Learning

Have you ever watched new life trying to figure out what it is supposed to do? Sort like watching a baby bird decide to leave the nest or watching a flower open and having to decide which petal to send out first.

I had that experience the other day. I was sitting in a restaurant by a window when a lady with two children walked out of the building. The children were both about the same age. I was guessing about 18 months. The little girl was running all over the place. The mother wanted to get them into their car seats in the back of the car that was sitting at the curb.

The little girl was waiting for Mom to catch her so she just ran this way and that way until Mom finally got her; walked her to the car door that was opened and put her in.

The little boy was walking slowly from the building toward the car. He looked around and was aware of what was happening but he had a goal; get to the car.

I watched him walk with slow purpose toward the car and when he came to the curb and saw the step down, he stopped. At this point I could almost hear the wheels in his head turning. He checked it all out visually and then turned around with his back to the car and the step; then got down on his hands and knees and moved backwards until his feet were off the curb. Then he could touch the road.

At this point he straightened up and turned around just as Mom was finished buckling in his sister and he got lifted in and buckled.

People are amazing at any age but to watch this 18 month old problem solver do his work, just amazed me.

I wish that I could follow this guy through life and see where he goes. If he doesn’t bump into any labels that we attach to everyone and everything; and therefore doesn’t get put on drugs for one of these labels, he will go a long way. He is so methodical in his thinking. Maybe even tunnel visioned, which isn’t a bad thing unless you get an ADD label somewhere.

Where did these labels come from? Why do we have a name for everything that happens? Who creates these labels?

A friend of mine was a kindergarten teacher and she said that the system asks her to label these kids. She refuses to do that because these labels seem to get stuck in their folders for life.

Now that sister will be labeled OUTGOING. And he will be labeled what?