2 October 2015:
We went for a long walk today. Our first stop was to the old neighborhood where we lived for three months in 1989. On the way, we came upon a playground occupied by a group of children in day care, all in red hats. We rested on a nearby bench.
There were about a dozen children, all being cared for by about 4 adults. One girl tripped and fell right in front of us. The immediate impulse for both Lily and myself was to help her get up, but we hesitated because we were not the care givers. Then we learned a lesson. One care giver was standing right next to the fallen girl, and did not reach down to help. Instead, all of the care givers took note, and then encouraged the girl to get up on her own in a sing-song voice, which she did with barely a complaint. Amazing! In the U.S., I am sure that at least two of the adults would have immediately picked her up, dusted her off, checked her knees and elbows, and given her a big hug. Not here. It was really interesting to see how they help the children learn how to take care of themselves at a young age. So much for helicopter parenting!
And, just for good measure, when little girl got up she put her cap on backwards, this time with a bit of help from the adult who had been standing right there. A bit of independence there, too.
End of lesson.
Canon 5D
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