Archive for the Category »Enneagram «

Social Interactions

25 Jul 2009 by Leish

I remember when I was in Std 4 and 5 (Grade 6 and 7) – I seemed to always be in the middle of a ‘friend crisis’. My best friend would change daily. If it wasn’t Paula, then it was Cathy. If it wasn’t Cathy then it was Mel. And if it wasn’t Mel it was probably Paula again. It often depended on whose house I was going to play at or who I would be sleeping over at on the weekend. I do remember feeling secure and at peace when I had a special friend to rely on. One that I would be sure would play with me at break or sit with me on the bus. One that would send notes during class and that would dress the same as me when we went to a party. So yes at the age of 11 or 12 I was thrown into the deep end of my social interactions with friends.

Jordie’s teacher called in a little group of girls from her Grade (Grade 3) last week to try ‘sort out’ the social dynamics that were happening amongst them. She used the example of division. Much to these little girl’s amusement. How if you choose to leave someone out it would mean that they would be the remainder in a division sum and how do you think that would feel?

Of course I was expecting my girls to find themselves in a place of trying to work out where they fit into their friendship group. Searching for a little understanding of how to be and what to say to be accepted and liked for who they are. And also to learn how to be confident in who they are and what they have to offer that may be uniquely them. I want them to believe in who they are so that they can choose their friends and still be kind and good to others around them. I just didn’t expect things to get so hectic so quickly.

Category: Children, Education, Enneagram, Parents, Schools, Stress  Leave a Comment

So Different

04 Jun 2009 by Leish

How is it that two kids from the same parents can be so different.  The nature/nurture debate?  I reckon they are sent to us “different” to keep us on our toes.  We could never do with one what we do with the other.  We could never think about one the way we do the other.  Conversations and questions are different.  I absolutely love it.

At the moment the big joke is that every morning we offer for Jords to stay home from school – bunk!  She would way sooner eat a tongue and pickle sandwich with butter (which she hates) than take us up on our offer.  Carli on the other hand wakes up every morning and asks to bunk school.  And what would really make it a perfect day would be to give her a tub of butter to stick her fingers in and eat away.

The beauty for me is how I am able to be different for them.  Of course they both need my love, nurturing, mothering but I am kept on my toes to catch those moments when they need me to meet them in their unique space.  Their individual worlds that are different and so very beautiful.

Category: Children, Enneagram, Parents  Leave a Comment