Can I climb that tree mumma…
Can I climb a wall?
May I jump from the highest point…
From up here I feel tall..
What’s she doing?
Get her down
She’ll fall and break her leg
Scare her with a frown
I love the ants, mumma …
I like the earthworms too
I want to see where they live
To knock on their doors and say boo
Mud is filthy
Insects all around
There is sand in her hair
Get her off the ground
I want to say hello
To that uncle there you see
He is old like grandpa
And looks lonely as can be
She cannot talk to strangers
He might be a thief
He looks so unkempt
He must be up to some mischief…
Look mumma, puppies!
And see that lizard there?
Come touch this caterpillar
Come on, don’t be scared
Wash her hands with dettol
Rinse her mouth as well
God knows what filth they carry
And what’s that awful smell?
Tired of listening to people in the park, trying to curb their child’s spirit.Why tamper with their innocence? What is wrong with climbing a tree or building a mud castle? What is wrong in saying hello to a lonely old man?And don’t tell me about the evil world and how everyone is not as they are. Everything is as we are.
And now.. time for me to take my daughter to the park.
Uma Iyer is a writer, a mother and a freelance consultant for marketing communication to several organisations. She was raised in Mumbai and currently lives in Delhi. Her retirement plan includes two dogs, many books and a shack by the sea.
So true… most of the kids live in a sea of negativity which is passed down from generations… Caution has its place, no doubt… but not to the extent that it becomes all consuming… and incidentally, this affects the child’s creativity, and no wonder so many of us prefer security over living life fully!!
🙂 so it is time for us to break the shackles and learn to live, again, no?