Zoe Girl
2-4-16, 8:12am
I get too many upworthy articles on FB it seems, but there are just enough that I like to get it still. One thing I have noticed is that in a variety of ways we seem to have young people doing kinda bigger things. From talks by the Kid President, to charity work by youth, to standing up and doing spoken word on issues that matter to them, I just see more youth having voices. (I also work in this field so maybe other people who are not in the youth development business don't see it). So that is cool, and often I find out that this kid philanthropist comes from a family already doing that type of work, or a kid who is an excellent speaker has a family that has been encouraging him all along. Part of this is also having a family/school support to get better at it. I imagine the first time the Kid President tried to take over Thanksgiving dinner with a speech it was not the greatest. But that is my point, what is encouraged and taught really shapes what we do.
For example, I was a strong minded, opinionated kid. I heard a year or so ago about a memory that a classmate had of me in 6th grades. I gave an impassioned speech about clubbing baby seals, and it sounds like I was a little graphic for 6th grade. A little cringe here, but realizing in one type of family I may be encouraged to give better speeches and connect with the audience more, maybe have more facts. Basically to become more skillful at something. Instead I sat at the kids table at Thanksgiving into my 20's, I think I was just annoying in a family that valued keeping the silence and the peace more than anything. A kid who wants to save the world in a family that already does that type of work may be guided to choose an area they could work with, helped to break down the tasks and build support among friends and adults. Another family may simply have no clue what they are working on or how to support that kid.
I woke up really early, sounds like a sign of the times (perimenopause) and had deep thoughts. I was thinking about some things I don't do as well as I would like and how I may need to work with not being trained/supported over the years. Not a criticism of my family - just realizing I may have to learn some new skills.
For example, I was a strong minded, opinionated kid. I heard a year or so ago about a memory that a classmate had of me in 6th grades. I gave an impassioned speech about clubbing baby seals, and it sounds like I was a little graphic for 6th grade. A little cringe here, but realizing in one type of family I may be encouraged to give better speeches and connect with the audience more, maybe have more facts. Basically to become more skillful at something. Instead I sat at the kids table at Thanksgiving into my 20's, I think I was just annoying in a family that valued keeping the silence and the peace more than anything. A kid who wants to save the world in a family that already does that type of work may be guided to choose an area they could work with, helped to break down the tasks and build support among friends and adults. Another family may simply have no clue what they are working on or how to support that kid.
I woke up really early, sounds like a sign of the times (perimenopause) and had deep thoughts. I was thinking about some things I don't do as well as I would like and how I may need to work with not being trained/supported over the years. Not a criticism of my family - just realizing I may have to learn some new skills.