Everything I Learned In Life I Learned On The Playground.

As I watch misguided educators suggest that the system go back to remote learning for school aged kids, I think about the famous playground line. I, too, learned from books and teachers, and took that learning to a career as a lawyer. However, the most valuable lessons in life are learned during social interaction with others, and the playground was an early introduction to life's realities. I learned about abuse of authority from my mom and a Nun. I hated spam in grade school. We got it regularly in the lunch room. This was way before burgers and pizza were served to school kids. I refused to eat it, and a Nun threatened me that she would make me eat it off the floor. My mom, an Italian-American dynamo who had served as a Nurse in Korea, came down to the school, and gave that Nun a tongue lashing I would become unfortunately familiar with at home. Also, on the playground, I learned about bullying, and its destructive effects. I was bullied, because I was small and did well in class. The bully was a subconscious source of fear for me for many years. However, I developed skills to avoid bullying later in life, and developed an understanding of the insecurities and upbringing that cause it in the first place. I also learned how to fight fear, have courage, on the playground. Another kid didn't like me, and challenged me to fight. I was filled with fear. But, I knew that, if I didn't challenge that fear, I would be bullied forever. So, we arranged to meet after school. As we faced each other, surrounded by other kids, I resolved not to go down without a fight. I placed a jab in the other kid's chest. I didn't hit very hard; but, he immediately stopped and ran away. I learned that, if you challenge wrongdoing, more often than not, the perpetrator will run away. Not always, of course, but life if full of risks that must be faced. So, all of this said, keeping kids out of school, and human interaction, because of a virus that no one has any real scientific certainty about, may be doing more harm than good. And, the lessons not being learned may be life lessons that are essential to long term health and happiness. So, make your own life choices. Hopefully, you will have a warrior mom. Resolve to have compassion for those who wrong you. You don't know what their life is about. Forgive them. And, finally, be courageous. Facing fear and acting anyway is the definition of courage. Let your kids learn these things on their own. Life will find a way.