Happy Children?

As parents, we all want our children to be happy. But what does that really mean? Do we protect them from undesirable experiences, obstacles and conflict, hopeful that they will always be happy? Or do we really want them to be harmonious-harmonious within themselves and with the world around them?The harmonious child feels a sense of connection with others, with the natural world and with themselves. There is an experience of kinship and at the same time, freedom - a sense of the other and yet a strong sense of self.

To be harmonious is to be in the state of well-being even if you aren't happy, and lets face it, no human can be happy all the time. Undesirable experiences, obstacles and conflict will occur and sometimes often- that is life after all. Sheltering children wont keep this from happening. We can protect their childhood but we also want to guide them so that when these moments arise, our children find their way back to a sense of well-being -being comfortable and at home in their bodies- preferably out of their own free will and eventually without outer stimulation.

The harmonious child will then grow up to be a resilient, compassionate adult with a strong sense of self and a desire to make a positive impact in the world. The side effect- Happiness!