No Fear, No Shame

The other
day I was taking care of my 14-month-old grandson Sebastian. We have a large
wall hanging in our living room of a beautiful group of horses looking over a
fence.

As I watched
Sebastian point to the wall hanging and loudly imitate the horses’ nickering
sound I have shared with him, I was suddenly struck by his confidence,
certainty, and feeling of safety in life. I realized he shows no signs of fear
or shame. He trusts his mommie and daddy. He trusts me. He trusts life. This explains
his boldness, his confidence, and his openness..

Trust is a
fragile quality in a child, in all of us. When we trust, we feel open to life.
Trust allows us to be fully present to the people in our life. Trust frees us
to experience our innate joy and love.

Without
meaning to, parents and educators unknowingly do and say things that damage a
child’s ability to trust. To trust himself. To trust us. To trust life.

How can you
tell when you’ve unintentionally lessened a child’s feeling of trust? Look at
her. Listen to him. They are telling you, and it is important that you listen.