You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found,

bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed. 

- William Saroyan

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You are likely wondering what is this photo.  I snapped it at breakfast yesterday morning at Perkins.  Madison's coat apparently provided a wonderful shroud under which to hide...from the sun...and play her beloved Nintendo DS. 

Where does this photo lead me?  Well, I guess it leads me to the subject of hiding.  We all know what it is like to hide, whether from someone you don't want to see or something you don't want to face.  However, I was reminded this week how hatred can rear its head and it truly is ugly. 

I've worked hard as a parent to raise my children to be kind and not harm others.  We've squashed statements that shouldn't be said.  We've used phrases like "use your nice touches" and "we don't hurt our friends" all in an attempt to raise a human being that will, above all else, be kind.  Yet it troubles me where these lessons go when we grow into adulthood.

Madison suddenly began having mysterious stomach issues in Kindergarten last year.  They amazingly went away over summer break.  Then, they made a quick return when she started 1st grade.  I was calling her doctor, my mother, anyone I could find to get advice on the stomach issue...and then it came to me.  There was no stomach issue.  She was just fine.  However, there was a bravery issue.  Madison is rule follower (well, most of the time) and she was very bothered by her classmates who fell outside those boundaries.  Instead of going to school and facing these children who were sometimes mean, she would have rather pulled her coat over her head and stayed in bed all day.  

Then came Mrs. Emery!  The world's most amazing 1st grade teacher, who taught us (and Maddie) that we need to face these things with bravery.  Hatred will exist and many people will always forget to treat others as they would want to be treated.  I can't change that.  What we can change is how we react to it.  And, the most important thing she taught me is that we can create boundaries to prevent people from hurting us with their hatred.  We don't have to tolerate it. 

The truth is that hatred does and will continue to thrive, regardless of how hard I work against it.  Perhaps my eternal optimism leads me to envision a world where it simply doesn't exist.  Where I don't wipe away anyone's tears because they have been hurt.  Where I don't turn on the television and hear about it throughout the world.  I snapped the photo I did yesterday because of Madison's previous tendency to "hide under her coat."  To push all bad things aside and not face them.  To not discover the brave person she had inside her the entire time.  What has made me happiest are the steps we have taken this year, both Madison and I, on our path to bravery. 

Now, when Maddie hides under her coat, I smile knowing it's just to keep the sunshine off her DS.