Here we go again

Off to school!
The young ones are starting up with school again tomorrow.
A new day of new schools, new kids, new friends, new teachers,
...new... new... new...

I am constantly amazed at how adaptable our children are. In all honestly, if every year I had to go to a new office, with new people (some old, some new), with new tasks, having to learn and stretch myself so much farther than I did the year before... wow. No thank you. I live my comfort level... I feel safe here. (Actually that's not really true... comfort scares me, so to mediocrity)

I think that much 'newness' would really mess me up.

But here our children soldier out there... bravely climb on a new bus, with a new bus driver, sitting beside some other new nervous kid (who probably still has breakfast smeared across their face), and together, with total strangers, they start yet another new school year.

Amazing.

And as parents, we worry about our children. Are they going to get along with the other kids. Are they going to do well in school. Are they... are they... are they.

But at the end of the day, I know they will. Because I have this (misguided?) belief that I* raised them well, they know they are loved, they know they are amazing, and they should (hopefully) know that no matter what they do in life, they are always going to be able to come home to open loving arms waiting to wrap them up and help them grow.

But that isn't the whole story. I also believe that our children, have this amazing adaptability to overcome situations which would reduce us mere adults to ruin. This inner strength, this innocent belief that they will succeed in life, that they are to have a good life, and they will conquer and win... "Life" has not worn them down... (hopefully never).

What about Ping? I have the utmost confidence that we will be able to pour as much love (if not more) into her as we have with our previous children... but what of her innocent belief that she will succeed, have a good life, win and conquer all that she tries. Has "life" worn her down at the tender age of 3 1/2?!

Oh goodness I pray not.

And if so, I also pray we have the wisdom to restore what ever "life" may have eroded away.
Actually, I want to do more than just restore... I want to restore, and then add so much more back than what she ever may have lost.

And in a year from now, when I look back on this, maybe (no, I HOPE) it will be me who is the one that will have grown, from the example of a 3 1/2 year old who was able to move 1/2 way around the world, and build for herself a life filled with joy and happiness. If she can do that, then surely, I better not complain about the little hic-ups I have in life, and learn to be more resilient. :-)

Learn to be more like our children.

* = I'm sure my wife would argue that any good parenting was the result of "her"