Resilience

When a child is born, I believe resilience is part of its makeup. The grasp of the newborn is part of a set of reflex actions expected of a normal infant.

[from internet] “reflex action or reflex is part of a biological control system which links a stimulus to a response.”

The actions are spontaneous but involuntary.

[from internet, Edgar J. Schoen, MD Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California in San Francisco] “Newborns are extremely resilient and are programmed for stress, having just experienced the trauma of birth. They have high levels of corticosteroids, epinephrine, androgens, thyroxine, and endorphins. They heal quickly….”

It might surprise us that newly born babies are not helpless. God, in His divine design, has endowed infants with resilience.

As the child grows up, the environment plays a big part. In 3rd world countries, and disadvantaged communities, the child will continue to be shaped by circumstance to be even more resilient.

However, in most affluent communities, the parents and environment inevitably strip the child of the resilience within.

Parents who over protect their children, preventing them from every scrape, cut, pain, injustice and etc., do not realise that they are removing the resilience in their children.

When Parents march to the schools at the slightest offense and make a ruckus with the Teachers / Principals, they deprive their children of an opportunity to strengthen their innate sense of resilience.

When children cry at the slightest discomfort, whine easily, get agitated at the slightest inconvenience, etc., how are they going to survive should a disaster happens? Will they have the resilience to survive, should there be :

• no air-conditioning
• no water, no electricity / amenities
• no taxis
• no fast food
• no TV / computers
• no handphone
• no toys
• no money

For the sake of our future generation, Parents might want to reinforce the gift of resilience that God has given to children, instead of stripping it off.