Children are so innocent. What exactly is going on in those tiny brains? What is it that drives them? What is it that gives them all that energy?? When I work with infants and toddlers, I am always reminded of how to live in the present moment. Children are not thinking about how much money they make, what their next job advancement is, or most even about what they are going to do tomorrow. Children do not have what are known as executive functions. Executive functions are found in the frontal lobe and they are what allow adults to act on judgment, reason, and think logically about situations and events in life. It is not until later in life that these young children develop these brain functions. When I work with families in the home, they tell me that they do not have a lot of time to play with their children. A lot of my parents have other children, work two jobs, and just barely have enough time to meet with me during their daily routine. Children do not need to play all day to learn, although children learn the most through play-based interactions. Incorporating your child into your daily routine can be the best thing for them. Allow them to help you do laundry. Allow them to clean the house and sweep the floor. Teaching your child how to do chores from a young age not only gives them a sense of purpose and helps with building self-esteem, but targets skills pertaining to attention, social engagement, and language as long as you are teaching and interacting them along the way. Through working with children my entire career thus far, I have learned how to stay in the present moment and live for today, not tomorrow. To live for today and not the past either. Children teach us how to live simply, to not worry, and to not care about trivial matters at work or school. In Matthew, Chapter 18, it states, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,* you will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). And there it is. Let us be more like children and live our lives without anxiety. Let us stop and smell the roses at least once per day and pray in gratitude for all that He has given us.
Amen.