It was a dialogue session with the Tarangs (age 12-14) and Viju was in Chennai, making me the only adult in the group that day. At one point a squabble broke out and one of the children pointed to another: ‘Sreejata aunty, he is disturbing me.’
‘Have you told him that? Then why are you complaining to me? Do you think my telling him will change anything?’
‘But you are the adult here. He would listen to you.’
‘That is his problem … that he is making an authority out of me. But do you realize when you complain to me, you too are making an authority out of me?’
I could see the stunned pause in both the children’s eyes. They had never thought of it that way. It was a Eureka moment for me too …
Since then, I must say, I have noticed very little complaining to me. I do not know if it is because they have given up on me, as a worthless adult (:-)), or if it is because there has been some seeing there!
‘Have you told him that? Then why are you complaining to me? Do you think my telling him will change anything?’
‘But you are the adult here. He would listen to you.’
‘That is his problem … that he is making an authority out of me. But do you realize when you complain to me, you too are making an authority out of me?’
I could see the stunned pause in both the children’s eyes. They had never thought of it that way. It was a Eureka moment for me too …
Since then, I must say, I have noticed very little complaining to me. I do not know if it is because they have given up on me, as a worthless adult (:-)), or if it is because there has been some seeing there!
