Unlocking the Genius

Our children come to us as bright lights. In order to keep it that way, we need to make sure that we enhance their light and not squelch it. It is funny, because often times our fears get in the way. We all have fears--fear of not raising our children right, fear of not being a good parent, fear of making the mistakes our parents did, or our fear of "What will other's think?" Each of these fears get in the way of discovering the light in our children's eyes as well as the genius that is within them.

But what if this really isn't about us. What if our children are actually gifts for us? What if we already contain the keys within ourselves to unlock this very special gift? What if instead of trying to make our children be like us, we are really here to assist them in unlocking who God made them to be?

Within each of us are the keys to reach our child. I actually learned this from my students in the classroom, my own children, and the children here at Excel. They have taught me that I have within myself the keys to help them, and that when I learn how to help them, I better learn how to help myself. The ring to this whole keychain is presence. We must be present when we are working with children. If our minds are racing and we are thinking about our agenda, we will miss the opportunity to truly see the need at hand. Once we are present, we are able to be still, watch and listen. This must be done with an open mind of course and without judgment. For if we assume that we know our child's intention or message, and correct them for a behavior or concept that we perceive, we may miss the boat entirely.

Let me provide an example. One of my favorite things to do during the day is to go into one of our preschool classrooms and simply be present as the children interact with one another. When I am present, I simply watch, listen, and sometimes ask questions. These children inform me of their point of view and it truly enlightens me. I notice that our preschool teachers do the same thing. They realize that the more they step into their student's point of view and perspective, the better the opportunity they have to teach and guide their students. It is truly amazing.

I would absolutely love to hear the stories that you as parents and teachers have regarding this topic. What have you learned when you have stayed present in your home and/or classroom?