I was looking at a baby in his mother’s arms. He was so small, cute, innocent. He was smiling and seemed utterly satisfied, happy. He had all he needed. He felt protected, secure. He was “fulfilled” (so to say) because all his needs were provided for. I started wondering about this baby’s possible future. For how long will he go on feeling the same contentment?
Soon he’ll become a toddler... so tantrums will start. “I want it!.” The first hint of rebellion and expectations is already there, expressed quite loudly. A baby knows what he (or she) wants and has no hesitation in telling the whole world. A little one acts only by instinct. There is no other thought in his mind, there are no other considerations to worry about.
After a dozen years or so, the next stage will start: Teen-age. This is the time every parent is worried about because it is the most difficult to deal with. The young person is discovering a latent power inside himself that is ready to be manifested. “You don’t tell me what to do!” becomes the new motto. Here the rebellion is openly verbalized.
As a youngster, while still unconsciously feeling protected, the baby I am looking at now will need to underline his own (still shaping up) personality. The rebellious nature of a human being is at its peak, and it is shown with no half measures.
It is a hard time for both child and parents. The former wants to feel free to express himself (or herself), the latter would like to guide him, to give him advice, to warn him against possible dangers. A teenager doesn’t know life, yet he believe he does. He feels an inner strength that gives him the illusion of “knowing it all”. Hence the arrogance, impatience and short-temperedness typical of such age.
Growing up, the baby will learn to manage his feelings better, and trod through life in several possible specific ways, either positive or negative. If he chooses the path of selfishness, he’ll try to get as much as possible, all for himself. His guiding idea, his pattern will be, “I deserve it all. I have the power. Who cares about the others?” He will thus become the typical hateful, overpowering tyrant, the hated boss, the feared father or husband.
On the other hand, he may choose to become an altruist and say, “I care for you, I’ll help you”. Another choice could be the unconscious decision of becoming a victim. Here the mental patter will inevitably be “Poor me, poor me”. He will be the abused individual who is incapable of standing up for himself, who will let others take advantage of him because he doesn’t dare to defend himself.
Another possible choice could be to become a meek follower. As he does not know what to do, or does not trust himself enough, he says, “What should I do? Advise me, you know better”. On the other hand, he might become the opposite and, as a strong leader he will assert, “Follow me. I’ll guide you because I know what should be done”.
In his life as an adult, the baby may become kind or aggressive, quiet or loud, friendly or withdrawn, shy or outspoken, docile or assertive.
Wow. There are so many possible outcomes in this little baby’s future. He will certainly have to face his challenges, as everybody else does. I wish him to choose to walk on the best path, the most rewarding “for him”. There is no “one path” that can suit every person. Like a jacket or a pair of shoes, each human being must find the right size. If they try to wear the wrong one, they will suffer feet ache or a bad shoulder fitting!
P.S. There is only one particular “path” that should never be overlooked, though, and this is the straight way of moral and ethical behavior.
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Blog: recreateyourlifetoday.blogspot.com
