To all parents and parents-to-be, or for those who forget what it is like to be a child…

I have always been fascinated by Broadway songs. They may sound old and boring to some people, but to me they help shape my understanding of life and human feelings. They tell stories capable of teaching me about things I might otherwise never have thought of. Although I have never actually seen a live Broadway performance, thanks to the Internet I can download songs, peruse lyrics and reflect upon their meaning.

The song Children will Listen was originally a final score in the 1987 Broadway performance, Into the Woods, written by famous songwriter Stephen Sondheim. The song speaks about the precious relationship every parent should have with their children.

The song’s first verse expresses the lines, “How do you say it will all be alright when you know that it might not be true? What do you do?” Perhaps these lines are a portrayal of the “white lies” parents feels responsible for fabricating in the best interests of protecting the pureness of their children. Providing assurance during times of anxiety is crucial to affording children with the determination to cope with some of life’s hardships.

There are also versus in the song that reminds parents not to overlook their own actions, such as “Be careful before you speak, because children will listen. Be mindful of the things you do, because children watch and learn.”

Children may not always obey, but children will listen. Children will look to their parents for instruction and direction.   

It can be easy to overlook how much children look up to their parents as their role models. Children often love their parents so much that they feel it best to emulate them — their lifestyles, their jobs, their habits and even their demeanor. Children can also be critical of their parents, because they love them.

Another message says, “Be careful of the wishes you make, wishes are children... Be careful of the spells you cast on children… Sometimes the spell can have consequences beyond what you can see, and may turn against you. Be careful of the tales you tell. That is the spell, and children will listen.”

A parent’s words can become everlasting spells. We should always express constructive and encouraging words, so people (not only children) will appreciate our contributions to their lives and cherish our time spent together.

These are powerful lessons for me. I strive to write encouraging columns because I can’t communicate directly with all readers. But these writings speak on my behalf, and hopefully my columns will bind our lives together in the spirit of living the best lives we can, while not wasting time and energy in vain.

The last part of this song is a reminder of how parents should neither be superior or inferior to their children, but instead should live together side by side.

“Guide them but step away, children will glisten. Temper with what is true and children will turn, if just to be free. Be careful before you say ‘listen to me’. Children will listen.”

Childhood should be something every person remembers as a time of joy and celebration. It shouldn’t be a dark episode of blight and despair. According to one saying, “A person is the product of their own childhood” then let’s prove that we can recreate and relive our fond childhood memories to the fullest.

— Yoz Tanuwiria

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