As wE See It

Baby Wisdom

LTh

K.K. Wilder
Special to The AppleTree

T

here are enough how-to and
self-help books in the market
place to line the walk of
Microsoft mogul Bill Gates' new
40,000 square-foot home, and
D they just keep coming.
With reader-grabbing titles and
pithy sayings, they make promises
of teaching us everything we need
to know — how to live our lives,
face adversity, gain self-esteem, or
achieve true wisdom — all for less
than $30 and an afternoon's read.
0 The real truth is this: We're born
wise.
just like the colt who knows
enough to stand up immediately
after birth, to get up on those
spindly legs and start to grab for
life, so are we humans born with
wisdom that, if followed, can serve
C us all our earthly days.
Study a baby and you'll soon see
the tenets of baby wisdom for your-
self. Here's what they say:
1. Be curious. Everything around
you is new, constantly changing.
Study the activity. Look at the col-
ors; listen to the sounds. Don't take
any of it for granted. Spend time
enjoying the mystery of it all, then
be willing to spend more time trying
to figure it out. But remember: It's
okay if you don't ever understand it;
the joy is in the wondering itself.•
Love learning.
2. Trust. Let others into your
playpen. Make room for them;
:-----)
they're all your friends unless proven
otherwise. Take people at their
word. When they say they love
you, accept it as true. When they

--

,

-

K.K. Wilder, a columnist and

educator with multiple disabilities,
appreciates life from her home in
o Burlington, Vt. This article first
appeared in WE magazine.

take your hand, hold theirs. Be
open to love.
3. When hurt, cry. Sob freely.
Increase the volume in direct pro-
portion to your distress. Cry in front
of whoever is around; make sure
someone sees and hears your wail-
ing. Don't hold back, even if you're
told to stop. Never worry about the
little red splotches crying makes on
your face. Keep weeping until the
hurt goes away. When you honestly
feel better, stop. Express your pain.
4. Be silly. Wave your arms
around and make funny sounds
when you enjoy something. When
someone coos at you and rubs your
belly, coo back in delight. When
people smile at you, give them a
grin in return. Wiggle around a lot.
Have fun.
5. Keep trying. You'll bump into
things and fall down, but keep mov-
ing toward your goal. Never mind
that your legs get wobbly and you
look foolish. Don't quit.
6. Accept comfort. If you need
help, yell for it. Someone will
come. Respond to the friendly
voice, the welcoming face. Reach

for the strong arms held out to you
and be willing to rest your head on
a warm shoulder. Get help.
7. Share. Too much food? Take
great amounts of it and push it
toward someone else's empty
mouth. Too many toys? Offer some-
one your treasures; clap your hands
together when they accept. If they
take too much from you, that's okay.
You will always get what you need,
probably even more. Be generous.
8. Accept others. Play as happily
with the poor babies as the rich,
the fat as the slim, the coffee-col-
ored as the peach-colored. Ignore
bib labels and brand names on rat-
tles. Take everyone at face value.
Be tolerant.
9. Forgive. Most times folks are
acting in your best interest, even if
you can't see it at the time. But peo-
ple's moods vary. Sometimes they
shout. They won't always be as
kind as they could. Forget it. Most
of them have good intentions.
Excuse mistakes.
10. Live now. Never mind yester-
day. In fact, you've forgotten it
-
already, right? You're lucky.
Tomorrow doesn't yet exist. Grab
life this very second. Make a
choice to take it in, make it count.
And enjoy. Be alive right now
because ultimately, baby, today is
all you've got. Appreciate life. El

Do you have thoughts about
life, family and growing up
that you would like to share
with our readers? Please send
manuscripts, typed and double-
spaced, to As We See It, c/o
The AppleTree, 27676
Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034. Please include a self-
addressed, stamped envelope
if you would like your material
returned.

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