Jim Cathcart’s book, The Acorn Principle, argues that an acorn is capable of becoming a mighty oak, but it will never become a giant redwood—no matter how much you feed or push it.
The lyrics to “Plant a Radish” from the musical The Fantastics makes the same point:
—–
Plant a radish; get a radish.
Never any doubt!
That’s why I love vegetables;
you know what they’re about.
Plant a turnip; get a turnip.
Maybe you’ll get two.
That’s why I love vegetables;
you know that they’ll come through.
They’re dependable! They’re “befriendable”!
They’re the best pal a parent’s ever known.
While with children, it’s bewildering.
You don’t know until the seed is nearly grown
Just what you’ve sown.
So
Plant a carrot; get a carrot.
Not a Brussels sprout!
That’s why I love vegetables;
You know what they’re about!
Life is merry, if it’s very
Vegetarian!
A man who plants a garden
Is a very happy man.
Plant a beanstalk; get a beanstalk.
Just the same as Jack!
Then if you don’t like it,
You can always take it back.
But if your issue doesn’t kiss you,
Then I wish you luck.
For once you’ve planted children,
You’re absolutely stuck!
Every turnip green, every kidney bean,
Every plant grows according to the plot.
While with progeny,
It’s “hodge-podgenee.”
For as soon as you think you know what kind you’ve got,
It’s what they’re not!
So
Plant a cabbage; get a cabbage.
Not a sauerkraut!
That’s why I love vegetables;
You know what you’re about!
Life is merry if it’s very
Vegetarian.
A man who plants a garden
Is a very happy man!
—–
Jim Cathcart’s point, by the way, is to discover your child’s nature and then nurture their nature.
Parenting without Stress shows you how.
