children

is it possible that i haven't written a blog about kids yet? really? i'm not sure how i've been able to discuss anything about play without discussing children. they are the inventors and upholders of play. it's in their fabric, their essence. their development depends on it.

i've spent most of my life working (playing) with children in many different shapes and forms. i've babysat, taught, siblinged, nannyed, tutored and friended hundreds of children over the years . i've never mothered any, and perhaps i won't, but my cup is full. the lessons learned about creativity and acceptance and innocence and maturity and grief and unconditional love will be part of me forever.

i will never forget when Katie (age 3) looked up from her coloring and asked, "anissa, would you like to art with me?" leave it to a child to understand that art is a verb.

i will never forget when i asked caroline (age 2) "how did you get so big?" and she answered, "i not SO big - i can't reach da candy" (which her mother kept on the top shelf).

i will never forget when i was teaching animal names and sounds to a group of Russian 4-year-olds and one boy wanted to stick to the dog sound he knew in russian-"gaff-gaff". i said, "Kolya, in english, dogs say 'arf-arf'" to which he replied with a bit of exasperation, "anissa, dogs don't speak english".

i will never forget the many experiences of joy that i've witnessed on people who received a smile from a child. a smile - it's so simple.

i will never forget when i turned on the music for the class and Nastia (age 3) shouted the song above everyone, because she loved the song so much and wanted to hear her own voice.

i will never forget Caleb (age 9) blatantly questioning god and eternity after his mother died.

i will never forget all of the children who never cared if i had a zit or messy hair or bad breath or dry skin, but looked at me adoringly anyway. they respond to love, not to the external.

i will never forget amanda (age 2) pointing at a woman at the pool and saying (very loudly), "she's fat!". for kindness' sake, we learn to temper, but oh, the beautiful honesty.

i will never forget that every child has a world to play in, born of the imagination and fueled by zeal for life and the now. i've begun to recapture this, with children as my role models and mentors. i am so grateful for the life i've been given.

(selah)