover,

to make mistakes,

and, yes, to fail.

But, you stay,

always,

two steps behind when they don't need you

and by their side when they do.

You smile when they turn around

to reassure them,

you hold your arm out to brace them

when they have a mis-step,

and help them up

when they fall,

and they will fall.

Who and how children

become

says nothing about them

and so much more

about you.

Copyright (c) Lindsey Vernon 2020. All rights reserved.