superabundance

A mother should give her children a superabundance of enthusiasm,that after they have lost all they are sure to lose in mixing with the world, enough may still remain to prompt and support them through great actions. -- Julius C. Hare (1795-1855) English Cleric

I came across this today and I post it with some hesitation. At first I thought cool, great perspective. Then I thought, wait its too negative. The assumption that the world will take away her enthusiasm. But it will. It does. I realized finally, that its regaining enthusiasm in your way on your way that is real life. That thing everyone talks about 'when you get older,' or 'when you get out in the real world.'

I used to think that was all a bunch of k-rap, but i am beginning to see the difference as I tow the line being a youth and an adult. I still resist the idea that there is a real and an unreal world, but I think I am starting to understand the concept. What people are trying to get at anyway.

As children, if we are lucky, our parents shower us with endless amounts hope, adventure, freedom, and yes enthusiasm. As adults we fight to retain those great gifts, sometimes at all costs. It's the rebuilding of them that gives us our 'real world' experience. So perhaps there is a small difference. Since the wise cleric noted it is important we give our children a superabundance to begin with, I'm off to shower a squishy one with hugs.