On my mind
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
For whatever reason, I have never been very good at talking about other people. Gossip, small talk, call it what you will – I just can’t do it.
While I might pretend to listen to the latest news about your children, or nod politely as you speculate about the activities of your favourite C-list celebrity, I would much rather talk about the concepts and ideas behind the babble – why is your kid copying one aspect of your behaviour but not another; what is the media obsession with celebrity hiding; how does it make you feel?
Sometimes I know people dislike this aspect of my personality – the need to continually question, explore and debate, and most of all challenge ideas and preconceptions. They find it abrasive, rude even – they see no point to the antagonism, the constant ‘devil’s advocate’ stance.
But how will we ever discover any answers if we never ask any questions?
I hope my daughters grow up to appreciate the benefit of always wanting to know ‘why’ and ‘how’. Other parents might look forward to the day their child takes their first steps, performs in public, or moves into their own place.
Me? I’m looking forward to the day my kids can argue their own point of view with me, and win.
Filed under: Musings.
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Comments
- Jonathan M. Hollin
- 1455 days ago
- It is difficult: Do I make the most of her innocence (perhaps lying in order to sustain it), or do I shatter her illusions and tell her about the real world?
I’ll go with the former every more often than not. After all, she’s only a child once. - #3
“I?m looking forward to the day my kids can argue their own point of view with me, and win.”
You won’t have to wait too long. My daughter (8) is already challenging several of my points of view. Usually I can justify my stance and she’s intelligent enough to rationalise with. However, she has the advantage in that she sees the world through a child’s eyes, her views are pure and untainted by cynicism or experience – thus she can often challenge me and win due to the simplicity and pure logic of her reasoning.
It’s incredibly scary.