The YMCA orphanage

My philosophy on life, back by not so popular demand.

So, this past wednesday we were invited to a birthday party.  It took place at a place called the "Splash Pad".  It is a water park type area where water squirts and dumps from all sorts of contraptions to the eagerly anticipating children below.  It all takes place on a large area of cement/concrete.  It's very refreshing even for big kids like me.  

So, we wanted a table in the shade where we could set up the cupcakes and presents for the neighbor kid.  So, being one of the first to show up, I saw an area full of children climbing over and around some picnic tables under a shaded gazebo several yards away.   I decided to approach the leaders in charge of what seemed hundreds of children and ask if we could use one of the tables.  None of them were above the age of 18.  I was able to strike up a conversation with a very nice young girl who told me it would be fine, but another 50 kids would probably be showing up.  I decided to find out more about what was happening with all the kids.  My initial thoughts of it being some sort of sports camp, or Y camp was partially correct.  It turned out that it was a "Y" camp.  

Yes, a "camp" run by teenagers counting the hours by whizzing out a text message here and there, without much care for interacting with the children.  There the children ran around helter skelter bored out of their minds in the 90 degree and 90 percent humidity filled weather.  Apparently, the children are dropped off at 6:00 in the morning, then picked up again at 6:00 at night.  And what could be better than playing inside and outside all day for 12 solid hours?  I have an idea, how about a good ol' fashion parent or adult?  I mean, this thing is essentially a 12 hour summer day-care, that parents pay week to week.  Why am I being soooo 1930's?  Because while we were there, many of these little kids were coming up to my wife, a total stranger to them, and wanting to proudly show her things for some attention.  A simple acknowledgment that they were alive and important by an adult was so very exciting for them.  To see such attention starved children broke her heart.  For me?  It just emphasized how selfish our society is and where the priorities lie.  

Like always, there are always those outliers...ya know, those single parents trying to get by making ends meet.  Obviously they are the exception to the problem.  But really, how valuable is our time with our children?  How long do they stay young?  Do they ever return back to being young?  What happens when they say all those cute things, or do their silly actions and you aren't there?  Yeah, they are gone forever. Yes, forever, never to be said, seen or felt again.  Hmmm, the sacrifices we make.  Are they really the kind of sacrifice we will look back and regret?  For me, I think many people will look back on all the missed opportunities like a 70 year old does on his jail house tatoo.  A wise man once said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".  To extrapolate, "An ounce of selfLESSness, is worth a pound of happiness".