78. Teach Your Kids the Joy of Solitude

As anyone who has children knows, the pressures on kids today are enormous. Alcohol, drugs of every variety, sex, AIDS, gangs, guns, and violence, not to mention the constant stimulus and often ear-shattering intrusions from inane television, tempestuous movies, rock music, rap singers, coffee-houses, computer games, and video arcades. How can a young person find peace of mind today, learn to get in touch with his own feelings, or find out what is important to him?

One way is for kids to learn at an early age how to seek out quiet time on their own. As you are learning to spend some time in solitude, teach your kids to do the same. Take them on nature hikes or on camping trips away from the continuous jangle of urban living. Make a ritual of watching a beautiful sunset with them.

Or teach them how to spend a quiet afternoon at home. Set up a regular time in their week where they can be away from the unremitting influence of their peers, as well as away from the pandemonium of the electronic age. Fortify them with good books (but no TV) and thoughtful meditative exercises they can do, so they get in the habit of personal reflection, and of seeking answers within their own hearts.

Once your children learn the joy of solitude, it’ll be a gift they can carry with them throughout their lives. And, imagine how much simpler your life will be when your children, in learning to enjoy their own solitude, learn to appreciate your desire for solitude as well.