Dr. Lindsay Gibson

And once you do that, you are in a much better position to deal with whatever reality is going to bring your way.

Right, yeah. I think what I was trying to get at is that if children's basic needs are met, they want to go and do or experience things that make them happy even happier. Now, what you're seeing on the playground, though, is a bunch of kids who are navigating a world that could care less about their basic happiness.

Right, yeah. I think what I was trying to get at is that if children's basic needs are met, they want to go and do or experience things that make them happy even happier. Now, what you're seeing on the playground, though, is a bunch of kids who are navigating a world that could care less about their basic happiness.

Yeah, it sounds familiar. So as they're, you know, bouncing off of that in their lives, they're going to have all these emotions. But the happiness search is... I mean, I think it's why plants reach for the sun. I mean, I don't think it's a human thing. It's like a universal thing, like things that are alive. want to flourish.

Yeah, it sounds familiar. So as they're, you know, bouncing off of that in their lives, they're going to have all these emotions. But the happiness search is... I mean, I think it's why plants reach for the sun. I mean, I don't think it's a human thing. It's like a universal thing, like things that are alive. want to flourish.

They go toward whatever it is that's going to maximize their optimal growth and experience as a living thing. That's what I believe. So I think that's what little kids are doing. But being that they're living in a world in which they have to be watched and controlled and all of that by parents, they're going to hit all these blocks and that's going to make them unhappy.

They go toward whatever it is that's going to maximize their optimal growth and experience as a living thing. That's what I believe. So I think that's what little kids are doing. But being that they're living in a world in which they have to be watched and controlled and all of that by parents, they're going to hit all these blocks and that's going to make them unhappy.

Yeah, it's certainly not an ideal existence. I'm glad I'm out of childhood because... Because a lot of it was a drag, you know. But I think that it's important for us to remember that we do have something inside us. And this is what I would call the core self, which is very based in the body. It's very based in emotion.

Yeah, it's certainly not an ideal existence. I'm glad I'm out of childhood because... Because a lot of it was a drag, you know. But I think that it's important for us to remember that we do have something inside us. And this is what I would call the core self, which is very based in the body. It's very based in emotion.

And this core self tells us when we are getting what we need or when we're being treated badly. Yeah.

And this core self tells us when we are getting what we need or when we're being treated badly. Yeah.

Oh, perfect. I'm assuming you really want me to answer that. Of course, yeah. Yeah, well, I think that I go back to nature a lot. I go back to plants and animals and trees and And I think that, you know, it's like, how much does it matter to that plant that has its genetic makeup in that acorn that has the oak tree in it? How much does it matter to that acorn or that seed or that animal?

Oh, perfect. I'm assuming you really want me to answer that. Of course, yeah. Yeah, well, I think that I go back to nature a lot. I go back to plants and animals and trees and And I think that, you know, it's like, how much does it matter to that plant that has its genetic makeup in that acorn that has the oak tree in it? How much does it matter to that acorn or that seed or that animal?

What does it matter to them how they're treated in the formative years of their life? I would say it matters a lot. It matters a whole lot. Okay, I was actually kidding when I said 53% because I really think it's much higher than that.

What does it matter to them how they're treated in the formative years of their life? I would say it matters a lot. It matters a whole lot. Okay, I was actually kidding when I said 53% because I really think it's much higher than that.

But we have to keep in mind that even if it was 73%, that other part, the genetic, the physical, what it is that that child is bringing into the world as a unique creation, That is huge. And parents cannot take full responsibility for how their kids turn out because of that. And that I really, you know, that mix I really am not at all sure of.

But we have to keep in mind that even if it was 73%, that other part, the genetic, the physical, what it is that that child is bringing into the world as a unique creation, That is huge. And parents cannot take full responsibility for how their kids turn out because of that. And that I really, you know, that mix I really am not at all sure of.

But I do know that you can mess it up early if you don't pay attention to what something needs when it's young.

But I do know that you can mess it up early if you don't pay attention to what something needs when it's young.

A lot of people have a lot of problem when they first hear that idea about their parent. They begin to hedge and balk at calling their parent that because they're just so accustomed to giving their parents the benefit of the doubt.