Simple Truths

Kids have a way of reminding their parent of the simple truths in life. A couple of days back my second son reminded us that I should make him a Children's Day card because he's made cards for us on special occasions. He's right, love and kind acts should be reciprocated. And so I made the kids a colourful card. This evening as we were sharing a slice of strawberry cheesecake to celebrate the occasion, he pointed out that adults don't laugh as much as children do. He gave examples of things that he laughed about over the last  two days and even demonstrated the different ways he laughed. Twisting his face, he said we both have serious faces. Again he's probably right, kids have far more funny bones.

My daughter loves to squash her face on mine and ask me in a make-pretend angry tone "Do you love me or not?" Funny yet profound because that in essence is what we all look for in life, to know that we are well loved by those we love. Occasionally she would ask me "Are you happy or sad?", as if I were lying on her psychotherapy couch. The truth is whatever I am preoccupied with I could afford to look unmistakably happier.

We can get locked up in our learnt behaviours losing sight of what life ought to be. Our kids sometimes play our younger selves asking us whether we have lived up to the simple rules in life - love a lot and be happy.

Happy Children & Youth Day to my kids and to all the kids out there.