Carol Moehrle
I was on an airplane recently, and was fortunate to have an energetic, intelligent, four year-old in the seat behind me. It was easy to tell that someone has read to her and played interactive games with her a lot, just by the non-stop talking and the singing I heard. Right before I put my earplugs in, she started singing the "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" song. Well, as you can imagine, while I was working, that song was stuck in my head for the entire four hour plane trip!
I've thought of that trip many times, and it has made me think about adult reactions to this common childhood song/rhyme. It reminded me that what is usually meant to be a song for children to learn their body parts, can also be extended to teachers and caregivers as we use those same body parts.
Consider the implications of this song as we deal with the pressures of our world.
HEAD: Thoughtful leaders, and Creative mentors.
SHOULDERS: Broad enough to take on the multiple new challenges and strong enough to hold up under the weight of these new challenges.
KNEES: Flexible enough to bend and support the pressure and weight of change.
TOES: Balance points for stability but also ticklish for bringing out the smiles and humor.
So, the next time you sing this song, or hear a child sing it to you, remember the significance of these body parts in your adult life as well. We are in perfect balance when we consider how resilient our bodies are in helping us cope with the ongoing pressures of our lives. I smile every time I hear this childhood song, and I've made this one of my deliberate reflections.
b-Resilient