Yes my children are Wild and Yes I am very happy that they are. Why is it such a problem for some to see children being allowed to be themselves, to express themselves openly, to teach themselves?
Having left the mountains in Spain to return to Ireland, I knew that the choices I have made in regards to my children upbringing would be questioned, I'm pretty okay with that as I really don't care so much for other people's opinions. But the level of discomfort I have seen, that my children cause just by being open and free, well it still surprises me. This is the longest I have come away with my kids, it just over 3 weeks now and certain tolerances are starting to wear thin for some.
Like all children, my children love to go anywhere new, which has been happening a lot lately. We have been spending the time between staying with my sister and my parents. My mum is great and loves to take the girls out. A couple of days ago we went to a hardware store, a pretty big one and the minute we got in the girls got excited. Looking at it from their point of view it is a large space with long corridors and lots of cool stuff to look at, they really wanted to explore and as long as they stay in my view I am okay with that. Then they started to get really excited about a star wars projector they saw and were calling for me to come and check it out.
When they get excited they both tend to move a lot either spin around or do little jumps or even do a little dance, their voices also change. I love to see them like this, but some people in the store just threw me dirty looks and tutted at me, as if to say 'Control Your Kids', really being happy and expressing excitement is frowned upon. Seriously, who does not enjoy the sound of happy children, quiet a lot it seems.
It is funny how so much money is invested in to creating ways to obtain and maintain happiness yet when it comes to expressing that happiness people can become quite uncomfortable. I grew up in a house where any noise was frown upon, so I never got excited for fear of getting told off and beaten for it. But when I left home, girl did I make up for it. I became very vocal when I was excited, it was so liberating, whooping and hollering over lightening in the sky and seeing fireworks. I got a few looks then from folk, but it is nothing compared to the looks I get when my children freely express their emotions.
My oldest 2 girls are very adventurous and love climbing, trees, gates, fences what ever they can find, they do not climb shelves in store though so don't worry this story is not going in that direction. They are really good at judging danger, because like all creatures they generally do not want to get themselves hurt. It is in their best interests to stay safe. It is important to trust your children and allow them to have the opportunity to explore their surroundings, they are very clever and will not put themselves into dangerous situations. Of course I stay near by especially when they are young, but they are so capable of assessing danger.
My one year old is no exception and she loves to climb. She is really good at it too, she goes up and down the stairs, climbs onto benches and chairs and I can literally see and hear people's hearts jumping out of their chest when she does so. I have people come over to me in play grounds telling me not to let her climb up ladders to the slide. I am right behind her, I am there to catch her if she does fall but I do not hold onto her and that really makes a lot of people uncomfortable. When you allow your children the freedom to explore. you are helping them to navigate their way in the world, you are helping them gain confidence. This really starts at a young age too, of course you are right next to them but telling young children no all the time and don't do that you are instilling your own fears into them, you are telling them to not trust their natural selves. Like I have said already no child wants to hurt itself. But by interfering we are telling them to not trust themselves and their natural abilities.
Something that really annoyed me recently, was when one person whom I see regularly, told me that it is not natural to have your children up after 830p.m in the night. That by letting them decide when to go to bed, allowing them to go when they are tired, is making them wild and that I have no control over them because of that . Why would I want to control my children, I for one am not out to 'control' anyone, that is not my way.Children do not need to be controlled, they need to be treated with respect and understanding. I really dislike hearing people talk about controlling children, as if they are dangerous.
But for some control is the only way they know and because this person knows no different he was trying to 'control my children'. My girls go to bed when they are tired, I have no problem with that. If it gets late sometimes I tell them to go to their bed and read books which they do. But this person really had a strong reaction to seeing them having the freedom to choose when they go to sleep. What is the point in sending a child to bed if they are not tired, in effect punishing them for not being tired.
I have definitely had to hold my tongue, okay I did not in the above situation because I will not tolerate some one trying to tell me how to raise my children. Especially someone who is not a parent.
We all have the right to express ourselves freely yet so many of us do not and that is understandable when you see first hand how uncomfortable some people are with children having the freedom to be themselves, to discover who they are. They are all natural explorers and we should be encouraging them not robbing them of such a powerful trait. So the next time you are out and see some kids having fun, go along and laugh with them, encourage their happiness.
1st Image Source:http://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns%20
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