"There once was a tiger, tiny little tiger,
playin' with his tiger toys
But his nurse-maid made him so afraid,
he didn't dare make a noise.
What happened to the tiger, tiny little tiger,
who never learned to roar?
He's just a mat, stretched out flat
on somebody's bedroom floor.
What we're saying is...
Hey Jimmie, Joe, John, Jim, Jack
Even little tigers lose their knack
When somebody twice their size
Can't see the world through children's eyes.
Don't do this. Don't do that.
You might as well just be a statue.
That's how children lose their spark.
But if grown-ups would take part in
things that children have their heart in
They'd never end up hiding in the dark.
(Lyrics to Hey Jimmie, Jack, John, Jim, Joe)
My parents always make me laugh when they're around my children, one of the many reasons I can't wait for them to arrive in August. They will get on all fours and pretend they are horses, sword fight, dress up as police officers, princesses, hide under make-believe fortresses, and sit on the floor to have a tea party with the king and queen. They have a gift of seeing the world through Daniel and Mia's eyes. They always say "you have to become a child to understand your child."
In today's hustle and bustle life, it's so easy to rush through the every day tasks we need to get done. Get the kids bathed, dressed, fed, educated, mannered, here and there and everywhere. But when is it ok to just let kids be kids? When is it ok to let them just be? To..
Run.
Hide.
Scream.
Cry.
Pick out their favorite red shoes...
run after their shadows...
smell the weeds...
...especially if they look like clouds..
make believe branches are magical swords...
Today I'm reminded to slow down. To savor life. To appreciate the unimportant. To live shamelessly. To not hold back. To live honestly.
I'm reminded that each day is sacred. That I don't want to rush my children through life.
Today, I'm reminded to sing the Hey Jimmie, Joe, John, Jim, Jack song...and share it.
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