{"id":814,"date":"2025-05-28T19:40:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T19:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/msbrazelton.wpenginepowered.com\/?page_id=814"},"modified":"2026-06-02T19:28:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:28:22","slug":"on-children","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brazeltoninstitute.childrenshospital.org\/es\/nbi-community\/poetry-and-practice\/on-children\/","title":{"rendered":"On Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reflection by Lise Johnson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was a new mother when I first encountered this poem, in musical form sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the experience of childbirth is fresh, it is sometimes counterintuitive to accept the separateness of our babies. They are the blood link to our partners and our ancestors – my eyes, his hands, my grandmother\u2019s smile. Their joy is our joy, their pain our pain. How are they not us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gibran sets us straight, showing families their place in their children\u2019s lives. These words have been a guidepost for me as both a parent and a pediatrician. Remain clear-eyed on who this person is and nurture that real baby, awaken from your dreams and your nightmares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not say you are proud of your child but rather that you admire her.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not say you are ashamed of your child but rather that you weep for him. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know that you have more to learn than you have to teach.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aim for the light that dwells in all of us, connects us, yet surpasses our understanding.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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