Everyday Heroes This week we will commemorate Anzac Day and remember those thousands of young soldiers whose bravery defined a nation. Young boys who left their shores, many never to return, forever remembered as heroes.I asked my children (7 and 5 years) who their heroes are. I cringed at the anticipation of hearing names more notorious than heroic, more magazine-cover than book-cover. Pleasantly, I heard back – “mum and dad,” “my family,” “my teacher and principal,” “zoo keeper,” and “Michael Jackson.” Ha! I thought. Happy with that! I realised in that instant that who or what influences our children is up to us, their parents. Who we place before them, what we talk about in our homes, what we read, what we watch on television is very much under the influence of the parents and very much absorbed by the children. All of their answers reflected recent and on-going experiences, that we their parents were responsible for providing. We went to the zoo recently, chatted to the zoo keepers, and followed up the experience with talking about what a zoo keeper does and what you need to do to become one. School is a big part of their lives and teachers and the principal share the best part of most of their days with them. Thank goodness we have a great school for our children to thrive in. Michael Jackson was on the list because he could “sing and dance better than anyone”. (I love how they aren’t influenced by what’s on the news, but can just appreciate the talent they hear and see before them). Mum and Dad and family, for children lucky to have that, are constants. Whether we think we are worthy or not, our children (for a little while anyway) will look upon us as the bravest, the smartest, the funniest, the bestest (my daughter’s word) in the whole wide world. What will we do with that huge responsibility? I say we should accept it, be grateful for the opportunity to be all that for another person, and give back to them everything they expect from the bravest, smartest, funniest, bestest people in the whole wide world. Who are the everyday heroes you place before your children? .........................................................................................
Mihiri Udabage is a 30-something mother of two, now feeling old enough to use terms like 30-something. She loves Sundays more than Saturdays but is grateful for both. She hates ironing. In between growing up two little citizens, Mihiri spends time working on her on-line Fair Trade and Organic business www.generationwonder.com, volunteering for global charity Room to Read, doing canteen duty at school, and entering Fun Runs she has no hope of actually running. Mihiri has a husband who thinks she is loopy but who supports her anyway. She wishes she had written Twilight but acknowledges that could never happen because she can never remember her dreams. However, Mihiri is about to enroll is a screenwriting course that will see her to write a movie that will knock Twilight for a six. Mihiri continues to dream… Add Comment |
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