Really liked this piece. Childhood is indeed so precious. Emerson would argue that adults to conform to a baby with faces and strange language, and that's how we should act - conforming to no one but maintaining our childhood for life. And if scripture is to believed, depending on one's faith, one needs the belief of a child to enter into heaven. Unfortunately, society and education pounds this out of children around 4th or 5th grade. In kindergarten, every one can dance and sing and draw and be friends with all people.... that changes fast. "well, I can't sing. I can't be friends with that person because... XYZ." Sad. Loved the essay.