. I've heard the poem here and there my entire life. Some of the lines came to mind last weekend as I sat in the stands cheering my youngest son's elementary league basketball team to victory.If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy....
The opposing team (my former elementary school) had two players on their team who didn't have the proper uniforms - a teeshirt with the school logo and mascot printed on the front... player's name and/or number on the back and matching shorts. The young boys had tattered long blue jeans on and sleeveless jersey style pull ons over their regular shirts compliments of some city park commission hand-me-downs found (I'm sure) in the gymnasium where the games are played.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty....
Looking at these innocent little fellas really made me painfully aware of how much we take for granted. Jacob has never had to go without. Hell, most of the time he has two of everything required.... one set for my house and another for his father's house.
I understand that everyone doesn't have the means to purchase uniforms, sports gear, etc. for their children. BUT my Lord.... the jerseys were $15 and the shorts even cheaper considering the fact that they come a dime a dozen at the local Wal-Mart.
My first thought was why wouldn't the school, the coaches, the teachers, other parents ... remember the PTA....chip in and buy these two little guys a real uniform.
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn....
Imagine the joy of realizing you've been chosen to represent your school and the anguish of being paraded out on court looking completely different from your fellow teammates.
I'm no saint. But I know what it's like to even think you don't have the money or can't afford what other children have.
Short story - when I attended this very school from 1979 to 1981 I was in a school play. I had a small dancing part with three other girls. We were told we needed navy shorts and a white blouse.
I can't for the life of me remember why but I never divulged this information to my mother. Maybe I had overheard her talking about being recently laid off from work.... or maybe it was a conversation about scuffling hard to make ends meet.... or maybe someone at school who wasn't a recipient of the free lunch program had made a snarky remark as they placed their parent's check on the teacher's desk during roll call.
I don't know.
All I know is I marched into school the morning of the play with no navy shorts or white blouse. I remember the teachers scampering frantically to find some blue shorts and a white blouse somewhere in the confines of that school house to throw on me before the play began.
I was ashamed of my haphazard looking outfit. The other girls were pressed and neat as buttons in their blue and white. I performed well but I've never forgotten that day.
I just recently shared that memory with my mother. She was astonished. You see even though we didn't have much ... I never wanted for anything. That is if my mother knew about it. It was my decision not to tell her for whatever my reasons were.
Kids...geesh!
If children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the world....
I've allowed an entire week to pass since I witnessed what I consider heartbreaking circumstances that no child should ever have to be burdened with.... and that's seven days too long.
Monday morning I will leave work and head to my old elementary school. I don't know the names of the two boys. I just know they don't have what they need to feel like a part of the whole ....
I want them to have that. I want those two sweet souls to be called to the office to pick up their school basketball uniforms and look like the other members of their team the next time they take the court.
I want those two future doctors, lawyers, teachers, coaches, fathers...productive members of our society to know...
Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever fresh and radiant possibility - Kate Douglas Wiggin
