Perhaps I was too saucy & provoking. –Benjamin Franklin
Some children are born confident and take their own opinions seriously from the start. The strong-willed, creative child is high on energy and full of great ideas. The young Benjamin Franklin was such a child. The world was his to take.
Franklin lived near a marsh, where neighborhood boys played and built forts out of hollow reeds. The center of this marsh seemed deep enough to jump into. Without a walkway or out-plank, children waded through thick reed forests and mud to get to the swim-able center. Franklin had noticed a pile of stones neatly arranged nearby and directed his friends as they relocated the stones to build a well-engineered bridge to the center of the marsh.
The next morning, Franklin was called on to explain why he and his friends had stolen the stones from builder’s nearby. Franklin explained that the stones were better used for the good of the many, and seemed unscathed by remorse until his father convinced him, that nothing was useful which was not honest.
Franklin strove to be honest with himself and others the rest of his life and used his many ideas to make the world a better place. Yet, did not have a set Creative path when young, but rather found his way by bumping against others’ expectations like a pinball inside a game machine.
He loved hanging out with his father, but the constant aroma of melting animal fat used to make candles and soap in his father’s shop sickened him. The young Benjamin complained loudly, daily. He talked of sailing out to sea and living grand adventures instead of living a practical craftsman’s life.
His father noticed his love of books and looked for alternate work options for his son. Benjamin says,
This Bookish Inclination at length determined my Father to make me a Printer, tho’ he already had a son, (James) of that Profession.
I stood out some time, but at last was persuaded and signed [on], when I was…12 years old.I lik’d it much better than that of my Father, but still had a Hankering for the Sea.
While apprenticing as a Printer under his older brother, Benjamin read late into the night most nights. He read a book on the benefits of vegetarianism and decided to live meat-free. A vegetarian lifestyle was particularly difficult in early America and his hosts were annoyed by his demands for healthier fare. Finally, he convinced his brother to give him a food allowance, so he could prepare his own meals. He ate mostly pastries, crackers, apples and onions and drank water. He bought books with any left over cash. Five years into his apprenticeship, but with four years left to complete it, Franklin ran away and finally got to sail on a ship.
Franklin learned much from his bumpy youth and used his misadventures, book-learning and even charm to inspire others to play their own game for the good of humanity.
Benjamin Franklin, remained willful and high-energy all his life.
He invented the urinary catheter and lightning rods. He discovered that lightning is electrical, established the first public library ever and founded the first volunteer fire department. He made lists of how to improve his daily routine, made the United States look good when he traveled to Europe and signed the Declaration of Independence.
He did take the world, and he made it better.
Filed under: Willful Children Tagged: | Benjamin Franklin, Creative Children, Creativity in Children, Strong-willed child
