There is something magical about seeing the world through the eyes of a child. As adults, we carry with us the scars and baggage of our experiences. The endless “to do lists” or the worries of life allow us to more easily live in thought and close off in minor or major ways. Children, however, embrace new adventures and encounters with wonder and with purity and without any fear or worry
Being new to the Second City, we have a lot of exploring to do. Each train ride towards the Loop is full of excitement, as my young toddler watches out the window and waves at random strangers. Her adventurous spirit forces me outside of my own comfort zone. My desire to nurture her abilities and her need to communicate and connect with new places and people encourages me to smile and wave to the friendly faces she notices. It’s very fulfilling to share those moments.
What she doesn’t quite understand yet is why people don’t talk to each other on public transportation. As an adult, I get it, but it’s still a little weird.
Being raised in a small town in the South, I’m used to everybody knowing each other and friendly smiles or greetings made when crossing paths. More often than not, people stop to chat. This type of lifestyle takes a commitment and in a city as large as Chicago it can be overwhelming and tiresome.
Imagine for a moment you are entering the train or bus as a toddler. You know you are safe because you are with your mother. You have no concept of crime. You see thirty new faces and your heart jumps for joy! You can’t wait to smile at them and hear their voices. Maybe even laugh or play together. You look around excitedly, attempting to make eye contact and find a new friend. It’s an exciting idea. When you step aboard though, some people are sleeping. Many people are looking at their phone. A guy across from you smiles, then looks out the window. Simply passing each other on the way to or from work or school or somewhere else.
It is the small interactions with my daughter that make the largest impact. I nurture her desire to connect with the world around her, to ask questions, wonder and smile. It takes very little from us adults to nourish the children we encounter. A quick smile and a hello, maybe even asking a name or an age will certainly have a child jumping for joy inside and out.
Written by Ashley Grosh Labor and postpartum doula and placenta encapsulist.
