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What Do We NEED?
My little one has a habit of saying “I need this Mummy”, and I always shift it by reminding him to say, “I would like this please” or “may I have this please?”.
I ask myself where and how he captured the word “need” in his vocabulary? It’s a very strong statement to make.
Well, this past month I just opened myself up to a little more awareness of my environment and realized that many people around us use that word. Many of us – and I include myself in this – make those statements at times.
It is wonderful to learn from my son, the little Zen Master, the shifts I should make in my language, not to mention the language of others, although it’s not my place to tell them. Interestingly enough, when I am guiding him and others are around to hear it, it does in fact create an awareness of the language they themselves use.
How our children are such mirrors, not just of their parents but of anyone who is around them – even if it is only for a short time. Children are able to retain so much and integrate it immediately. At times, I actually find the responses that he has demonstrated on a daily basis quite shocking.
If you don’t have children, take a moment and just watch little ones around you. It may help you gain some insight into their parents very quickly.
[tags]language, children, awareness, learning[/tags]
Christina, your words and understanding of this are so appropriate, and so real!
I spend days each week with my two grand sons, playing, observing and always listening. They surprise me with their use of, and understanding of how the adults around them use language. They quickly pick up through feeling, the subtle inuendos of eh words we use.
They are influenced by older friends, parents, grandparents, teachers and TV.
Sometimes a word or a phrase, accompanied by the emotion that goes with it pops right out of their mouths. When I am surprised by it, I usually ask where they heard that, or who it is that they remember saying whatever it was.
We talk about the source, the mood of the person who uses the phrase and whether or not it reflects what they are feeling in the moment.
Now they are surprising me with their skills of observation, and they now ask me to help them find the words that will describe what they are feeling, what they want to convey or what they need.
How delicious it is to watch them blossom into little boys who can observe the play of feeling around them, and relate it to how they might express themselves.
Thanks for your thoughts….
The kids teach me equally as much as I ‘teach’ them!
Blessings,
Anatara