We all meet and interact with people every day. Some are better than others, many are complete bores and every now and then you come across someone really interesting.
I sat down to lunch with my husband the other day at a café. Within moments, two very “organic” young adults came and sat beside us. For the remainder of our lunch these kids were joined by another 10 others, all in various creative garb, tatted, dreadlocked and wearing assorted headgear and piercings. It turns out one of the crew was turning 19, legal drinking age here in Canada.
A few things happened that made this moment so impactful.
First of all, here was a 19yr old male who was visible excited at this coming of age right that he was experiencing. To hear a “cool young dude” Say loudly, with a cheesy grin on his face “I’ll have a beer please” amidst the giggles of his friends… well it made me think he hadn’t done it before. Here was a 19yr old who hadn’t cheated the system and was embracing and welcoming this stage… he wasn’t brushing it off and acting like a jerk… he was excited. It was his birthday and he was 19.
Second, all his friends, the ragtag group that they were, brought little gifts for the birthday boy. A handmade t-shirt, a pack of yummy tea, a headband (which birthday boy proudly wore) The whole group was excited for him. No one was jostling for his attention or downplaying the event…
The thought that kept crowding out every other thing in my mind was, damn these kids are interesting.
When we left we bought birthday boy a beer. The whole group clapped us out of the café and engaged us in friendly conversation.
How many 19yr olds, in a pack, would engage a couple of oldies in a chat?
These kids were nice, they were polite, they dressed in stages of complete hippy to artistic maven… they were interesting.
Interesting.
And it made me think, what influences made these kids like this? And why was I so amazed?
Are interesting kids so rare that I am amazed when I meet one?
And are they just “interesting” to me? Or would they catch the attention of a majority of adults?
So, in my search of discovering the key to making interesting kids, I am going to explore options. I want to know what other families are doing to raise happy, healthy kids… kids who will become the good citizens of tomorrow.
And so, over the course of the coming months, I am asking that question to parents (and grandparents, and aunts, uncles and friends without kids) “What makes interesting kids”
Only because I want to know.
Keep your eyes posted, and lets see what amazing things people are doing to raise amazing people around the world.
Amazing and interesting people.
(and if YOU think you are doing something cool in parenting your kids, or know someone who is, check out my submission form to be included in this featured space!