by Yusef Raahman Sudah

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: July 27, 2010

For any rational person it would be unthinkable to climb a mountain, swim a river, or run a marathon race without prior training or proper preparation. However when it comes to the most difficult experience we will ever have, life, we are expected to survive without the slightest bit of training. What do we know before our Earthly arrival? Not sure are you? Yet, we are expected, as far as we know,  to participate in life without any prior knowledge, training or understanding. The skills we each need to endure life takes us all by surprise. None of us are prepared for the events we will experience nevertheless we somehow find a way to survive; what a miracle!

Unlike "the promising athletes" that receive training for the "World Olympics" we come into the world helpless, dependent and and clueless. At birth we are born to parents who themselves lack any of the skills and training needed to survive. Their "child care" skills comes from the same book that comes with the child. You know, the one that tells "how to raise your first baby". Did you get the book with your child? You did not? No? Neither did any parent!

Consider this, many of us have had an occasion to buy an appliances or toys. Usually there are instructions, in the box, telling us how to carefully  assemble our new purchase as well as how to safely use it. But with the birth of our most precious gift, our children, we receive nothing! No instructions!

How are we to successfully operate "this new and amazing gift"? It takes years of trial and error, after they are "assembled," to get them to function. Even after many years of discussion, education, laughing and playing with them, we are still not sure what to expect of them. After many years of feeding them, making sure they are healthy and talking with them as well as instructing them to behave, we still remain uncertain about what to expect!

We have learned that with the same care one child may become a genius while the other may become a fool, one may become a scientist while another may become a soccer player; we can never be sure! Whatever, the role we chose or the "ball" we bounce we must continue to play the game get them get operate. It would be helpful to know in advance about something about both our child and the game. As in any Earth sport, before going on the field whether we are playing baseball or soccer we have an advantage by knowing "something" before hand. But in the game of life we get absolutely no manual,

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