Youngsters of the age of two and three are endowed with

In the great and unbroken cycle of life, there is a period when the spirit, untainted by the weight of years, flows with unbridled energy and strength. The wise Erma Bombeck, with her keen humor and sharp insight, once remarked, “Youngsters of the age of two and three are endowed with extraordinary strength. They can lift a dog twice their own weight and dump him into the bathtub.” These words, though lighthearted, carry with them a profound truth about the mysterious and often unseen power that lies within the youngest among us. It is not simply the power of their bodies—but the vigor of the soul and the wildness of the spirit that thrives in those early years.

What, then, does Bombeck mean by extraordinary strength in children so young? It is not merely about the physical strength of muscles, for we know that the tiny body of a toddler can hardly compare to the strength of a seasoned warrior. No, it is the vibrancy of life within them, the unrestrained force of will and curiosity, that fuels this "strength." Children at this tender age seem to possess a power that transcends their size and form. They have an innocence and a wild energy that enables them to accomplish feats that seem, on the surface, beyond their means. Just as the river carves through the mountain, so does the young child possess the strength to overcome obstacles with sheer determination and joyful abandon.

In the ancient world, there were stories of gods and heroes who exhibited feats of strength from an early age. The mighty Heracles, though a child, was said to have killed the twin serpents sent by Hera to kill him. His strength was not simply of body, but of spirit—a willpower and courage that made him seem larger than life. Similarly, the great Achilles, even as a boy, showed signs of the power that would one day make him the greatest of warriors. These ancient figures remind us that there is a force within us that, though unseen and perhaps misunderstood, can carry us to heights that seem impossible.

But the strength of children, as Bombeck notes, is not solely in their ability to lift or overcome. It is in their fearlessness, their wild curiosity, and their belief that anything is possible. Children, in their early years, have not yet learned the limitations of the world. They do not know the boundaries of reason or the weight of doubt. They live in a state of constant wonder, and it is this wonder that gives them the power to take on the world with boldness. A two-year-old may seem small, but in their eyes, there are no boundaries—no obstacles too great. To them, lifting a dog twice their own weight is not a challenge, but a mere act of play.

Consider the example of Leonardo da Vinci, who as a child was already showing signs of his genius. It is said that as a boy, he was able to sketch and design with such precision that his teachers marveled at his ability. Yet, what gave him such ability was not simply the learning he had, but the untamed curiosity that burned within him. Like the child who lifts the dog and throws it into the bathtub, da Vinci approached the world with a boundless spirit, believing in the possibility of what he could create. His mind and soul were untethered, and it was this freedom that allowed him to invent, to dream, and to build a legacy that would transcend the years.

The lesson that Bombeck imparts, wrapped in humor but also deep wisdom, is that we must not forget the power and potential of youth. The child’s strength is not just in their body but in their spirit—in their ability to dream, to act, and to believe in the impossible. As we grow older, we often lose that sense of wonder, that belief that anything is possible. We become bogged down by the constraints of reality and the weight of expectation. But the child teaches us that we too have the potential for greatness if we can tap into that same fearlessness, that same wild energy that once propelled us forward.

Therefore, let us remember the strength of the child. Let us not let the passage of time rob us of that sense of wonder and possibility. Just as the child lifts a dog with ease, we too