The Golden Rule

It is magnificent and utterly impossible. Could there be a more unreasonable request? One would think we like the feel of concrete against our raw foreheads. Mmmm…the beating, beating, beating.

Naturally, I want done unto myself only the best. But do I afford others the same luxury? Yes, you wish I did! I would do unto myself painless massages, full-time housekeepers, in-house chefs, and aroma-therapy (whatever that really is). Oh, to be so lucky.

I’ll be honest—I know that it is right and I know that it is just and I know it is important. I just don’t know how convincingly I can convey a principle, which constantly eludes me. I don’t know that I have complete control over my own base instinct to give what I get. It is second nature to react—an eye for an eye, and all that. Right?

But clearly, I embrace the policy…I have both of my eyes to prove it.

So imagine, Lynne (my dearest sister-in-law) and I trying to impart this truly high-minded, evolved, incredible, all-encompassing, ideal on our children. Our children who are; 0 (Annabelle’s age for babies). 2, 3, and 4-years-old. There is something ironic and hilarious as we repeat the message over and over. We re-iterate and demonstrate it’s practical applications in terms of wading pools, splashing, kicking and serious-day-time-drama-slaps to the face.

We have definitely bitten off more than we can chew, definitely more than those little ones can possibly swallow. But could it pay off in the end? Could it be like the tiny Buddha starting his practice at infancy? Are we ultimately giving what we would have liked to be given ourselves? Are we imparting enlightenment and remarkably enlightening ourselves in the process? Maybe we are the town idiots, who accidentally change the world?

Doubtful. But you’ve got to admire the attempt. More likely, we are the Jamaican bobsledders of toddler unity and co-existence. There is no medal in our future. And if all four of our kids come away from this weekend with 20 digits, 4 extremities, and relatively unscarred torsos each, then Bravo to us. And I promise you, having long experienced the golden rule...I know better than to expect anything in return.