By Don Wiltshire
The Candidate Forum, last Saturday at the Magdalena Public Library, was a sparsely attended but lively exchange of candidates’ experience, positions and visions for the future of our little village. One of the major topics of discussion was how we might offer, as a village, more opportunities for our children to grow and flourish.
It was mentioned that these opportunities must firstly be provided for in the child’s home. Indeed, these questions, needs and opportunities must originate with the child him/herself.
Our present-day society is offering up such a smorgasbord of entertainment, diversions and distractions, that the child of today is hard-pressed to find the time or inclination to do any necessary soul searching on their own.
Many children that I’ve witnessed of late have been rushing from one carbohydrate-induced enthusiasm to another with an interim of low blood-sugar depression. It would be a good thing for the schools or the parents to mandate a “timeout” for our kids (and, indeed, for ourselves) for introspection and answers to the question “What the heck am I here for?”
The inner life of a child, if we take the time to remember, is a fragile tangle of emotions, boredom and wonderment. Rachel Carson expressed this nicely: “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he (/she) needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him (/her) the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”
Our school system does a fine job of offering up a selection of after school activities as long as they pertain to competitive sports. This is a fine opportunity for exercise, coordination and to channel (or foster) natural childhood aggression.
This, of course is particularly pleasing to the Military-Industrial Complex. There are, however, many other facets of the inner child that need some sort of fostering or outlet.
The Magdalena Library is one place to start. I’ve had the honor to find and to place into the hands of several children, the book that might spark an interest or a viewpoint that might be followed. There really is no other facility in Magdalena that would serve as a meeting place or supervised “hang out” for our young adults.
Many adults have expressed an interest in fostering the interests of students in several areas: art, poetry, composition, performing arts, natural science, history, music and gardening.
Consider your own childhoods: you can never predict when a special “connection” with another being will take place; when that spark of interest will be ignited. We must always be on the lookout for these special moments in our children and to foster the self-confidence that they will need to follow these elusive dreams.
How wonderful it would be to have a facility where, without a competitive atmosphere or a judgmental supervisor, a child could practice laying down paint strokes with a brush, recite their own poetry, gain the confidence of public speaking, to wonder at a butterfly emerging from its cocoon or to make up stories about the passing clouds.
Adolescence is a frantic time of self-image building, peer-group conflicts, self-confidence formation and raging hormones. It’s a time when “No one understands me!” You might think that “I don’t like anybody very much!” That’s why it does take an entire village to raise a child. There is always someone to turn to (carefully and cautiously of course). We, as adults may not always be responsive: there is so much stress built into this “new economy” that many of us are preoccupied with just “keeping things together.” Keep thinking, watching, sizing things up and eventually, we’ll be there to help.
This is where I need the help of the young adults in our community. I need for you to seriously consider what kind of facility or support group you need to grow and thrive.
Ask yourselves “Why am I here?” “What is my special gift?” “What do I need at this time in my life?” “Whom can I ask about this problem that I’m having?” Contact me (e-mail would probably be easiest) with your ideas and suggestions.
I’ll try to sort things out and forward your ideas (anonymously, if you prefer) to the Schools, the Village or individuals who might be able to help. Believe it or not, we all have a deep interest in having you succeed. We just need a little prodding now and again.
If you have any Comments? Problems? Solutions? Up coming Events? Food for Thought? Contact me at mtn_don @yahoo.com or (575) 854-3370.
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