The Joy of Children

I am totally in love with small children. I could live off of them! So I thought I would share some of the small things that have brightened my days because of children.

I personally love playing hide and seek with one particular five year old girl who will tell me to shut my eyes. She then crawls under the couch and says "Miss Amanda, come find me! I'm under the couch!" And of course I must go around the room looking in trashcans and under pencils to make her giggle. It's amusing to me how she always tells me exactly where she is, but she never realizes that she's given away her hiding place.

I once admired the boots of a three year old boy and asked him where he got them. He says, "I don't remember. I've had them for fifty years." So I ask him how old he is. "Three." "And you've had your boots for fifty years?" "Yes." Your logic astounds me, young man.

I watched a four year old boy ask a four year old girl on a date. She said "Absolutely." I called the boy over and asked him what he was going to do on this date and he said "Have conversations." and then he looks at me and says in an irritated voice, "And you are interrupting my date." Well excuse me.

I was playing freeze-tag with a five year old girl and she's says to me "We're playing Chinese freeze-tag." "How is Chinese freeze-tag different than regular?" "It's Chinese." Of course. Silly me.

I was playing house with two five year old girls and we owned a horse. Now this particular horse was very sick and so one of the girls decided to call the doctor. So she puts her imaginary phone to her ear and says, "Doctor? We need you quick. You're on Campus Drive? Then you'll be here in twenty minutes." Children pick up everything we say you know.

A friend and I were watching a group of children together. One little girl was talking about her birthday cake and so my friend asked if she could have some. The little girl replied sadly, "It's all don." My friend pretended to cry over this fact and a little boy, putting his hands on his hips, says "Big people don't cry." Well that's news to me.

Children are so trusting and open and ready to be friends with anyone it amazes me. I couldn't live without my little people. When they crawl into your lap and put their small hands in yours as you walk somewhere together. The way they beg you to read with them. Their tiny voices and adorable laughter. It all makes my heart so happy.