Free to be

One of the very best, most special things about our kids at these early ages is that they are untainted by the rest of the world.

While influences outside of our house have begun making their way into the kids' lives (Alivia refers to Wal-Mart as "Save money. Live better. Wal-Mart."), for the most part they are void of the hang-ups, prejudices and psychological baggage the rest of us have.

They see the world through innocent eyes, hear words for simply their meaning and interact with others from the heart. If they are angry, they yell or (ahem) hit. If they are sad, tears flow freely. If they are happy, hugs and snuggles abound. There aren't missed signals, hidden agendas or alternative interpretations surrounding them.

They are what they are. They do what they do. That's the beauty.

There's no way to keep the outside world and its interferences at bay, eventually our mucked up ways will tarnish their sterling souls and pulverize their rose-colored glasses. They will learn things we wish they hadn't and see things we would have liked to have shielded their eyes from.

But, for now, they are free to be who they are. Unstained, unbroken and unjudged.