A writer inspired by nature and human nature

A child is…


“Protect them, encourage them, love them… Children are like butterflies!” ~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator http://www.4writersandreaders.com

nataliescarberry's avatarSacred Touches

Screen Shot 2016-05-21 at 11.00.34 PM.png
**Watercolor image found on Pinterest; text box added by Natalie

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Comments on: "A child is…" (25)

  1. kadavis1's avatar

    Beautiful watercolor!

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  2. macjam47's avatar

    A beautiful sentiment.

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  3. noelleg44's avatar

    I think each child needs to be loved for who they are – they are all different, but each has something unique to offer. My two couldn’t have been more different – succeeding in different arenas, which I loved!

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    • Bette A. Stevens's avatar

      I’m with you, Noelle. My two (adults now) are still as different as sky and earth and bring delight in their own special ways. Blessings to you and yours! 🙂 ❤

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  4. Maniparna Sengupta Majumder's avatar

    Natalie’s posts are always so inspiring… 🙂

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  5. cathleentownsend's avatar

    Gorgeous pic, Bette, and the quote is lovely, too. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

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  6. sjhigbee's avatar

    Amen to that… The trouble with constantly testing children and comparing them – as is a growing trend in schools these days, is that it only gives them a sense of worth if their talents happen to fall within the academic sphere. Those that don’t, for whatever reason, end up feeling inadequate, sad and failures before they even have a chance to know who they are. So very damaging. I speak as a teacher, mother and grandmother a wonderful, very dyslexic little girl:(.

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  7. nataliescarberry's avatar

    Thanks for the reblog, Bette! 🙂 ❤

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  8. James Osborne's avatar

    What a beautiful sentiment!

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  9. Marilyn Armstrong's avatar

    This is a wonderful sentiment, but it is also a problem. The whole “non compete” thing is growing generations of kids who think the real world is like that. Everyone gets a prize for trying hard … or for just showing up. So when they bump into reality and discover it is NOTHING like that … they get angry. They wonder why we lied to them. It’s a good question. Because in the end, children are NOT butterflies.

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    • Bette A. Stevens's avatar

      For me, it’s not about competition. Every child is gifted in his or her own way and as adults, I feel it’s our job to find those gifts and encourage them. Thanks so much for bringing up the idea of a prize for showing up…that is happening and it’s hazardous to the health of our children and our world. I tend to cringe every time I hear the acclamation, “Good job!” It seems to be the politically correct way to encourage kids. It doesn’t work. Kindness and encouraging words that are meaningful do. That’s my perspective as a teacher, grandmother, neighbor and friend. Thanks for adding to the conversation, Marilyn. 🙂

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  10. D. Wallace Peach's avatar

    Lovely image and message, Bette.

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  11. balroop singh's avatar

    Beautiful thoughts! Love the analogy.

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