The differences!

All the above flowers are of Turnera in our garden. They all have five petals, which are grossly similar looking. 

The arrangement of petals differs from flower to flower, although in a small way. 

The differences do not reduce them to be of the family of Turnera flowers. 

The differences in the conduct and character of children in a family, have surfaced in conversations with some families in the recent weeks.

It was while watching these flowers above, I got a new consciousness of the naturalness in these differences. Each child in a family is different in some way or other. The genetic heritage and the epigenetic influences together give expression to a person's conduct and character, which cannot be identical even in identical twins. 

It is common to exercise freedom to compare children in family; it is the last thing that any family could ever do. 

Let each child feel received and honoured. They have different needs and style. It is the privilege for parents to work with the 'prima materia'  of each child, to use an alchemist's language, and prosper their formation towards what they can become! 

Each child has a blossoming stage in life; till they arrive at that season of their life, the parental role is to support the unfolding of the unique ways that they are endowed with.  

A family persuaded their second child to learn piano, because  that was what the first son did. But he wanted to learn wind instruments. When they became adults, it was evident how that difference became an expression of their uniqueness. 

Let children have a home,  which receives individual expressions and tastes. That is how parents can prosper their blossoming prospects!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)