There is something truly heartwarming that occurs when a child looks up to you. The idea that this small person sees more in you than you see in yourself. A child is the most endearing an honest creature where emotions are concerned. Never have I gazed into the eyes of an infant and wondered if they hold any ill will twords me. As children grow, they begin to transform like a delicate caterpillar beginning its journey. As adults, we should not take advantage of that vulnerable stage of metamorphosis they are undergoing. We fail when we do not recognize that our own feelings and beliefs can alter the course that may not have been in the grand design for them. Allow them to wear a dress, play in the dirt, and be a tomboy. Too often, we are influenced by our own desires and social pressures. That is when we begin to fail them. They may not want to be the opposite of the gender they are. But parents want the best for them, so they make a choice to encourage a change that may have lasting consequences for them. Children need to learn to be just children before giving them a power that they do not know what the long-term impact will trigger. Children are the greatest gift we are bestowed, yet we create vulnerability in them for no other reason than our own lack of knowledge or understanding. We need to do better for the young generation. Stop allowing social pressures to influence them negatively. Encourage creative growth, let them explore the world, make amazing creations, and find themselves along the journey. Because more often, a child's decision to alter themselves has nothing to do with their own thoughts and more to do with those of outside forces.
