Janae’s Blog

This I Believe

It had been a rough day – nothing seemed to be going right. I had backed into a newspaper stand, done poorly on a test; I forgot a textbook and had to race home, which resulted in being a few minutes late to class. I dreaded going to work and dealing with rambunctious children. I went to work and attempted to put together a million piece Legos set. The youngest, who is 4, asked what was wrong. I said nothing. He told me I looked sad, and I said it had just been a long day. He then came over and gave me a big hug and simply said, “I love you.” My day greatly improved, and the day ended on a much happier note then it began.  I believe that children can bring joy.

            Children’s innocence and wonderment at the world is refreshing to see, and I can’t help but smile when talking or thinking about them. Children take pleasure in the tiniest of things: they have this look of sheer excitement when they unwrap a present and uncover a plain cardboard box. When they open to see that there’s something inside, their excitement, if possible, grows. The children I work with have the widest grins on their faces when we go for a walk and look for bugs. They’ll sit for hours and stare at an ant hill, enraptured with the mere presence of such itty bitty tiny little creatures. Children take great pleasure in reaching out and making others feel better. Their compassionate hearts reach out and try to comfort those they see, and they are so loving and accepting that they make friends within minutes. They’re accepting of people, flaws and all, and love unconditionally. They see the best in everything without even trying.

I love the bright, shining eyes that stare in awe at a dandelion for hours, and little hands that clap in utter delight about a tiny little ladybug. I love the infectious giggles about a fuzzy green caterpillar and the beaming, radiant smile about the simple pleasures in life all equate.  Children have this naturally optimistic and happy disposition, and they unknowingly share it by just being themselves. The boys I watch say that I laugh a lot, and ask me why. I tell them it’s because they’re just being themselves. Then they give me these impish little smiles,  and the cycle of joy continues.

            Whenever I’m having a bad day, or am feeling a little sad, I think of children and all of their amazing qualities, and my day turns much, much brighter.

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