Proclivities wrote:
Great story, thanks for sharing!

 rgio wrote:
Perhaps, perhaps not. Creative and curious people have always been in the minority - usually a marked minority. I've known an awful lot of baby-boomers who are dullards, regardless of what culture they were exposed to.

 Proclivities wrote:
We have destroyed curiosity and creativity by focusing on test results and not "education" in our schools.

Sadly, the look of amazement on that boys face will fade into the distant gaze of social media and gaming.

The impact of our focus on measurable results, political perspective, and lower taxes is a world where beauty and expression are undervalued.

In the late 1990's, I had several conversations with a close friend that we had reached the pinnacle of existence.  It was just before the dot com bubble burst, and things were so fun and easy.  Nothing that's happened since has changed my opinion.  Those born in the 50s and 60s (in America...white...all of the standard privilege that made all of this possible, etc. - guilty as charged)... had an amazing combination of modernity, freedom, access, safety, creativity, expectation, education, and social safety net.   We also experienced the greatest popular music and arts in history.

Sadly... my kids and future generations don't have what we had, and that little boys unbridled amazement at beauty will be replaced by indoctrinated monotony.

Wasn’t sure where to post this, but it’s an example of the special power music can have.
  Sunday night I went to see a woman I know who is a singer-songwriter who trades time between here and Austin, TX. (She plays a lot in South TX – I recommend her to any of the peeps down there.) She was sitting in with a newly-local Irish band and they played some originals and standards in the “Celtic” vein. Anyhow, just before their break they did an instrumental of “Danny Boy” with the bandleader playing what seemed to be a baritone penny whistle. It was much larger than most penny whistles I’ve seen, and had a deep, almost melancholy sound.
  I was sitting at a table out front listening, when a couple walked by with their little boy – he was probably about one year-old, still not walking stably and his dad was holding his hand. The boy stopped and stared wide-eyed towards the open door of the bar when he heard the haunting sound of that penny whistle playing that song. There was a look of wonder and enchantment on his face – like he was experiencing something magical. His father looked down at him and realized why he had stopped. He picked up the boy and carried him near the open door to watch the band finish playing the song – the boy still had that look of wonder on his face.
  I’ve heard that song thousands of times but that time was unique.

Sausage

Will someone pleeeeaaaassssssseeee...

 meower wrote: 
I haven't read it yet, but I would question how one could consider doing something dressed as Battan to be a boring task.

 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/12/new-research-finds-that-kids-aged-4-6-perform-better-during-boring-tasks-when-dressed-as-batman?utm_content=buffer710c7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

New research finds that kids aged 4-6 perform better during boring tasks when dressed as Batman

Members of the AAP: 

Following the results of this week’s national election, AAP members in communities across the country have reached out to us. They’ve requested advice on how to speak to children and families about the results, how to help each other cope with disturbing rhetoric, and how to explain news reports of protests. They have sought reassurance that our mission remains steadfast to advance policies that protect all children. 

Even as we do everything we can as a national organization to represent children’s needs to our newly elected leaders, it is so important that all children feel safe and protected in their day-to-day lives. As pediatricians and pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists, parents and grandparents, we can serve as a source of comfort and safety, reassuring children and supporting families.

Here are some ways you can encourage parents to help their children:

TAKE CARE

• Take care of yourself first. Children depend on the adults around them to be and feel safe and secure. If you are anxious or angry, children are likely to be more affected by your emotional state than by your words. Find someone you trust to help with your personal concerns.

TALK

• Explain—as simply and directly as possible—the results of the election and what they mean for who is in charge of the country. Start by asking what your child has already heard and what understanding he or she has reached. As your child explains, listen for misinformation, misconceptions, and underlying fears or concerns. The amount of information that will be helpful to a child depends on his or her age. For example, older children generally want and will benefit from more detailed information than younger children. Because every child is different, take cues from your own child as to how much information to provide.
• Pay attention to what your children are viewing on television, the internet and social media, especially younger children. When children watch news on television, try to watch with them and use the opportunity to discuss what is being seen and how it makes you and your child feel.
• Consider sharing your feelings about the election with your child. This is an opportunity for you to model how to react to the news, especially if you talked openly about the potential results as a family in the weeks leading up to the election. Be sure that you are able to express a positive or hopeful approach about the future and be reassuring.
• Share with your child your own values and beliefs, including how you as a family treat others who are different or who may disagree with you. Kindness is important. Teach your child that if you disagree with someone, you can talk with them kindly about the way you feel.

LISTEN

• Encourage your child to ask questions, and answer them directly. Question-and-answer exchanges help to ensure ongoing support as your child begins to understand the response to current events. Don’t force the issue with your child. Instead, extend multiple invitations for discussion and then provide an increased physical and emotional presence as you wait for him or her to be ready to accept those invitations.
• If your child has seen or experienced discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, either from other children or adults, encourage your child to discuss what he or she has experienced. Observing someone we care about being discriminated against, or experiencing discrimination ourselves, is scary, and reminds us that now more than ever it is important to reassure children that they deserve to feel and be safe in their schools, homes, and communities. 
• Allow your child to express what he or she is feeling, including fear, anxiety, or anger. Listen as your child talks about it, again and again if necessary. Reassure your child of the steps that are being taken to keep him or her safe. Children should be encouraged to tell a trusted adult, such as a parent or a teacher, if they are bullied or feel threatened.

ACT

• Engage in activities with your children that demonstrate your values. Volunteer together at an organization whose mission is dedicated to a cause you care about, give your child ideas about individual actions he or she can take every day to help fight prejudice, and take care to discuss issues of shared concern as a family.

As we turn to our newly elected leaders, the Academy will continue to advocate for and promote healthy children, support secure families, build strong communities and ensure that the United States is a leading nation for children. We will remain constant in our pursuit of health and well-being for all children. We will be steadfast in our approach of using evidence, policy and our passion for children in our dialogue and discussion.

Thank you for all you to do to care for children in your community, and thank you for your partnership as we work together to represent their needs to our new government.

In gratitude,

Karen Remley, MD, MBA, MPH, FAAP
Executive Vice President/CEO, American Academy of Pediatrics

 haresfur wrote: 
From an imagined past future.

 RichardPrins wrote: 
Memories of your youth?

 oldviolin wrote: 
you're soaking in it

in open revolt

Not seeing a problem.

Randy: I tried to make it smaller to fit and couldnt sorry about that. Luckily this thread isnt used much.

Randy: I tried to make it smaller to fit and couldnt sorry about that. Luckily this thread isnt used much.