Chiro

During a recent visit to my Chiropractor, I was again reminded of
some fundamental truths about children. They are fantastic
communicators, problem-solvers, and great teachers. I've said it
before: "An adult, by definition, is an obsolete child."

Amanda had come to work with her Mom for the morning due to an
accident at school the previous day. She and Tyler, another first
grader, collided while playing kick ball.

She was busy and effectively managing multiple priorities: being a kid,
greeting and visiting with patients, entertaining herself, staying "out
of the way," creating art, practicing writing her name, and
negotiating with her Mom for a full day away from school. I
considered myself fortunate that she found time in her busy schedule
to play with me. No. That's not quite right. She let me play with her.

I found it difficult to "write my name" using those perfectly shaped
first grade letters. But every time I expressed dismay that I had
"goofed up" Amanda assured me I was doing fine. And I'm pleased to
report that she thinks I can draw a pretty good cat.

As I caught the spirit, I couldn't help but comment that it would be
neat to stay and continue. Amanda thought that would be cool. But
her Mom said she had to go to school and I had to go to work. Boy,
grownups can be such spoil sports. What a bummer!

So I left clutching the drawing Amanda did for me. It's now on the
refrigerator as a reminder of the fun I had and several other things.

Robert Fulghum is right in All I Really Need to Know I Learned in
Kindergarten. He writes, "Live a balanced life. Learn some and think
some and draw and paint and dance and play and work every day...
Be aware of wonder... Remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the
first word you learned-the biggest word of all-LOOK."

Someday I'm going to present a special workshop. We'll collect a
group of managers who've maybe been to the best management
schools but still find themselves facing overwhelming challenges.
There won't be any overhead projectors and flipcharts, no participant
workbooks. In the center of the room will be a sandbox and some
toys. We'll bring in a few kids, maybe five or six years old and let
them play together. And we'll look.

We'll watch them create and plan projects. Observe their
communication. They'll probably have some conflict, but we'll stay out
of it and watch what they do. We'll see how they handle diversity
and solve problems. (Amanda's solution to the problem of getting hurt
again is that she's going to make sure her and Tyler are on the same
team!)

The workshop will have a guarantee. If you can stop being an adult,
you'll learn a lot. Adults make things difficult.

And if you decide to join in the fun, make sure you play with the kids,
not the other way around.

Thanks, Amanda. It really was cool.