The future…

Posted on January 20, 2009

I admit, I was a little disheartened when I realized that my experience when it comes to this historical and amazing day, is much different than I would have liked.  I am, at heart and soul, an educator.  And it was painful to me to sit at home, in this days of all days, with a child who can’t possibly understand what all of this means.  I wanted to explain to her how far we have come, as a country, as a society, and as a consciousness.  I wanted to share this with SOMEBODY, anybody.

But, instead I sat with my child while she was playing, and I listened to CNN in the background.  But, while she was playing, I listened to her, too. I listened as she comforted her “babies” using the same words I use to comfort her.  I listened to her explain right and wrong to her dolls.  I listened to her tell me her alphabet, count forward and backward from ten, and identify her basic shapes.  I listened to her tell me how she loves me.  And I appreciated extra kisses and hugs.  And I payed attention to HER experiences.  (she loved the parade) And I listened to what she was observing and what she was thinking.  I realized that not only am I creating a human, I am creating a “character.”  One who knows right from wrong, one that is well rounded, one who appreciates all aspect of life.  I am creating the future. I might even be creating a leader.

Suddenly, I feel at peace.  I am doing what I can for the future of this country by nourishing the character of my CHILD.  I am raising the future, one person at a time.  It just so happens that the person I am focusing on is my own child.  And I am okay with that.

I may not be where I thought I would be.  But I am where I WANT to be.

And five years from now, Chloe and I will discuss what happened today.  And she will have an extra understanding because I was paying attention.  I am keeping track, and in some ways, score.  And when I look back on my life, I won’t regret not being THERE.  I will appreciate that I was HERE.