.
.
Children
are free flow
like liquid gelatin,
sparkling
splashing
filling any form.
Why must we chill them,
make them set?
.
.
(c) 1982, 2018 Betty Hayes Albright
.
Original pencil drawing from high school, (c) 1965
,
(Poem written in 1982, re-posted from 2012)
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That’s a hard question.
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Yes, balance is needed between teaching, and allowing a child to be individuals…and to not lose their playfulness and their sense of wonder. 🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Yes, indeed! Why must we. Yet, my mother and father did just that which began a down hill roller coaster of hanging on but not getting off. I did not with my own children but in going where they might have seen, many times, what could or might have been with some getting there and others not. Parenting a trade-off that is a high wire balancing act. A brief poem that packs a punch!
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Yes, a balancing act – exactly! Thanks for your insight, Renee. 🙂 Hope you’re doing well.
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Love this poem and the drawing! Reminds me of The Little Prince 🌟
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Thank you! What a nice compliment. 🙂
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Oh! Betty this delightful 💜🌹🤗
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Thank you, Willow! 😄❤️
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It is really lovely 💜
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Written when my boys were young. 😊
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“Why must we chill them,
make them set?”
I love this, Betty.
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Thank you, trE! 🙂 So glad you liked this oldie.
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You’re most welcome! Well, it’s very easy to like. 🙂
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😊💕
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Why indeed?
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Maybe it’s just a matter of degree…? Some molds are more restricting than others.
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Delightful poem and wonderful drawing, Betty! And what a good question! As your other comments imply, parenting is definitely a balancing act. It’s good to provide guidance, but to also let them grow into the individuals they’re meant to be. Hugs, my friend.💕💕
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I agree, Lauren. When I wrote that my sons would’ve been 10 and 11, and I was sad to see how they were already starting to grow up, to feel the pressure to “fit in”. Seems to be inevitable though. But as we all seem to agree, we can guide them without tightly molding them. Thanks for weighing in, Lauren. Hugs back to you! 💞💞
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Good question! It always seemed a shame to curtail that pure spirit with all the dos and don’t of ‘society.’
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I agree, Eliza. We need to “civilize” them (teach them manners, empathy and compassion for others, integrity), without extinguishing their playfulness and their individuality.
Thanks for your comment! ❤️
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A telling poem and your drawing of a child holding a balloon (to me symbolic of endless possibilities) fits it perfectly. Some of us never did quite ‘set’ and we’re all the better for it!
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Yes, the whole world is better for it! Thank you, and it’s good to see you. I’ve missed your poetry. 🙂
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Hope you saw my updated home page. In throes of moving home right now so blogging will take a backseat for a week or two. But I’ll be back!
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Sorry, I hadn’t seen it. I do most of my blogging via the cellphone app (it saves on my back) which doesn’t show home pages the same way as on the computer. I’ve now been there via my PC and wish you good wishes on your move. Hope it all goes smoothly! Glad you’ll be back. ☺️
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This really sparkles, Betty! It made my morning–
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Thank you so much, Rose! ❤️
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That’s a beautiful metaphor.
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Thank you, Sahana, – I appreciate that! 🙂
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I like this one. Well done.
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Thank you so very much!
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A good question…one we have to balance in our actions every day.(K)
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I so agree!
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All their innovation boxed in by rules – sad and disruptive, and sometimes they work to regain their childhood impulses.
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Yes, I know you must see this first hand all the time.
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Exa
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Exactly! Why can’t we learn from them and live in the moment as it is, not try to make it anything!
Love the sketch! Feel Her balloon could be anything for her! 😊
Hope you feeling good…
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I agree, Rob….living in the moment, mindfully. Thank you so much for your compliment about the drawing. I’m not an artist but did a lot of sketches back when….
Feeling okay here – hope you’re having lots of good days. And for you, spring is on the way! 😄
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Yes, weather has improved drastically already ! Yay!😀👏 predictions for a chill next week but looks like winter has done its worst for this year…which was really not bad at all!
Good to hear you’re feeling good 👍🌼
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Perhaps in adulthood some of these frozen children learn to remelt themselves and with tales of their adventures to share.
Lovely words and drawing, Betty. Thank you for sharing.
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I think you’re right about the remelting, Ben. Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
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❤
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