Hi Kids!
Maybe you’ve wondered why I call you “Kids” when I write a blog post . . .
Is it because some of you are young enough to actually be my kids?
Is it because I’m trying to be funny (You know, using that wacky “Crystal-style” sense of humor)? 😉
Well, I guess that’s part of it, but there’s a little more to the story . . .
Several years ago, I decided to go back to college to take some business courses. My own kids had finished school and I figured it was time for Mom to return. I chose to go evenings – so there would be other adults with me. I didn’t want to be “the old lady” in a class of very young students.
The whole thing was quite a wonderful adventure. I met such an interesting and diverse group. Each person brought the richness of his or her life-experience to the classes. It was also rewarding for the teachers. They had an audience who were there by choice and totally engaged in learning (not kids who *had* to go).
Shortly after I started my first semester, I came home from class one night, full of excitement about the course I was taking. I breathlessly recounted the details of the evening to Sir Beads. I talked about the professor, and his fascinating lecture, and how glad I was that I found the book he recommended because “a lot of the other kids hadn’t been able to buy it at their local bookstores”!
Sir Beads immediately started to chuckle. I wasn’t sure why, at first. Then I suddenly realized what I had just said.
I said “KIDS”!
I couldn’t believe it. This was a class of students whose ages ranged from about 30 to 65 years old. NONE of us were “kids”!
I started to giggle. It had been decades since I was in school, and now after all those years, I instinctively described my fellow classmates as “kids”! It was as if I had traveled back in time to a place I’d been before. In my mind, this new group of adult peers had, almost instantly, been transformed into the childhood companions of old. It makes sense though – the situation was similar! We were a group sharing a learning experience – the work, the fun, the studying, the exams – all of it. We had a common bond.
I can tell you I learned a lot during those years when I returned to school. Most important of all, I came to truly understand that the “kid” inside of me would always be there, just under the surface, waiting to pop out with wonder and excitement, at any time!
I guess I always knew that, on some level, but I’d never realized the depth of it.
Remember to nurture your own inner child!
Ok, Kids? 🙂
Hugs,
You are RIGHT. That is exactly how I see you!
I took classes in Real Estate Law several years ago when I managed the Mortgage Servicing Department of a local Savings and Loan. I am sure most of us were the same age, but I don’t think I ever referred to any classmates as kids.
You are just young at heart, while I realized yesterday that I will be 59 this year. WHY does that sound so much older than 58.
Have a great day Crissie, you will always be a kid to me.
xx, Carol
I love the kid in me – as I age I enjoy it even more.
when i started noticing and disapproving of some students clothing at a bus stop i realized i wasn’t a kid anymore, its kinda sad though. So much responsibility pushes out the kid inside:(
Oh I know, Michelle.
The responsibilities sure do pile up the older we become. I think that’s why it’s really important to try and save a little bit of time every week just for yourself.
Mark it on your calendar.
Do something you like, whether it’s watching a video you’ve rented, or curling up with a new magazine, or even doodling in a little journal with colored pencils!
For that short span of time – you are “playing“.
It’s like a vitamin for your spirit – you are worth it! 🙂
Hugs,
Crystal
I’m in college right now and I’m the oldest in the class by far. I’m 46 and most of the kids in the class are not even old enough to go have a drink after class. I love the college life at this age, the instructors respect my work ethic, the kids ask me for advice and actually take it, and I have met some other non-traditional students. In fact we started a club for those of us who have life experience and sometimes need a little support.
I’m not in touch with my inner child, I AM my inner child.
Sometimes I feel that my inner child is the only thing that keeps me sane through all the things you have to go through as an adult. When all things pile up, it’s that inner child that tells you “hey, not too serious” or “take a breather, and go grab that chocolate-vanilla ice cream with the chocolate sugar cone..now!” c:
Fun bit of science: Humans are, as a species, exceptionally “immature” primates. We hold on to (usually) developmental traits, like flat faces, a certain hairlessness, and most especially an enormous capacity to learn and adapt, including an openness to strangers (yes, humans ARE open to strangers, and anyone who thinks otherwise hasn’t done much study of the natural world), that most species lose at puberty.
We’ve bred this “immaturity” into our companion animals, too; cats and dogs especially show this. Contrast the trainability of an adult dog and adult wolf, or the sociability of even a rude housecat with a bobcat!
So really- we, and the animals we hold dearest, have been able to develop and grow by staying young. It’s not an inspirational poster- it’s physical fact!
Oh Crystal, I so loved this post. It really tugged at my heartstrings! We’re all just a bunch of kids in grown up bodies! xoxo Paulette
My sister teaches grad school and I always have to correct myself after I say something about the “kids” in her classes…it’s ingrained!
I still go to school. Not school per say but am still studying. I so would prefer to return to class willingly instead of having to though.
I’ll bet the other “kids” stories were pretty great!