A THOUSAND TO ONE*
I take those odds, because, what is to be gained in that one-in-a-thousand shot is great and, also, I don’t have another plan that makes sense.
A fellow blogger had a great unattributed quote, maybe it was his own. I love it. I’ll find the link to his page of quotes and put it here later, there are some good ones. This quote really spoke to me:
Forget the thousand reasons the thing won’t work, remember the one reason that it will.
People make more daring, brave and foolish bets daily. Millions line up for Lottery tickets every week, people bet the house and farm on the spin of a roulette wheel, accidentally put desperate, impossible pressures on their children, work hundred hour weeks expecting the reward of a comfortable retirement, if they don’t die trying to gain that comfortable nest egg first. This short list does not include the many brave and wonderful things people continue to bet on, in spite of the poor chances of success. People do all kinds of things in the teeth of long, if not impossible, odds.
Here’s my bet: I am right to believe that children, once they are free to follow their imaginations, in a safe, protected place, will learn all kinds of things along the way. I am betting that many among them will teach their peers what they have learned. I am betting they will also produce materials that can be used to teach other kids. I am betting everything I have on this longshot horse. It is a wonderful little horse that I raised myself from a tiny pony that used to sleep at the foot of my bed.
* yo, WordPress, what’s with my titles not showing up anymore?
gratuitousblahg 
Great post. I think that kids need to express themselves too. I was talking to my sister about this yesterday. I was telling her that children are not an extension of their parents and they need to be free to express themselves. It is difficult for me sometimes not to try to make a mini me, but I have to let them be them. My daughter is very artistic and I am not. I let her and encourage it. I don’t want her to blend into a crowd.
Thanks, glad you liked it. Being a parent has got to be one of the most challenging jobs out there.
Just one thing– your daughter is artistic in a different way than you are. What do you call your writing and ingenious website if not “art”? Good writing is an art, like drawing, acting, making music. Your daughter got that desire to create from somewhere, and it was probably from you.
I added the words “in a safe, protected place” about where kids can follow their imaginations to learn things worth passing on. They can also use their imaginations to get in a lot of trouble, and teach that to other kids, but that’s not what I’m talking about.
Yes, I would say writing is art. So is my acting bug. That said, it is just on a different layer of art than mine. My son is math and science. I am also very fact figures and science. It is an interesting mix in a person.
You make some great points ((hugs))