Tús Maith Leath Na Oibre

Translation from the Irish: A Good Start Is Half The Work

I have always enjoyed the Irish language and its own particular nuances, thanks to my experience of it as a living language in my home during early childhood. In this respect, I was perhaps not typical; during the 1970’s it was not unusual for many Irish children to encounter the Irish language primarily in the classroom, and for several reasons this resulted in a very varied appreciation of it in Irish society in general. As parents and educators we bear a level of responsibility in shaping the attitudes of our children towards many aspects of life; young children are hardwired to work towards adapting to the environment in which they find themselves. Yes, it’s true that we owe them the autonomy to develop their own interests and talents, and these will certainly reveal themselves to us if we are open to observing our children and noticing the unique gifts they each bring into our world. We can simultaneously inspire them with our own life, borne out in mindfulness of the fact that during the earliest years of their lives, they will literally be absorbing everything around them, including our relationship with them,  and our concept of culture and community, both local and global. 

Children are looking to us for cues as to how enriching life can be. Let’s slow down and demonstrate the beautiful, subtle moments as well as the daily tasks and responsibilities we face. A good start is half the work, as the saying goes. The ideals we model today can often be remembered with love over a lifetime.