I find I keep thinking about perspectives lately. It is a really broad concept and it is one of those things that keeps getting bigger and deeper the more I think about it. But here are just a few musings.
I am a developemental physical therapist. I know that children's perspective dictates their behavior. I see how kids with "processing" issues struggle with defining their world and making it make sense. I know that we all differ in how we process info and that affects our perceptions and dictates our behavior. I know that. But sometimes I just don't get it.
One of the brilliant occupational therapists that I work with told me last year that kids don't "perceive" diagonal until about 3ish. I think that if you asked a child if a straight line and a diagonal line were the same, they might say no but to make it play out is entirely different. It was fascinating to watch my child, who is fairly bright, connect two dots that were placed at a diagonal from each other with a straight line. It was bizarro to watch! I have no recollection of not being able to do so; but there it was. A year later, she can make a diagonal line and do a cartwheel. Fascinating!
So from the physical to the behavioral and now to the emotional/spiritual. This whole thing of Santa Claus. I wish I could remember believing. What it felt like to have that innocent perspective of the world where there is magic and goodness. Last year, my child was excited about Santa, etc but this year was different. She is so much smarter a year later (as all kids are, not just bragging on mine). She is starting to get how life works a little. It was so bizarre to think that as we put out the cookies, she wouldn't be able to guess that mom was going to scarf them down as soon as she was asleep. She doesn't get how ridiculous it is to think of time standing still for an ageless man one night a year. I mean, the whole thing is so absurd that I feel like she is just "playing along" because it is fun. But no.... she believes in it. That is her perspective on the world. Another sigh as I wonder how long the magic will last.
Another example is a recent one. I have been exceedingly frustrated with my almost 5 year old's constant interrupting. I have told her umpteen times to not do so. I mean, how hard is it. I have been a little hard on her over it. ( I am probably a little stricter than I need to be in general but that is a whole other post.) So how guilty did I feel when I read this email newsletter I get from babycenter.com (a must if you have young kids) that explained this is normal and that physiologically children's short term memory capabilities are not fully developed at this age. It is actually difficult for them to hold onto that thought. Now, they didn't suggest that you simply let it happen but knowing that it really is hard for them because of their processing capabilities at this point will encourage a gentler training. sigh......
So from the physical to the behavioral and now to the emotional/spiritual. This whole thing of Santa Claus. I wish I could remember believing. What it felt like to have that innocent perspective of the world where there is magic and goodness. Last year, my child was excited about Santa, etc but this year was different. She is so much smarter a year later (as all kids are, not just bragging on mine). She is starting to get how life works a little. It was so bizarre to think that as we put out the cookies, she wouldn't be able to guess that mom was going to scarf them down as soon as she was asleep. She doesn't get how ridiculous it is to think of time standing still for an ageless man one night a year. I mean, the whole thing is so absurd that I feel like she is just "playing along" because it is fun. But no.... she believes in it. That is her perspective on the world. Another sigh as I wonder how long the magic will last.
So, there are just some musing on "perspective". The implications for myself and my world view are vast and I won't attempt to share. But I did just want to put it out there......
1 comment:
Everything in my world is viewed from my puppy's perspective, at this moment in time. I'm constantly having to remind myself and my husband that she is just a puppy and we shouldn't expect too much of her at this stage in her development. I think it's human nature to want our loved ones to excel and to expect more of ourselves than others might consider reasonable.
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