Innocence

in·no·cence /ˈɪnəsəns/ - [in-uh-suhns] – noun

1. (n.) The state or quality of being not chargeable for, or guilty of, a particular crime or offense; as, the innocence of the prisoner was clearly shown.
2. (n.) Simplicity or plainness, bordering on weakness or silliness; artlessness; ingenuousness.
3. (n.) The state or quality of being innocent; freedom from that which is harmful or infurious; harmlessness.
4. (n.) The state or quality of being morally free from guilt or sin; purity of heart; blamelessness.


For the sake of todays entry, I am drawn to definitions three and four. Why is innocence something that must be lost? How different could the world be if innocence was a quality that was kept in to adulthood? I love the simplicity of a childs mind and the literal nature that they hear and perceive the world around them. Children are truly innocent - "...morally free from guilt or sin; purity of heart..."

Last night the Little Man was playing outside with a spider, he had it in his bug catcher and was watching it with great admiration. One of the Little Man's finest qualities is his compassion and it is always brought to the surface when he is in the company of animals. Today, with the spider (tarantula if you ask him, LOL - this thing was TINY) it was no different. I was cooking him dinner while he was on the patio and I heard, in his sweetest voice (picture someone talking to a newborn baby or a basket of adorable kittens): "Hey Boy. What the hell are you doin'?" I just about died, of laughter. He honestly had no idea that he had said anything wrong, the adorable innocence of the Little Man had him saying it just like any other word.

In my class the other day I had a conversation with a young boy, H, it was classic innocence.

H: "My daddy has polka."

Me: "Polka? Like the music?"

H: (puzzled) "No"

Me: "Polka? Like the dance?"

H: "Um, no. Polka...like the game."

Me: "Oh! Poker?!"

H: "Yes! Do you want to play with me?"

(enter K, observing/eavesdropping)

Me: "No, H. We can't play that at school."

K: "What does H want to play?"

Me: "He wants to play poker."

K: "Oh no, H! You can't play poke-her, someone might get hurt!"



I think if I had one wish it would have to be that innocence could be saved, at least in our children, for a little while longer.