Wonderfully Astonished

05/24/2023

Assumptions are dangerous things to make, and like all dangerous things to make — bombs, for instance, or strawberry shortcake — if you make even the tiniest mistake you can find yourself in terrible trouble.
Lemony Snicket, The Austere Academy

“When have you been wonderfully astonished by a child in a way that left you wanting to keep thinking about your experience in order to understand it better?”

“What helps you pay attention instead of making assumptions—or, when you do make assumptions, what helps you adjust your assumptions?”

“How might you describe a core value that’s at the heart of your life with children?”

These are just a few of the contemplations that Misa Okayama offers in her meditative book Making Adjustments, which follows Okayama’s reflections on one child’s explorations, Okayama’s relationship with this child, Tsuki, through these explorations, and how the relationship and interactions unfold within and reflect on the core values of the school where these interactions take place. Throughout the book, Okayama invites you on her journey with Tsuki. And I invite you to reflect on the questions above and share your stories in the comments.

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