formerly Diane's Addled Ramblings... the ramblings are still addled, just like before, and the URL is still the same...
it's just the title at the top of the page that's new

Thursday, March 12, 2009

I wish

Yesterday’s Writer's Workshop post left me feeling kind of flat and sad and headache-y… today’s is different…

I wish for every child on the planet

At least one person who loves you with wild abandon… and isn’t afraid to show it…

Goodnight kisses and ‘just because’ hugs…

Swing sets and slides and grassy hills to roll down…

Firefly lanterns and creeks to wade in…

A belief in magic and miracles…

Enough good, healthy food to fill your bellies…

Freedom to explore and grow…

Puddles to stomp in and stars to wish upon…

Kind words and common sense boundaries…

Chores to teach you the value of work…

A willingness to try new things to find what you love and what you’re good at…

The big box of crayons and the imagination to use them all…

Wonderful books full of magic and adventure…

Clean air, water, and land…

A good friend to laugh with, confide in, and just be with …

Healthy bodies, curious minds, and kind hearts…

Time to spend in nature…

A pet to cuddle and care for…

Good role models…

The understanding that you can’t have everything you want, that you will lose sometimes (even when you do your best), that feeling sad or angry sometimes is a part of life… and that it’s all OK…

Peace, safety, and security… at home, in your schools, your communities, and your world…

Time to just be children

If every child grew up this way, can you imagine what sort of world we'd live in? Can you?

24 comments:

~j said...

this made me smile....

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Diane, these words should be in Obama's 21st Century Constitution for America, and then we'd all follow suit... We wouldn't need the 'right to bear arms', if that were the case for every child.

Beautiful! x

Missy said...

Wow! Very well said! I agree!

mo.stoneskin said...

Lovely. My wife (nursery teacher) would love that one, especially regarding creative play, crayons and such, so often now children have no space for that in their curriculum-driven sessions.

The Ice Bloggers said...

A lovely, lovely list. I agree with you 100%. And a pet to cuddle and care for - absolutely. Hugs to Sundance xxx

Heather said...

Wonderful thoughts. I miss being a kid. Can I still have things now? :)

Anonymous said...

I feel like my own childhood was exactly that. That was such a great post.

Anonymous said...

Diane, this is truly heartfelt. I truly wish every adult in charge of a child could give them those things. The peace and balance would be amazing!!

Sam_I_am said...

When I finally decide to leave this job, one of the places that I'm going to try to get a new job will be children and youth services, because I want to help the kids that have been forgotten.

Blu said...

I would love to imagine what the world might be like. Are you running as the next President of the United States of America?

Michelle said...

Just perfect Diane!!!

Simply perfect!!!

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Diane for President!

Heather said...

That was sweet. The things we should measure up to as a parent. Loved it.

Melanie Gillispie said...

I wanna roll down a grassy hill now.

Zuzana said...

That was indeed beautiful and I so wish all of this was true for every child everywhere.;))

Pauline said...

it's how I grew up - did you know my mother?

Jane! said...

And pizza! A kid's gotta have pizza!
Lovely post.
As usual.

blognut said...

I wanna be that kid.

Lee said...

You wish. And I think we all join you in that wish.

Debbie said...

this made me look at my kids and wonder, do they have that? if not why?? thanks for a beautiful post that made me take a deep look at my parenting and my children.. I can't make the worlds wishes come true...no matter how I would like to...but I can start with my own children.. I can be the magic in their lives..the hope in their world !I can be their wish come true!

Jenners said...

Seriously, go print these up with some nice photos and sell them and all your money worries will be over! This was beyond fantastic! Let's send it to the President and the Secretary of Education or whoever is in charge of childhood in America and make sure this happens.

Unknown said...

i am a great beleiver in 'just because hugs'
your comment on my blog about my dream really touched my heart- it gave me insight into you and the specialness you have after being through so much.
thank you for sharing that with me, and yes, me too, i am glad it was only a dream.........
sending love xx

swenglishexpat said...

You are so wise Diane, truly. Yes, what if every child could enjoy all that? Even a small portion of it would be welcome!

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Good call. Send it to five friends and tell them that their privates will be eaten by badgers if they don't forward it to everyone in their address book in 30 seconds. It will storm the world. No-one will act on it but it will storm the world.