Saturday, August 29, 2009

Six Word Saturday - It's Complicated!

Six Word Saturday:
"Why do I always over-complicate everything?"

A while back, I was in the position of administering a placement test to a potential Kumon student. This little boy was only 3-years old, quiet, and shy. I decided to break the ice (and test the waters) by having him draw a picture for me before testing. I offered crayons, but the child chose a pencil. OK. He then proceeded to draw a picture very similar to the one above.
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I looked at the picture and told him how wonderful it was.
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The child had no response.
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"Why doesn't the man have arms?" I asked.
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"I didn't want to give him any", the child replied in a whisper.
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"That's OK", I said. "But he doesn't have a mouth. Is he happy or sad?" (That would be Miss Anne searching for information...)
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The little boy was silent for many l-o-n-g seconds before responding "Sad", he said.
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So I'm thinking "Rats. This is going to be a VERY challenging testing session!" (OK, in all honesty, I was not thinking 'rats'. I was thinking words innapropriate for a Kumon Instructor!)
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I pulled myself together and gently asked the boy "Why is the man sad?"
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Again, a VERY long silence. I was losing hope.
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Suddenly, the boy looks up at me like I'm the biggest dummy in the world and replies in a strong voice "BECAUSE HE HAS NO ARMS!"
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I laughed and we went on with testing.
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Later, I thought about why I put so much emphasis on the details, rather than the big picture. I guess I do that with everything. I suppose I've always been that way.
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I have the picture hanging up in my center to remind me NOT to overcomplicate things. It helps, but I'm still not "cured".
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By the way... Tjhe boy's family enrolled him in both math and reading :-)
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To participate in Six Word Saturday, please visit Cate (and my other SWS friends) at Show My Face.
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Hugs and blessings~
~~~Anne

17 comments:

  1. Very complicated six words I think

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  2. I do the same thing. I have to make everything so dang complicated.

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  3. Over complicating everything just seems to come naturally for us adults...we have a lot to learn from children.
    Thanks for stopping by and leading me to your wonderful blog...I love your recipes...

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  4. Happy Six Word Saturday!!!!

    I never can make a decision unless I over think every little detail. I need to realize there is often simplicity in the complicated world I am creating.

    Good post and enjoy your weekend.

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  5. Sweet story. It sure is easy to over-complicate things isn't it.
    Nancy

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  6. That is too funny...and I think a lot of people tend to over-complicate things.

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  7. I love this post! I think I might hang that in my office too and send one to my PIC Lady Di b/c we both tend to overcomplicate things. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Its ok to over complicate as long as your flexible :)

    Thanks for stoppin by!
    Dawn

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  9. I'm an over-complicater for sure. Great story though, thanks for sharing it as part of your 6WS.

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  10. I guess that would make him sad, huh? I like your six words today!

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  11. Well at least he knew why he was sad. I hate cliff-hangers. lol

    Happy 6WS!

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  12. Kids are always so straight-forward. You'd think as teachers, we'd be used to it, but it often takes me by surprise, too. We just know so much that they don't.

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  13. I also do that all the time. This is a great demonstration for us to all just wait to see if it really does need to be as complicated as we are making it in our heads!

    Great 6WS!

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  14. To complicate things
    is the highest of all arts—
    not many make it!

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  15. That's a wonderful lesson (that I also need over and over again!). :)

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