Those who know me, know that I have stretch marks literally, but proverbially they represent what I have gained and lost so to speak, but yesterday at the party, one of the awesome kids that I was jumping on the trampoline with inquistively asked me,
what are those, pointing at my arm in fascination, which when you read my first blog regarding "Stretch Marks", I brought up this very scenario even though it had never happened to me before. Kids don't ask to be mean, they ask because they are curious, full of life, and want to know everything, EVERYTHING!
http://barikasmiles.weebly.com/1/post/2009/12/first-post.html
I am definitely the right one to ask about stretch marks, because I have them. I answered him appropriately, not angrily, defensively, irritated, or embarassed, but as one able to share my life with someone who will one day rule life!
I told him, a long time ago I gained a lot of weight and because of that my skin stretched and left these marks, but now even though I have lost all of that weight, the marks are still here and even more defined, you can see them more clearly.
I said in a silly Marini way, it is like I am a ZEBRA, and he gave me a funny look with a furrowed brow, not because he thought that was a stupid answer, or even because I said like a zebra, but instead he had something to say. His little, puzzled face immmediately softened and he said with squeaky inflections, "I thought those lines made you faster, you know make you run faster, to be faster, and that's cool!"
I excitedly said to him, why not? Awe man that's cool, like Dash from the Incredibles, I'd love that! I totally love that, it's almost as if I have a super power!
He smiled and then happily walked away, but first incessantly begging me to get on the trampoline, one more time, which really meant one more time plus one more time plus eight more times. Kids just want answers! They ask because they want to know! We are the best ones for them to ask questions, so they can get answers, or at least hear someone say, I don't know but that's a good question!
We must learn how to be okay with our flaws, faults, mistakes, weaknesses, ourselves inevitably, because we are teachers. Children will imitate everything we do, including the good, the bad, and the UGLY!
We are the ones who can impart insight and wisdom, so they can learn from our experiences, even the simplistic things we don't consider important or valuable.
Simplicity is the patient teacher of all, giving insight into that which is complex! We have to be like Sir Isaac Newton, who found something insightful even in an apple falling from the tree above him...