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Change -- I started thinking about it. Winston Churchill once said "The only constant is change". How true that is...... we experience change more than we do anything else. The weather changes from season to season, and if you travel you may experience change in climate in just one day. Civilization changes no matter where you live as advances are made in the way things are accomplished. People change from children into adults; and, as healthy adults they continue to learn and grow in wisdom and knowledge. Dress, decor and tastes change. Some changes are subtle, some are 'revolutionary'. No matter how you slice it up, though, change is inevitable.
It isn't an easy task, to help a child to develop an ability to adapt to change, but I believe it is an extremely important one. Children do need a sense of security as well, which is what makes this task such a challenge. This can be accomplished by providing for their basic internal needs such as love, encouragement, acceptance and recognition on a regular basis. With an atmosphere rich in these qualities children will feel secure within themselves, making external changes less dramatic. With loving and supportive surroundings they will be much more apt to explore their world, and will not view changes around them as threatening. Changes can become an exiting part of their lives, and can ignite their curiousity and imagination rather than instilling fear.
As grandparents we can not only help to provide such an atmosphere, but we can share our own personal stories of experiencing change. Children love to hear stories and doing so creates a shared journey as they join you in their thoughts. They are simply amazed that there was a time when TV was only in black and white, home phones were not portable, and no one even knew what a computer was. They can hardly believe cartoons were only seen on Saturday mornings, and girls wore only skirts and dresses to school no matter how cold the weather might have been. But, they enjoy hearing about the personal growth changes we've experienced, too. It is encouraging to them when they hear stories about events such as having to move and make all new friends. Or, about going back to college ten years after graduating from High School. Or, even better, to watch us develop a new skill or talent.
Recently I had my piano tuned, and I started playing it again after it sat dormant for almost fifteen years! This change sprouted a bit of interest in some of the children, who had seen my piano nicely decorating the recreation room but had never seen it played. Which demonstrates another aspect of change - it has a sort of domino effect. Of course, not all of them have stuck with it, but they experienced a shot at something they might not have otherwise tried. And, for those that do continue to play the piano, perhaps they will pick up another instrument or two in the future -- and, who knows how many others will be affected by this change in their lives!
When children grow up being adaptable to change, they are more willing to try new things, even if they aren't completely sure about them. Whether it's playing an instrument or trying new foods, this skill obviously creates more options in life than being afraid of change. They also become more fully aware of their own interests and abilities as they become involved in different activities, and eventually discover where their greatest strengths and passions lie. And instead of having a negative attitude when they find something they don't really enjoy, or aren't able to do as well, they chalk it up as a learning experience and move on to find more of what they do enjoy and can excel at it.
Yes, change is in the air - today, tomorrow, always........... lets help our children to embrace change as a postiive part of life and give them a winning edge in doing so!
