A stalk of Lily !

One stalk of Lily gives four flowers! They are similar in shape, size and colour, but they flower one after the other over a two or three days. 

This pattern fascinates me. The flowering is timed by the plant. There is a remote control resident in its genotype which makes this happen. 

To me this is a source of great consolation. 

I feel disturbed by parents, who compare their children and expect them to be similar. It is almost against the norm in genetics. Although the science of epigenetic does suggest that the environment has a determining effect on the behaviour outcome in children, it is important to accept the diversity in the temperament and behaviour of children because thy might be differently wired. They are chromosomally inheritors of genes from both parents. Therefore a child represents a confluence of patterns of both parents. 

I wish parents can value the diversity of their children and develop a strategy to adapt and respond to each child differently!

I was talking to a teacher who retired recently after twenty years in pre-school education. I raised this issue for her input. Her approach was wise and practical. She welcomes children to her class each year, knowing that she has to engage a spectrum of abilities and behaviour in children. She begins from this premise and by the end of an academic year, she instinctively knows each child and tunes herself to reciprocate to each child at par with his or her level of responsiveness. That was an educational conversation for me. She learned from her children in the class and conditioned her responses to suit their skills, abilities and temperament.

The difference in children hailing from one family is not the real issue, but our patience to learn and adapt!

All the four flowers might be similar in some domains but there are individual differences starting from the time they blossom!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)