Animal Truths Make Good Sense
People who dislike cats have told me that cats will come directly to them in a crowded room. Cats seem to know.
As a child, I rode a horse on a trail ride. I had read every book there ever was about horses. I had loved King of the Wind, Black Beauty, and Star. As I was on my first horse fulfilling every dream I had had as a child, I realized I was terrified. The horse broke free from the orderly horse line, and bounded across an empty field. I hung on swamped in my personal fear. The horse knew.
One day, I returned home quite late. I had left at 7:00 AM and managed to fill my day with complex job expectations. I finally got home weary and tired. Sam, our golden retriever, and I had a regular routine. Usually, I came home at an ok time, strapped on my running shoes and Sam and I would take off. We would lope through the neighborhoods. On the evening I returned home so late, Sam had not eaten dinner. He had pushed open the hall closet, and removed one of my running shoes and placed in the middle of the dining room floor. He had taken my second running shoe and placed in downstairs in the middle of the family room floor. In order to do this, he had selected from tennis shoes, boots, and other running shoes that belong to other family members. He chose mine to make a point. The dog knew.
Why is it if animals are so smart we believe that children don’t get it? Why do we not recognize they can and will thrive if assured that we as adults believe in them? Believe that they can think, be competent, and can be instrumental to determining the course of their lives. We need to start trusting them early. When it comes to brains and ability I never met a kid that wasn’t smarter then any dog. I have never met a child who wasn’t more in need of attention than any cat. I have never met a child who isn’t smart enough to sense there is something right or wrong here. Children are capable. Why do we continue to discount them? Children thrive when they are trusted, encouraged to make decisions, and reassured with a consistent structure of rules and limits. Children thrive when they are respected and valued as individuals. Too often adults focus on filling toy chests. Taking time to refuel the spirit provides energy and hope for the adventure of growing up.
As a child, I rode a horse on a trail ride. I had read every book there ever was about horses. I had loved King of the Wind, Black Beauty, and Star. As I was on my first horse fulfilling every dream I had had as a child, I realized I was terrified. The horse broke free from the orderly horse line, and bounded across an empty field. I hung on swamped in my personal fear. The horse knew.
One day, I returned home quite late. I had left at 7:00 AM and managed to fill my day with complex job expectations. I finally got home weary and tired. Sam, our golden retriever, and I had a regular routine. Usually, I came home at an ok time, strapped on my running shoes and Sam and I would take off. We would lope through the neighborhoods. On the evening I returned home so late, Sam had not eaten dinner. He had pushed open the hall closet, and removed one of my running shoes and placed in the middle of the dining room floor. He had taken my second running shoe and placed in downstairs in the middle of the family room floor. In order to do this, he had selected from tennis shoes, boots, and other running shoes that belong to other family members. He chose mine to make a point. The dog knew.
Why is it if animals are so smart we believe that children don’t get it? Why do we not recognize they can and will thrive if assured that we as adults believe in them? Believe that they can think, be competent, and can be instrumental to determining the course of their lives. We need to start trusting them early. When it comes to brains and ability I never met a kid that wasn’t smarter then any dog. I have never met a child who wasn’t more in need of attention than any cat. I have never met a child who isn’t smart enough to sense there is something right or wrong here. Children are capable. Why do we continue to discount them? Children thrive when they are trusted, encouraged to make decisions, and reassured with a consistent structure of rules and limits. Children thrive when they are respected and valued as individuals. Too often adults focus on filling toy chests. Taking time to refuel the spirit provides energy and hope for the adventure of growing up.
posted by Ada at
12:36 PM
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