John Paul Walters is a wonderful pianist and composer of childrens music CDs that adults really enjoy listening to with their kids. His heartwarming, lyrics and lyrical arrangements of old tunes bring back warm memories of childhood that help parents make new memories for their own children.

So much creative energy is lost when we give up our spirit of childhood and choose to look at the world only through the safety goggles of emotional detachment. Make your home a safe place for everyone who dwells there by being emotionally available to your family, and it will be a creative resource for all.

John Paul Walters models the creativity possible when the sacred spirit of childhood is preserved and protected. One of my favorite tunes on his album, Rediscovering the Child in You, is Puff the Magic Dragon.

I remember one evening when my husband and I snuggled my youngest son on the living room sofa, while singing him this beautiful song about childhood. Our ten-year-old boy was so moved by its words, and his own realization of growing up, that he began to cry as my husband and I were singing to him. We assured our young son that he would always be our little boy, and that no matter how old he grows we will never forget the special little boy that grew into a man.

We just celebrated his 18th birthday. We are so proud of him - and of that little boy! We chose a special birthday card to remind him who he is - the little boy of yesterday, the young man of today, and the wise man of the future.

Take some time today to preserve a special place for the creative spirit of childhood to dwell in your family, and when youre all older - youll remember it!