I’ve always been a Broadway musical theatre geek. Sometimes for the technical aspects, acting, set, or costumes, but mostly the songs and their lyrics. Music and lyrics have the ability to transcend our experiences and force us to face pieces of society or life that are hard to examine. “The Music Man, written by Iowa’s own Meridith Wilson told a tale of small-town life, the power of giving in to a “Pied Piper” and gossip in a community, a desire to live a more exciting life and gullibility. In the end, didn’t everyone love Professor Harold Hill and Marian, the librarian and wanted to feel community pride that’s part of a marching band? If you allow yourself, there are life lessons hidden within the songs and script of musical theatre.
A lesser-known Steven Sondheim musical, “Into the Woods” has one of the most poignant songs called “Children Will Listen,” the finale of the musical. It’s a cautionary reminder for parents, grandparents, and anyone who cares about children. In these days of divisive talk and actions, adults who interact with children need to be aware and realize that children are watching us in every setting. Your children or grandchildren are watching. They love us and want to be like us someday. Sadly, we aren’t always good models of behavior. Isn’t there a Sunday School song about “Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear”? I know my daughter learned it in Sunday or Bible School.
Here are lines from “Children Will Listen”: “Careful the things you say; children will listen. Careful the things you do; children will see and learn. Children may not obey; but children will listen. Children will look to you for which way to turn; to learn what to be. Careful before you say, ‘listen to me’; children will listen. Careful the wish you make; wishes are children. You can’t just act; you have to listen. You can’t just act; you have to think.” Songwriter: Stephen Sondheim © Rilting Music, Inc.
Whether we’re parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, high school students, neighbors, babysitters, teachers, church members, or anyone that a child admires and has a role in their life, we have powerful influence on the generations that follow us. Quietly children observe. They listen and “want to be like us.” Sometimes that that’s good, but other times we don’t show our best self.
No one is blameless, and only a very few can claim saintly behavior. We’re all guilty of times when we’ve blurted out inappropriate language, used hand gestures, yelled at sports officials, complained about a coach or teacher, raged about a politician or political party, muttered a biased comment about a person of color or the LGBTQ community, lost our temper, and any number of behaviors that were ill-advised in front of children of any age. Later, we’re surprised when a child or grandchild shows the same behavior in public, at school or at church, and we wonder where they learned it? On the bus? Maybe. Or perhaps it was in your own backyard, car or living room that the comments or behaviors were witnessed by a child you love and care about.
No adult is blameless, but we have a responsibility to monitor our behavior, and set an example for the next generation. If you didn’t have great examples, then break the cycle of behavior. If we want children to be better, we need to show them the way. Maya Angelo said, “When we know better, be better.”
Remember: “Careful the things you do; children will see and learn.” Adult’s behavior make a difference in the life of children.