Unlike other kids her age, my kiddo is super cautious as a rule. So travelling with her is like travelling with your mother. It is normal for her to shout out instructions like: Dont go too near the deck of the ship; give the camera to me, it might slip and fall into the sea; I dont want to go too near to the fish, she might bite...basically she tends to imagine the worst case scenario. This implies that she is not open to experimentation or trying out new things.
Few years back in 2002, when she was about a year old, I recall staring wistfully at Anjuna beach in Goa...as I would start walking towards the beach, my girl would start howling. One she was scared of the noise made by the waves, secondly as the wave would start coming towards the shore, she would start running in the other direction. Things were little different last year when we travelled again to Goa. She would go near the waves but I detected some hesitation and I felt that she was not really letting go of her fear to totally enjoy. I also felt that she agreed to go near the waves only to make me happy.
This bugs me to no end and we end up fighting a lot about it. Many a times I have tried to coax her to be little more open to new experiences in life (well hard to admit but I have also shouted at her just to make her try out new things in life). This obviously leads to a lot of unnecessary unpleasantness. This time before embarking on a vacation, I decided that I will just not force her to try out anything new. Of course, as a mother I did want her to get over her fears but I decided that it is really not worth it if she doesnt do it on her own.
The same scenario was unfolding this time as well but with a subtle and a critical difference. During the entire trip, she kept on giving instructions to do this or to not to do that but there was a bit of an excitement as well in the tone. I felt that a little persuation would make her try out new and different rides at Genting, Malaysia.
I was super kicked when she wanted to visit the haunted house at Genting. Once inside, it was a different story though :-). I was happy nevertheless that the idea to going to a haunted house came from her.
When she said she didnt want to go in bat cave, I detected a note of uncertainty. She needed a little push, I thought. But I restrained myself and told her to wait in the ship and started walking towards the cave. I had walked only a few steps when I felt a familiar hand slipping in mine. I smiled and thought, she is going to be alright, afterall.
Go on, my dear, conquer your fears, take that first step and touch the sky.
Few years back in 2002, when she was about a year old, I recall staring wistfully at Anjuna beach in Goa...as I would start walking towards the beach, my girl would start howling. One she was scared of the noise made by the waves, secondly as the wave would start coming towards the shore, she would start running in the other direction. Things were little different last year when we travelled again to Goa. She would go near the waves but I detected some hesitation and I felt that she was not really letting go of her fear to totally enjoy. I also felt that she agreed to go near the waves only to make me happy.
This bugs me to no end and we end up fighting a lot about it. Many a times I have tried to coax her to be little more open to new experiences in life (well hard to admit but I have also shouted at her just to make her try out new things in life). This obviously leads to a lot of unnecessary unpleasantness. This time before embarking on a vacation, I decided that I will just not force her to try out anything new. Of course, as a mother I did want her to get over her fears but I decided that it is really not worth it if she doesnt do it on her own.
The same scenario was unfolding this time as well but with a subtle and a critical difference. During the entire trip, she kept on giving instructions to do this or to not to do that but there was a bit of an excitement as well in the tone. I felt that a little persuation would make her try out new and different rides at Genting, Malaysia.
I was super kicked when she wanted to visit the haunted house at Genting. Once inside, it was a different story though :-). I was happy nevertheless that the idea to going to a haunted house came from her.
When she said she didnt want to go in bat cave, I detected a note of uncertainty. She needed a little push, I thought. But I restrained myself and told her to wait in the ship and started walking towards the cave. I had walked only a few steps when I felt a familiar hand slipping in mine. I smiled and thought, she is going to be alright, afterall.
Go on, my dear, conquer your fears, take that first step and touch the sky.
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