Watching Kids Experience Things

I realize that the title sounds very creepy. It's not meant to. If you're a parent, I think you know what I mean.

I am not a parent. I do not plan on becoming one for a while. HOWEVER, I love children. I have three small nephews (think ages 3 and 1), and this post inspiration came to me when I was flying home.

I sat behind a small boy, probably about 6. He was very well behaved, although the flight was a short one.

As we were taxiing and getting ready for take off, his little face was practically glued to the window.

"Mom, where are we going?"
"Mom, why are we doing that?"
"Mom!! Look at that!"

He went on and on for a few minutes. It was adorable. He wasn't being loud, but from my privileged spot right behind, I could hear his little voice. When we actually took off, his excitement level went through the roof. I just had to smile. I've never experienced a more exciting take-off before.

That's when I realized, watching kids experience things, and experiencing those things through them, is such a trip. Everything in the world is exciting, new, something to be explored.

Hanging out with my 3 year old nephew is always a blast. He looks at and considers EVERYTHING he may come across.

"Why are there plants on the water?"
"Who do you think lives there?"
"I could live there!"
"What does that do?"
"Why are you doing that?"

"Why" has become a very big word in his vocabulary these days. My little twin nephews are even more fun to watch, as they're really, truly experiencing the little things for the first time. I love watching them explore wood chips at the playground. They examine rocks on the ground, the clouds in the sky, your hair even.

I think this is why I love kids so much. They're endless entertainment. I could watch them explore the world around them for hours and never get tired. I'm sure we would have a blast at a children's museum.

This also got me thinking: why don't we, as adults or older humans, experience things in the same way? The little things, I understand. We know what wood chips are, we've seen rocks before, but the idea of flying or animatronic elves or zoo animals, they just don't seem to excite us the way they do children.

I understand that it's not practical for us to go around and be excited about everything we see (like children), but I think it could benefit us if we take the time to even enjoy the things around us. 

For instance, I was at Target today, and it was packed because of move-in and whatnot. It seemed like almost everyone hated their life because they were in the midst of a super packed Target. I walked around by myself, and actually enjoyed the experience. The people with their carts who thought they could do whatever because they had a cart, were a bit annoying, but overall it wasn't a bad experience. I just took things in, watched the people, and mostly enjoyed the hustle and bustle that was happening around me. 

I think we should all still be children at heart, in the appropriate situations, of course. I like to think that I'm a large child. I delight in the little things, but doesn't that make life that much more fun? Doesn't that make your days seem more fulfilling? 

I think so.

Anyway, sorry if this post was a bit all over the place. Ideas were forming as I wrote this. 

Do you still act like a child sometimes? What are experiences that you've seen children have, that you've had, but you experienced all over again? (I hope that made sense). 

Au revoir, 

Rachel