What a odd feeling. I am sitting on my bed in Shanghai on the Global Citizens tour and I am in the strangest mood. Over the last 48 hours I have picked up 10 Indian students from all across the country led an orientation in Delhi and then maneuvered their naturally slow walking timeline disregarding bodies through the airport multiple times to end up here.
I had 17 year olds – seniors in high school calling me Quinnen Ma’am, and Ms Quinnen. They were asking my permission and trusting my judgment. It is so easy to feel young when I am constantly surrounded by people your my age, but when I look at these almost adults turning to me for guidance and support a protective and motherly instinct came over me and I just felt old.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not insinuating that I am decrepit despite my many cracking bones, bad knees and my desire to sit in a rocking chair in front of a fire with a lap blanket knitting. But there has to come a day when some situation or event makes you stop, look around and really see yourself. This was it for me.
As eye opening as it was, it was also a great feeling. My kids told me on multiple occasions that they noticed and really appreciated how caring and concerned I was for each of them. One of the kids said in his closing presentation that he felt like the group was his family and we the chaperones were his parents. Based on the feedback given from these students, I know that I am going to be a great mom and I am excited for when my kids become teens and I get a chance to wrangle them in. I will know when to use trust and encourage vs. room checks and guilt. Bring on the 16 year olds; babies are boring! :)
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