...but I just not a huge fan of children. Don't get me wrong, I don't lure them into my candy-covered home and stuff them into ovens. In fact there are quite a few out there in the world that I'm fond of, especially the ones in my family. What I mean is I don't go ga-ga over babies and I don't immediately get down on my knees to play with toddlers. I don't try and engage every child I meet in conversation and I don't think they're all cute...not even the babies (I mean most babies are but there are a few butt-ugly ones in this world).
My take on children is pretty much my take on all people--there are some I adore, very few I despise, but most of them I can take or leave. I also don't quite understand why young people are automatically cute and precious but old people--not so much. In fact I've been known to get crushes on little old ladies, because many of them are damned cute.
But anyway, kids are people and I don't raise them above or below any other age group. However I really don't like teaching them. At the dojo we don't have a separate kid's class, instead we all line up together. I like the idea of that more than the practice sometimes. Of course some kids really want to be there and others have parents who want them to be there. Tonight I had to teach a young girl, who everyone finds remarkably cute but no one wants to teach. She wants to play and I believe someone her age should be allowed to play. Unfortunately karate is not about play, especially when you are the only child in the room.
I do have a special fondness for adolescents/young adults (I'm channeling my mother right now, which is more than a little disturbing). There is something about this age group that I find appealing, especially young women who are on the brink of discovering themselves. I seem to be collecting daughters post-forty. My latest acquisition goes as far as to call me mom and came running into my office the other day because a bee flew up her pants leg and stung her twice. I made an appropriate amount of fuss and sent her on her way.
We're working closely together on one of my projects and she's been amazing. Sunday I attended an event she put together (she is president of the honor's society - what else would you expect from a daughter of mine?) and then we worked in my office for a few hours. I invited her over for some of b's famous chicken chili and a good time was had by all.
3 comments:
Despite having a toddler, I still do not consider myself child-friendly. I like mine, I like the kids of some friends, but that's as far as I go.
I have a bizarre fondness for young adults too, particularly males. That sounds more odd than I'd hoped, but anyway, I think it's because my brother was 13 when my parents split up and my Dad left. Now I want to be their mum, perhaps because my brother needed me so much from that age. I always joke with my husband that though I work with 18-19 year olds, I don't think they are hot, I just want to mother them!
I Do love babies, but I DONT hate you (lol).
It's nice that you have someone around to share your motherly goodness with. And to dote on, there is nothing wrong with some doting. It I were closer I would so let you mother and dote on me. heehee
I love all the lil' critters. But I have a special fondness for teens, too. I also love troubled teens. How's that for weird? But I guess it takes an old one to know one:)
And you're so right about old ladies!!!
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