Give children the wisdom of poetry
We watched the Clint Eastwood film ‘Invictus’ the other evening. Have you seen it? It’s a good, thought-provoking film and an interesting one to watch with children (over 11).
What’s the title? It’s a Victorian poem by William Henley, written when he was in hospital, aged 25, having his leg amputated. The last two lines are what stick in the mind
“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”
Nelson Mandela had Henley’s poem written on a scrap of paper in his prison cell. If you ever wanted to give kids a shining example of someone who was the master, and not the victim, of his own fate, Nelson Mandela has got to be up at the top. No blaming others, no time wasted on revenge. Unlike most of us, he put those feelings aside.
This sense of self-determination reminds me of a parenting course I took once. Apparently the well-meant “Well done! I am so proud of you” – something I say all the time – should be “Well done! You must be so proud of yourself “.
Empowering, no?
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