That small moment of caring and compassion transcended two generations, starting the day off just a little brighter for both the elderly sisters and the children.
Reflecting on Traditions: Small Moments, Lasting Impacts
I remember as a child standing proudly on the front porch of my parents’ two-story home next to my younger brother, posing for that first day of school photo. A tradition that I carried on with my three daughters, who dutifully stood for a similar pose on our front porch each year through high school.
While the tradition has come and gone, with another school year upon us, I must wonder just how many households continue that small moment or another tradition?
It is just one example of a small moment that when I reflect upon it, it brings me a sense of joy and belongingness. Emotions that are so important to nurture and grow in our own family relationships.
It also reminds me of a story I once heard at the Search Institute where I was learning about the 40 Developmental Assets. These developmental assets, the Institute defines as building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Children are also less likely to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors and are more likely to be resilient in the face of challenges, according to the Institute.
Among the external and internal assets are categories around support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competence, and positive identity.
For me, at the core of the training was a simple story, that still resonates with me.
The facilitator talked about two elderly sisters who at the beginning of each school year, walked down to their neighborhood bus stop and stood with the children waiting for the bus. Initially, the children tended to ignore the elderly women. Yet, each morning the elderly women persevered, telling the children good morning, and wishing them a good day.
As the days went on, eventually the children started to return the morning well wishes, slowly a bond was being created between the different generations. As the school year went on not only did the children look forward to that brief interaction, but if one of the sisters was unable to be at the bus stop the children expressed concern.
That small moment of caring and compassion transcended two generations, starting the day off just a little brighter for both the elderly sisters and the children. That simple interaction, according to the Institute, is one of the key components for a child’s success, receiving support from three or more nonparent adults. So, as another school year begins, what small moments can each of you create in a child’s life that will sharpen a developmental asset that will propel that child in a positive direction as we all empower choice and cultivate hope.
