It’s been a while since I have spent an extended amount of time with children, with the girls having grown up and spread their wings a few years ago. But this week I have had the awesome privilege of having my nieces and nephews visit from the UK for their summer holidays.
Watching them, playing with them, keeping them amused 24/7 reminds me that we can learn so much from children and a couple of things stood out for me …
- A new day. Every day is a new day, a whole new world to explore. Up at the crack of dawn they are full of enthusiasm, energy and curiosity, wanting to immediately know ‘where to’ today. What a great way to start each day, restored following a great night’s sleep, full of smiles and possibilities. (Where am I (groan)? Wanting to push the alarm button off and … they don’t have one.)
- It’s the simple things. Give them a tree, some sand, a playground and grass – they’re happy. Wellington has so many great places to have fun and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Having the kids gives you a great excuse to play the fool, run around with them and throw a ball (climbing trees … mmm, maybe not).
- Don’t quit. They just don’t take no for an answer; they don’t quit until they have exhausted every possible way they can think of to achieve their goal, get what they want. They are driven, determined, ingenious and optimistic. (It drives me crazy and … how often do we just give in and take no as the answer?)
It’s going to be a great week – it will be so quiet when they’ve gone!
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