Children and lessons learned..

Today is my youngest child's birthday. I look at the innocence in her eyes, and I'm reminded of the innumerable lessons that I've learned in my time as a father. As parents, our charge is a difficult one. We are solely responsible for another human being's life, happiness, stability, and future. It is a daunting task, which proves exceedingly taxing as our children grow in maturity. It generally follows an arc that reaches the pinnacle of frustration during the teen years. My children are still young, so I can only hope to avoid such a precipice. As a whole, the thought of developing well rounded, mentally proficient, happy individuals is, on it's surface, completely overwhelming. Parenting is too often trial and error; an every day exercise in humility.

There are countless lessons taught to a child throughout their upbringing. As leaders we must imbue morality, knowledge, and insight. Also, we must provide sustenance and continually sacrifice ourselves. Like I said, it is a challenging task. I have witnessed too many parents, through difficult times, slowly lose joy in their children. The life in their care seems to become an obligation instead of a gift, a regret instead of the future. It is evidenced by the myriad of shattered relationships that have perished under the weight of emotion.

All too rarely we focus merely on the tasks of inculcation and provision. We lose sight of the bigger picture and neglect our own opportunities for growth. One of the most invaluable qualities of a child is the seemingly innate ability to speak volumes through behavior. I am slowly learning this lesson. I am learning to take in the moments as they come, gaining understanding through each solitary experience.

My children have taught me many things. Chief among them is happiness through a pure-unequivocal love. The sheer exuberance I see on their faces when they laugh or play teaches me to cherish each moment. Their acceptance of new ideas forces me to stretch my own capacity for understanding. The compassion they show others reminds me to always strive for empathy. Their candor towards perfect strangers causes me to remember that no matter our condition, we are all humans in need of affection.

The most important lesson that I've learned from my children is that life is not about surviving. It is about having a vibrant positivity that radiates through every aspect of our existence. It is about letting the chords of contentment reverberate throughout our entire being. It is about taking stock of ourselves now and without remorse. Of course there is nothing new about these lessons. I have known these things since I was a child myself. They are merely reminders of everything that cynicism has suppressed throughout adulthood. My ultimate desire is to fight hard against routine, follow these re-learned lessons, and grow alongside my children.