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I do not remember what else I got for Christmas that year, but I sure do remember the Superman capes my aunt made for my cousin and me! Whatever else we got was put aside while we donned our superhero apparel and flew around Metropolis right there in the living room! My cousin, who is a couple years older than me, thought we could imagine leaping over tall buildings in a single bound more easily if we jumped off furniture; it worked! That is, it worked until our parents scolded us for climbing on, and jumping off, furniture. They told us that the impossible might happen: Superman might get hurt.

Eventually, we two Supermen imagined our way into becoming nuisances, and our capes were put up for the night. Looking back on it, I certainly understand the concern our parents had for our safety and their property, but the result was that, as a child, I was encouraged to get in touch with my inner adult.

Though our parents were right to protect us from the injuries and destruction our imaginations might cause, getting in touch with my inner child today requires that I recall how preposterous it seemed from my child's eyes that Superman could possibly get hurt. We were creating a better world, and we were told to stop before we hurt ourselves.

As ironic as it may seem, the many conflicting lessons I have accumulated over fifty years makes it difficult to find my inner child without some outside influence. I still have plenty of imagination, but the imagination is now tempered by the fire of reality. I still imagine creating a better world, but I often stop before I hurt myself. Fortunately, life has given me that outside influence in the form of a two year-old granddaughter! When she and Grandpa get together, we create a dynamic in which my daughter actually 'parents' me, too!

It has to do with my behavior, I believe. You see, when Elli comes over to visit Grandpa, she brings with her that childish imagination that knows appliances and walls were made to scribble on, that noise and messy things are fun, and that furniture was made to jump on and from. As an adult, I understand there needs to be some control and discipline, but I recall as a child being told to stop trying to create a better world. I also understand that 'control' and 'discipline' truly mean 'supervision' and 'leading by example.'

Following that line of thinking, Elli fulfills her granddaughterly duties in helping Grandpa get in touch with his inner child by 'supervising' and 'leading by example' what it

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