You must have heard of the wise old adage: “A person is known by the company he keeps.” I would add to that by saying childhood is primarily shaped by the environment in which the child is raised. Think of your own self; how much of who you are, what you do, and what you stand for is based on your childhood experiences and the environment you were raised in?

That’s why, to raise Children of AWE, we first need to create and establish an environment of AWE. Take a mango seed, for example. We love mangoes in our house and often dream of having a mango tree in our garden. However, wish as we might, they are not going to grow and thrive in zone 6b (our gardening zone), where we have long, cold winters. They need the right environment.

And so do our children - to prosper and thrive.

Let’s examine how your day could look if you invest your time in creating an environment of AWE; as they say, the proof is in the pudding!

Imagine it is the 43rd day of Summer vacation. You are home with the kids, and it’s 100°F outside. It’s around 8 am, and the kids are slowly but joyfully waking up after a restful night’s sleep. They sit in bed for a while, maybe share the dreams they had last night, or just reflect. Then they make their bed(s), brush their teeth, and run out to find you. After hugs and kisses are exchanged, they head to the kitchen to make breakfast for themselves and the rest of the family. You all eat together, talking and sharing any new information you’ve picked up from a book or a podcast. Perhaps you’d like to share any garden updates or a story from a movie or show you watched with your partner the previous night. The kids listen intently and participate actively in the conversations. After breakfast, the kids run on to play. They build towns and scenes with Magna Tiles, wooden blocks, Play Mobil, etc. They weave stories with their characters from Play Mobil, make bedding, decorations, and clothes with fabric scraps, and play for hours in the imaginary world they’ve built. Their stories are built on their real-life experiences, their very intent observations, or some conversations you may have had. You secretly listen in and are amused by their creativity.

But, soon enough, they have a spat or a disagreement. They resolve it quickly, though, without your interference, and continue with their play. After a few hours of this incredible playtime, they shower and get ready. It’s lunchtime already! Again, you all share a hot meal and share stories from your morning activities. It’s a nice, long lunch. Post lunch, one of the kids may head to the patio or a shady garden to read a book or write a story. The other may do the same or hang around you, watching what you do, talking and playing alongside. It’s a hot afternoon, and the kids ask to have ice cream. You consent, and they head off joyfully outside, delighted at the prospect of having a cold dessert on a sweltering day. Maybe you join them. Whatever the case, it’s an afternoon of happy conversation. You then choose to take a nap, and your child lovingly places a cuddly toy beside you - your ‘nap buddy.’ You wake up refreshed and recharged, and the house is quiet. The kids are reading, drawing, or playing individually or working on something that piqued their curiosity. Sometime in the evening, when it’s cool enough, you all head outside to the park. You play for a few hours and then return home. Everyone’s hungry, and dinner is yet to be made. You all discuss dinner options and settle on something. The kids offer to help you with dinner, chopping veggies, prepping the other ingredients, and setting the table. After this hearty home-cooked meal, you all hang out in the living room. You play some board or card games together or just roughhouse. It’s a cozy evening with family, filled with laughter, closeness, and togetherness.

Soon, it is time for bed. The kids take turns picking out bedtime stories that you are eager to read to them. The story is read (maybe you offer to read another one!), and some ideas are discussed with great awe and wonder. Lovingly, you tuck the kids in bed and proceed to read a book, maybe yourself, or do whatever you fancy. You feel very thankful for this wonderful day, a true gift of ordinary extraordinariness.

Does this sound like an ideal day? It isn’t imaginary. It is based on my own family, where my kids are 7 and 13 years old. And this is how most of our days look. No kidding. Some think I got lucky with my kids. They think they are easy. They probably are, but would they have remained easy had I not been intentional about parenting and the environment in which they grew up? I doubt it, given all the hyperstimulation and influences that weigh heavily on us today.

Sure, your kids may be vastly different than mine; they may have a lot more energy or be more demanding. However, if you raise them in an environment of awe and are consistent with it, I promise you that your version of an ideal day will become your reality, every day.

Does that sound encouraging? Eager to learn more? Let’s roll!