Why childhood is better the second time around (standard:Inspirational stories, 909 words)
Author: Godspenman	Added: Feb 14 2010	Views/Reads: 3161/2134	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly had the privilege of attending our youngest granddaughter's second birthday party. I wanted to go to her third birthday party but she was not old enough yet. So, I will have to wait another

This week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly had the
privilege of attending our youngest granddaughter's second birthday 
party. I wanted to go to her third birthday party but she was not old 
enough yet. So, I will have to wait another year. 

On the way home we sat in silence thinking about the party we had just
attended. It just does not seem possible that we have eight 
grandchildren. I broke the silence with a little comment along this 
line. "I'm just not old enough to be a grandfather of eight 
grandchildren. I don't feel old enough to be a grandfather" 

From the other passenger in the car came a rather sarcastic snicker, if
I say so myself. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" I retorted. 

"Well," she said rather slowly as if she was trying to collect her
thoughts and use the right words, "believe me, putting all feelings 
aside, you're old enough." 

I did not quite know what she meant by that, and I was afraid if I ask
she would tell me. I quickly changed the subject and said, "Didn't 
Jordin look cute with birthday cake all over her face?" 

She laughed. 

Then, I thought I was talking to myself but apparently, I said it aloud,
a least loud enough for my wife to hear. "I wonder what it's like to be 
two years old?" 

"Get ready," my wife said with a laugh in her voice, "you're about ready
to enter into your second childhood." 

At the time, I rather resented the comment, but upon further reflection,
I do not see anything wrong with that. After all, what is wrong with 
enjoying childhood the second time around? 

I really do not think it is possible to enjoy childhood the first time.
There are so many things to interfere. 

First off, are parents constantly telling you what to do or not to do.
Telling you when to go to bed. Telling you when to get up in the 
morning. Telling you when to eat. Telling you what to eat. Telling... 
telling... telling... 

How in the world can anybody enjoy life when people are always telling
them what to do? The problem is, when a person is two years old they 
have absolutely no leverage against overbearing parents. The only thing 
the two-year-old can do to get the upper hand with his parents is to 
wait until they are in the supermarket with lots of people around and 
then throw a temper tantrum. 

Here is the advantage of entering a second time into your childhood.
Nobody is around to tell you what to do or what not to do. You are on 
your own, at least in this area. Of course, in your second childhood it 
is not possible to throw a temper tantrum in a public supermarket and 
get away with it. 

The advantage of having a second childhood is that you have all that
experience behind you to use to your advantage that a two year old 
could not possibly have. This in itself covers a multitude of sins. 

"What's wrong with your husband?" Somebody may ask my wife. 

"Oh," she responds quite mechanically, "he's into his second childhood."


"I understand, my husband's there too." 

And all is right with the world. 

In a person's first childhood, he is quite limited in his outlook. He
does not know what he is missing. But during the second childhood, he 
has the benefit of knowing this and using it for his own personal 
profit. 


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