This is Our Story: The Incredible Tale of Hunter and the Dream Kindergarten

“Mom, please read the story for me.” “Okay, how old is mom this year?” “22!” “What will mum open?” “Mom is opening the best kindergarten in the world in France.” “When?” “December 31, this year.”

Back when Hunter was wrapping up his days in kindergarten, our conversations often revolved around his fascination with the age “22,” the concept of “kindergarten,” and the grand vision of “the best kindergarten in the world headquartered in France.”

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As he neared the end of his kindergarten years, Hunter learned to write with a retired teacher in our community. Bursting through the door one day, he exclaimed, “Mom, I just told Teacher Y that you’re going to open the world’s best kindergartens in France.” “And what did she say?” I asked. “She said your mom must be very crazy!”

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Even after starting elementary school, Hunter was no stranger to his mother’s tall tales, but he started to see the world with a bit more clarity. “Mom, are you really 22 years old this year? Then I’m 8 years old, 22 minus 8 equals 14… so, mom, you got married at 14?” “Well, there is an old-fashioned story about people getting married young, but we decided to wait till after our 20s,” I replied, keeping up our tradition of playful banter. A seriously nonsensical mother…

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Sometimes, I’d get so caught up in our stories that I’d even slip up in front of Hunter’s dad. “Tell me, what can mommy open?” I’d ask, forgetting to switch out of story mode. Without missing a beat, Hunter’s father would retort, “You can open a casino.” Sharp and clear.

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Of course, we are only engaged in card-based learning activities for early childhood education, not blackjack. And no, we definitely do not operate a casino.

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This is our story. Welcome, all of you. Our dearest friends.

If Hunter can make it, why can’t you? As Hunter’s mum, I find it challenging to create the best kindergarten in the world in France. As a foreigner in a non-French-speaking country, navigating the complexities of opening a private kindergarten under French law seems almost insurmountable. We need more funds, and our grasp of French is shaky at best. I lack a degree in early childhood education and have no practical experience in the field.

Many people say you can’t. But remember, good and evil are mutually transformative. Strengths can be turned into weaknesses, and weaknesses can be turned into strengths. This is what the Tao Te Ching teaches us.

How do we make the impossible possible?

Hunter overheard his mother’s dreams when he was only five. According to neuroscience, children begin to show EEG patterns characterized by theta waves, which range from 4Hz to 8Hz, between the ages of two and six. In this theta state, children are deeply connected with their inner world, living in a realm of abstraction and imagination where critical and rational thinking has yet to take root. Thus, at this age, children like Hunter absorb whatever you tell them without skepticism (Thatcher, 2012; Gruzelier, 2014; Jensen, 2006).

At five, Hunter doesn’t grasp the complexities of opening a kindergarten—funding, licenses, procedures. Instead, he embraces the encouraging words and dreams shared by his mother. It’s a thought experiment with my little Hunter—a journey we embark on together.

You, the parents in front of the screen, moms and dads with your young children, why can’t you? Share your wildest, most unattainable dreams with them. Your happiness and goals will not only inspire them but will enrich your life with incredible spiritual wealth. I promise!

If Hunter can believe, in fact, Hunter does believe, why can’t you?