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Brains work in mysterious ways, their insights to achieve.
Two images of water: one restrained, the other chaotic. In neither is the water acting freely, doing what it wants. Even when chaotic, the water pours out of the fountain and is buffeted by the wind. Water is inanimate, non-sentient. It follows rules and boundaries set up by mankind or by the landscape. It is not a free agent.
Now draw the bow with me: what if, instead of water, we are talking about raising children? Some children will thrive in the restrained environment, others in the chaotic. I have been reading about mind-sets: fixed, and growth. How do you encourage a child to continue, to persevere: do you tell them that they will achieve because they are smart; or, do you tell them they will achieve because they are working hard? All this is round pegs and square holes territory. And where does this fit with the various parenting styles: authoritarian, authoritative, indulgent, and negligent?
Maybe I should just go back to reading popular fiction.
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Great patterns.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful shot. I like your words too.
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids so I don't have any answers, but I read a lot of fiction.
ReplyDeleteI hope this doesn't mean you're fretting about Alannah. I hope it is philosophical and theoretical and not keeping you awake at night.
ReplyDeleteThe mind works in wondrous ways!
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
No, not fretting in the least. I could not be more content with what is happening in that direction. It is more in the line of an intellectual conjecture. Firstly brought on by a book I am dipping into called 'Nurtureshock' and then by a newsletter Kirsten sent me from the Principal of the school that Alannah has been enrolled at.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, though, it is night and I am awake. This happens sometimes and I rarely toss and turn, but get up and do something. I know I will sleep well tomorrow night.
I love it when you draw a long bow! Raising kids/parenting is very difficult in the 21st century so much influence via technology. My 13yr old is often angry that he is not connected via a mobile phone or facebook to his friends but we believe that home is for the family... I do worry about whether we are making the right choices all the time.
ReplyDeleteOh, Julie, these are stunning images!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm a fan of pragmatic parenting. Parent the child you've got in the way that works best for all of you and the environment you're in. Following strict guidelines about what must or mustn't do is, well, throwing the baby out with the bathwater, IMHO.
Water always runs downhill, just like life. This might be the opening sentence in my new novel: "Murder in the emerald city".
ReplyDeleteI love the second shot and the musing of your mind. Haven't got a clue about raising kids but have to say my parents were authoritarian (absolute obedience demanded), authoritative (I trusted their insights), indulgent (Mum believed it was a child's right to play while she did all the work) and negligent (we were allowed to go ride our bikes all over the town and walk to school unaccompanied).
ReplyDeleteYou have opened a can of worms. Go back to fiction.
ReplyDeleteThe water sounds easier to understand than children ever will be or have been
ReplyDeleteI really like what your new lens can do. What software are you using for b&w conversion?
ReplyDeleteNo, no .. Don't go back to popular fiction .. Keep coming up with you unique Juie-isms.
ReplyDeleteI think children learn by example.
ReplyDeleteJust gave myself a headache trying to write a comment.
ReplyDeleteToo big a topic to think about.
Brain hurts.
water makes great patterns. Did you watch the rugby last night?
ReplyDeleteSo you have a new lens since I've been away Julie, is it a 50mm? Love the water images. I guess it would be simple to read popular fiction, but somehow I think too easy for you Julie, you like the challenge methinks. I loved your last post about Monsieur Dutruc, I bet he's go a smile on his dial wherever he is!!
ReplyDeletethe first is fantastic
ReplyDeletebeautifull B&W
wonderful pictures!
ReplyDelete