They Are Our Future

Act 70:

“It’s never too late… To Smile At A Child

It’s up there with the most beautiful sights on earth. The smile of a child. All innocence. Full of untapped promise. And pure joy. Take the time. Reaffirm their trust in humanity. Make your day.” – Patrick Lindsay

Quote in book: “Tis unto children most respect is due.” ~ Juvenal

Children are our future. Take Care of Them. Love Them. Smile at them. Smiles are infectious. I had a blog about it.

I dunno why, but most kids love me. I usually find that if I smile at them they almost always smile back. I think at first they are scared and/or shy, but as long as I keep smiling at them… eventually they come around and smile back. It’s that innocence and simplicity that endears me to them. I think mostly they like me cause I’m closer to them in size than their parents. Haha.

Right now all of my friends seem to either be pregnant or have just had a baby w/in the last year or two. It must be something in the water or just the age that I’m at. It’s a wonderful thing. They are contributing to the human race. They are bringing up the next generation and I get to help. How awesome is that? Well, sorta help. I mean... right now I'm not doing much, but I imagine in the future.. I'd love to be that cool "Aunt" that they can go to when they need help.

I know I’ve always wanted kids, but in a lot of ways I feel like I’m not ready yet… as much as I want to be. I’m not as settled as I want to be. I’m not as unselfish as I want to be. But, what parent is really ready for a kid? Most parents are not ready and never feel ready. It’s a trial by fire. However, it’s their journey w/ their child(ren). As much as I would like to help, it’s their path to take with each other. As a family. I think I just wish that I was there right now. I think I’m closer to being there emotionally than I have ever been.

But my father's death still resonates inside me and I still struggle some days with how much I miss him. Today's a big example of a day that just really hit me hard and it came out of nowhere. I saw the news that Cadel Evans won the Tour De France and I just started sobbing. I barely knew it was going on. My dad would always give me updates about Lance Armstrong or Alberto Contador. He'd tell me about the time trials or the mountain stages. He was really into it and as a result I was into it. This year.. I barely paid attention. Now that it's over, it just made me miss my dad even more. My heart still has a big hole that I wish was smaller. So i guess until I can close that hole a little more... I guess I'm not ready or not as close to ready as I should be.

However, in general...I can’t wait to have a child of my own. To teach things to. To help them grow. To encourage them. To watch them fail and learn from their mistakes. To enjoy their successes. To hold their hand when they have nightmares. To clean up them after they’ve wet the bed. To be that friend when they have their first kiss. To be their disciplinarian. To relish in their happiness. To love them. To guide them. To support them. To smile at them.

Children renew our faith in hope. Our faith in decency. Our faith in trust. Do everything you can to reassure them when they are at a young age. The children that feel loved from a very young age tend to grow up to be very happy and well adjusted. I’m very lucky to have parents who always smiled at me and always loved me. My mom and dad would always just sit and smile at me and my bro. just to let us know we were loved.

Even today. My mom and I really had nothing to say to each other over video chat. But she smiled at me (probably not knowing that she did it) and I knew it was ok that we had nothing to say. I knew she loved me and I knew she cared. No pressure. No awkwardness… a smile to say. Hey… maybe we’ll have something to say to each other tomorrow… but for now. I love you. Have a good rest of you night.

All that in just one smile. I love you, mom! Thank you.

Trivia

10 Points: Name the Girl Group where Beyonce got her start.

10 Points: Name the TV Show who’s Theme Song has the lyrics

Love and Marriage, Love and Marriage,
Go together like a horse and carriage,
This I tell ya brother, you can't have one without the other.

Love and Marriage, Love and Marriage,
It's an institute you can't disparage,
Ask the local gentry, and they will say is element'ry.

Try, try, try to separate them,
It's an illusion.
Try, try, try and you will only come
to this conclusion.

10 Points: Name the Artist and the Song of the lyrics below

I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone to fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the…

10 Points: Name the Artist and the Song of the lyrics below

She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry

10 Points: Name this Sondhiem Musical that has the song “Children Will Listen”

10 Points: Name this Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical that has the song “Wandering Child/Bravo, Monsieur”

10 Points: Name this Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical that has the song “March Of The Siamese Children” set in Siam

10 Points: Name this Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical that has the song “When The Children Sleep” set in Maine on the coastline

10 Points: Name the Musical that has the song “Our Children”, sung by Mother and Tateh. (Hint: Lea Michele was in the Original Broadway cast as Little Girl.)

10 Points: Name the Musical that has the song “Poor Child”, (Hint: It was the other musical that Idina Menzel as Kate and Taye Diggs as Mr. Black starred together)