Words

 When I first started doing my observations Olivia's vocabulary was not what it is today. (I've noticed that Olivia says more words. She says, mom, stop, no, look and ouch. She tries to say other words too but if she can't say it she just points at it.) Field notes 11/8/14. ( I wonder what my first words were. They were probably bad words. My mom said I started talking around the same age as Olivia.) Field notes 11/9/14.

 It kind of takes me by surprise when I hear her little voice say "cereal" from below me. It makes me look down at Olivia in shock, but I feel proud that she keeps picking up new words. Now that she knows more words Olivia could get our attention much easier. She can tell us what she wants easier. It's like she has more power.

 I say that Olivia has more power because words can be the most powerful and influential tool that we have in society today. For example, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." is something that we all learned as young children. But what about all the young lives that have been lost over words? The same words that won't ever hurt us are the same words that caused many cyberbully victims to take their own lives. If that doesn't make words powerful then I don't know what does. The truth is that words can hurt. Words can heal. Words can kill. If the world would only realize that if we didn't take words for granted the world we live in would be a much better place. Since the beginning of time the written word has been something that we've cherished, but as technology and social media expand we have begun to forget how important words are. I think it's time that we start to go back to our roots before it is too late.