An Wonderful Valentine

Most of us know that good stories don't make the news that often. The good thing is that most of us live lives that are not full of drama, gruesome events, and really nasty people. So, we get to drool over the ghouls often enough, in fact every day if you expose yourself to what is called 'media coverage'. I love seeing the innocence of children as one of those reassuring beacons that life is good.

Yesterday was sports day at my daughter's school--well the school that she shares with some several hundred other kids. She had been very sick the previous day, but a visit to a nice, reassuring doctor, and some powerful 'medicine' in the form of the day off from school and a good diet of lying under the blanket on the sofa, gave her back a big amount of strength and some health.

When she got up after her night's sleep (and she has a regular 11 hours), I asked how she felt and if she had had a good night's sleep--I ask every day and know the answers. "Yes and yes," she said. I asked if she wanted to go to sports day and watch. "No," she replied frostily, "I'm taking part." Well, there you go. Make a decision. And participate she did.

Parents often get confused about what they see in their children, forgetting time-of-life aspects. I remember, two years ago (when she was just 3), how Miss Bliss had gingerly moved along the grass track like a shadow of herself, very wary of all the eyes gazing on her, from the centre of a huge grassy field, with nowhere to hide. Now (as a 'big girl' of 5), I saw the confidence that is usually evident get its full showing. Sick or not. First or not. Fastest or slowest. I am somebody. And that smile. It's glued on her face.

She got her hugs from her mother after every race, and a wipe off. I gave her a high five and a smile, took some pictures of her and her friends, and let her go on her way back to the tent with the class to rest and get ready for the next event. She wheezed a bit as the asthma took a little hold after each race. But she showed no distress.

Commitment is something we should want to see in our children and try to should teach from an early age. I wont go on about parents who undermine their child's ability to be committed by doing for the child or always criticising (even for a small blip from excellence). I wont go on either about parents who capitulate often and never get the child to understand what it is to be firm in a decision, where lines are drawn and why they are there. After all, it's Valentine's Day so I will share the love.

Endurance is something that is also developed. 'Sticktoitability' someone once said. It reflects the results of commitment, such as having trained enough to be able to race well several times in a short period.

Both traits help you understand that things may need a lot of time to work out well, and so do children to grow properly.