Children are Our Teachers

When my daughter, Cheyanne, was two- years-old she asked me to take her to learn to dance.  So, we drove down the street to the local ballet studio and tried to sign her up, but we were told that the kids had to be three-years-old to start.  I promised Cheyanne that we would sign her up as soon as she turned three.  Every single day for eight months Cheyanne woke up and asked me if she was three yet.  “Not yet, my love” would be my answer. After several months, she asked one last time, and I said, “yes, today is your birthday, you’re three today.”  She immediately asked me to take her back to the dance studio.   I signed her up to dance on her 3rd birthday and she has not stopped dancing since. Cheyanne is extremely professional, is on two dance teams at LYTE Dance Studio, and knows exactly who she is and what she has come here to do; my job is just to support her.
It is imperative that we support our children in their interests, in their values, and in their instincts. We need future generations who can live fulfilled lives, be connected and open, and who will live on purpose, fulfill their destinies and care about the planet and all its inhabitants. I believe we can only do that if we teach our children values and ethics, expose them to as many wonderful things as possible, and let them guide us as to who they are, what they believe in, and what they want to do. If all of us got to sing the song we came here to sing and share the gifts that we have come here to share with the world, what a glorious world this will be!
Each day we host groups of children at The Gentle Barn. This week our horse, Hero helped us host a group of children in pre K. When one of the little girls noticed that Hero had a missing eye, she immediately said in complete sincerity, “I’ll give her one of my eyes!” She then spent the day kissing, hugging, and holding all the animals. I pray that her spirit always shines so bright, that her heart remains open, and that her generosity is contagious among all her peers. I would love to know her in 20 years; I bet she’ll do something amazing for this world!
For more information, you can also email them at info@gentlebarn.org or call them at 661-252-2440.