I teach, I learn.

Happy Saturday friends! 🤗 I hope you are enjoying your weekend. We are only half way through it, we still have tomorrow to continue creating moments to enjoy and rest.

As every Friday, our friend @galenkp has left us some proposals and ideas for us to write these days. One of the ones that caught my attention was this one and it is the one I finally chose to write my post.

"You're asked to give a classroom of ten year old children three relevant points of wisdom - What are they and why?"

It reminded me of when, about 8 years ago, some teachers from a rural school I met asked me to give a talk on values to 9, 10 and 11 year old children. Little by little they brought other children, even kinder garden, and then we could hardly fit all of them in the classroom. I must say that it is one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had in my life.

What would you teach those little ones?

Healthy and clear boundaries

It is good that you have confidence in people, that you make friends, that you believe in others, that you give them the benefit of the doubt, that you do not always be or see others with suspicion and much less that you always criticize them harshly. However, it is necessary that when you feel or see some word some gesture or some inclination of someone towards you with which you do not feel comfortable, do not seem to you or your parents have not taught you, set a limit by saying "No!" And immediately talk to your parents.

Sometimes people start out being friends, having camaraderie, treating you well, but they don't mean well. No one can force you to give a hug, a kiss, a greeting, if you don't want to or don't feel comfortable. No one should take your picture without your parents' permission, ride in their car, tell you secrets or their problems.

You don't have to respect or follow the direction of an adult who is telling you to do something you know is wrong. If you learn to say "no" now when you are little, when you grow up you will know how to say no to actions, words and decisions that are not in your best interest.

Your parents do what they can.

Just like you, your parents were children and had parents who also told them what rules not to do at what time to go to bed, that they should brush their teeth and eat their vegetables.

But the truth is that sometimes parents do things or say things that can hurt us. Many of them don't do those things on purpose, it's just how they learned to do things. If they knew how to do things differently they would do them for sure.

It is true, sometimes we wish our parents did things differently, however, understanding this point will help you when you grow up to...: decide what kind of person you want to be, what kind of person you don't want to be and you know that doing things "X" way can sometimes hurt others or can bring you happiness. And that you are never to blame in the matter.

It will also help them to know that everything has a cause and that adults are also afraid, sometimes a fear that leads them to do things the way they do, without realizing it. We can be as scared as a child, just like you, we just have to act strong and someone has to be the adult in the relationship. And, while none of this is a valid excuse for anything, it will serve you to free yourself up and move on with your life.

Keep acting like a child... sometimes.

Soon you will grow up and you will have responsibilities, partners, bills, house, children, and so on. At times life will get complicated, at other times it will get a little easier, and at other times you won't have the foggiest idea what you're going to do.

Life will already be complicated then...

Run around, laugh out loud at silly things, tell silly jokes, laugh at silly things, clown around, watch cartoons, ride a swing, slide down a slide, go to a zoo and talk to the animals or mimic them.

Don't forget to retain that genuine ability to apologize, that curiosity to learn, a degree of innocence, don't hold on to your mistakes and forgive and re-establish friendships early. Because there is nothing wiser than the look of a child 💜