my social butterfly does fly

much talk about socialization being important part of the early child education. what is being social? to be able to strike a conversation with anyone on the street seems to be important part of it. is that all? fortunately or unfortunately, sienna doesn't seem to be such a social butterly.

the teachers at school consider her to be very social. they calls her their "little assistant". she is the one who is known to tell the right from wrong. she is the one who would try to hold the elevator door for a stranger behind her. she is the one who would decide to improvise dance poses on the edge of niagara falls. the tourist were busy taking pictures of her around her.

i think being social has something to do with one's awareness of the environment and the role he plays in that environment. it's about how to fit in, to be independent, to play a role for the common goal (being cooperative) and to be comfortable about oneself in that role.

i didn't come to this clarification without hesitation. sienna was the shy one and still is. i felt a little sense of accomplishment to see her get to this piont. experts have all the suggestions for coping with a socially shy kid.

i am glad i didn't follow the sugguestions. i am glad i didn't go the route of taking her from party to party just to be in the crowd. i am glad she missed some events according to her will. i am glad when she said "i want to go home", i let her follow me home.

instinct told me to protect her private nature, first and foremost. i gave her space to be the observer and co-operater. now she is going through her smooth transformation of becoming a social being. i might have made a difference because i didn't expect her to be a social butterfly. i have a feeling she will never be. that's fine with me.