Welcome to the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast. Our intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life. Discover the benefits of mindful living with your host, Timber Hawkeye.

I had a realization recently that I was reluctant to talk to my friends about, let alone shared online. But I've learned a long time ago that many of us share a common story,

which means nothing I experience is unique to me to any of us, so why keep it to myself?

After all, I tell you everything about me from the vulnerable and embarrassing

to the uplifting and insightful.

So I'm going on record here because this... to the uplifting and insightful.

So I'm going on record here because this recent revelation

might shed some light on your own journey as well.

For as long as I can remember, I've been avoiding being around children, hanging out with friends

when their kids are present, and even regularly saying, I hate children. And hate is a strong

word that I typically only use when talking about bean sprouts.

The hatred felt justified when I thought it was because kids tend to be loud and I am sensitive

to noise.

But that wasn't the only reason for my aversion. I mean nobody likes a

screaming child on an airplane or in a restaurant, but you can't blame a kid for

being a kid. Heck from the stories I've heard I myself was a baby from hell constantly screaming and throwing tantrums.

But my resistance to being around children was extreme and only intensifying over the years,

until I recently spent some time with a few kids

ranging in age from 5 to 12, and although they were very loud, I was fine.

We joked around, played games, ran around to the point of exhaustion. I barely

recognized myself. That was until the parents showed up. And within seconds the parents

started telling the kids what they can and cannot do, how to behave, stop doing that, quiet down, don't take that tone with me, criticizing them, punishing and bargaining.

...