The Importance of Our Children Understanding The Reality They Are Living In

By Tanis Nicole Wright

I think a really important thing for kids to understand is the reality that they are living in and more importantly how to deal with it.

I realized the other day while talking to my son that he really doesn’t understand that everyone lives in different realities. For example he was really frusterated with another boy in his class who will come to me after school and tell me all about the exciting things that happened throughout the day in their class before my son gets a chance.

"Why can’t he go and tell his own mom?" My son would complain - because in his mind everyone’s Mom is around and willing to listen, encourage and support.

I explained to him that everyone's life is different from everyone elses and that his friend may live in a household where his Mom or Dad may not be around and be willing to listen, encourage and support him.

Once I explained to my son the reality that this boy is potentially living in my son completely understood and his frustration quickly turned to empathy.

He also, with his new understanding approached the boy differently. Instead of competing for my time and ears my son now lets his friend have his say and realizes that he can have my undivided attention later if he wants.

Anyway, my point is that if my son hadn’t understood first his own reality with this boy and also the boy’s personal reality he wouldn’t have had the right information to deal with the problem.

I’m sure there are many different examples of kids needing to understand reality and to know that everyone has a different reality but this is just one.

Another analogy would be that in order to fix a problem you need all of the tools - a good understanding of reality is just another one of those tools.
 

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