Comments on: Feeling Invisible http://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/ Established June13th 2006 Seattle / Beverly Hills / New York Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:38:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Melanie Jaramillohttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-231043 Melanie Jaramillo Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:02:10 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-231043 ohhhh.... When Madyline was 3 years old I took her to live in Thailand too. it was the best time of our lives. I remember so vividly what a contrast it was for her come back to America.... how hard it was for ME to come back! It's been 4 years, and even now when she gets upset, she'll cry and tell me how she wants to go back to Thailand. "That's where I belong", she says.... it's so true. I can't wait to take her back there someday. :) Melanie ohhhh…. When Madyline was 3 years old I took her to live in Thailand too. it was the best time of our lives. I remember so vividly what a contrast it was for her come back to America…. how hard it was for ME to come back! It’s been 4 years, and even now when she gets upset, she’ll cry and tell me how she wants to go back to Thailand. “That’s where I belong”, she says…. it’s so true. I can’t wait to take her back there someday.
:)
Melanie

]]> By: BlapherMJhttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211936 BlapherMJ Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:22:44 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211936 Wow -- thank you.... Great reminder for our children! Wow — thank you…. Great reminder for our children!

]]> By: Stephaniehttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211829 Stephanie Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:25:28 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211829 This is a very insightful post. Thanks for sharing about the "Thai way" of interacting with kids.Your words really made me think about the way that I talk to kids - Do I talk ABOUT them ("Oh, his haircut is cute!") or do I talk TO them? Do I get down at their eye level or do I ignore them?Thanks for the reminder that "kids are people" too. I want to be better about valuing and acknowledging children wherever I go. This is a very insightful post. Thanks for sharing about the “Thai way” of interacting with kids.

Your words really made me think about the way that I talk to kids – Do I talk ABOUT them (“Oh, his haircut is cute!”) or do I talk TO them? Do I get down at their eye level or do I ignore them?

Thanks for the reminder that “kids are people” too. I want to be better about valuing and acknowledging children wherever I go.

]]> By: Riz Crescinihttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211734 Riz Crescini Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:53:32 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211734 Me Ra, I can't believe the wisdom coming out of your 4-year old! So astute and profound. It has always been an unconscious action on my part when I go down to eye level with children when chatting with them but to hear it like that encourages me and hope that this unconscious action (well, conscious now..LOL) on my part has somewhat of a positive impact on the children I meet.I'd like to give a different perspective on the issue of feeling invisible. My wife and I live in Japan and we have a 3 year old and a one year old. We've also been in Thailand and so we understand firsthand the attention that your kids receive. In Japan, our children are, should I say, mini-celebrities. I can't count the number of times we have been out in public when complete strangers come up and try to strike a conversation with our kids. We even get chuckles when some of these strangers pose and take pictures with our kids....ha ha ha! Most of the time it's not a big deal for us. The Japanese are friendly, love kids, and drawn to Western children. But there are times when our family just want to be "left alone". We just want to blend in without calling attention to ourselves. Our 3 year old gets so smothered sometimes that she runs into my arms, wanting to be protected from these friendly "strangers". So, when we go home to the States for the occasional visit, our family welcome the positive aspect of feeling invisible. Me Ra,
I can’t believe the wisdom coming out of your 4-year old! So astute and profound. It has always been an unconscious action on my part when I go down to eye level with children when chatting with them but to hear it like that encourages me and hope that this unconscious action (well, conscious now..LOL) on my part has somewhat of a positive impact on the children I meet.

I’d like to give a different perspective on the issue of feeling invisible. My wife and I live in Japan and we have a 3 year old and a one year old. We’ve also been in Thailand and so we understand firsthand the attention that your kids receive. In Japan, our children are, should I say, mini-celebrities. I can’t count the number of times we have been out in public when complete strangers come up and try to strike a conversation with our kids. We even get chuckles when some of these strangers pose and take pictures with our kids….ha ha ha! Most of the time it’s not a big deal for us. The Japanese are friendly, love kids, and drawn to Western children. But there are times when our family just want to be “left alone”. We just want to blend in without calling attention to ourselves. Our 3 year old gets so smothered sometimes that she runs into my arms, wanting to be protected from these friendly “strangers”. So, when we go home to the States for the occasional visit, our family welcome the positive aspect of feeling invisible.

]]> By: Lori Mosshttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211623 Lori Moss Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:41:16 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211623 Ok that brought a little tear to my eye. How did you and Brian answer such a question??When my nephew was 4 he said to me "Auntie, you don't listen to me. You don't *hear" me". Broke my heart! Ok that brought a little tear to my eye. How did you and Brian answer such a question??

When my nephew was 4 he said to me “Auntie, you don’t listen to me. You don’t *hear” me”. Broke my heart!

]]> By: Heatherhttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211619 Heather Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:04:05 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211619 Wow! So amazing for a 4 year old. We as adults often can not articulate ourselves that way. Wow! So amazing for a 4 year old. We as adults often can not articulate ourselves that way.

]]> By: Dorianhttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211616 Dorian Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:07:34 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211616 Great child, great photo. Tell him his statement made a big impact on me and I passed it on to my school counselor mom. This adult is trying to come down to his eye level with my kids and their friends. Great reminder. Thanks Great child, great photo.
Tell him his statement made a big impact on me and I passed it on to my school counselor mom. This adult is trying to come down to his eye level with my kids and their friends. Great reminder. Thanks

]]> By: shawnahttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211613 shawna Sun, 12 Apr 2009 06:48:58 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211613 Oh, Me Ra, this is so important and true. I feel like the world would run differently if we all cherished children this way. I have a very distinct memory of the times my aunt called on the phone and talked with me when I picked up instead of asking immediately for my mom. I have to make a point of speaking directly to children when adults overpower the in ever aspect of life, and I hope it makes a difference. How amazing that Blaze was able to put his finger on this and express it with such ease. I can't imagine with a spirit like that he could disappear anywhere :O) Oh, Me Ra, this is so important and true. I feel like the world would run differently if we all cherished children this way. I have a very distinct memory of the times my aunt called on the phone and talked with me when I picked up instead of asking immediately for my mom. I have to make a point of speaking directly to children when adults overpower the in ever aspect of life, and I hope it makes a difference. How amazing that Blaze was able to put his finger on this and express it with such ease. I can’t imagine with a spirit like that he could disappear anywhere :O)

]]> By: lizahttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211611 liza Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:02:04 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211611 What a profound statement. He's quite the young man. What a profound statement. He’s quite the young man.

]]> By: Lanahttp://www.merakoh.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211606 Lana Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:17:25 +0000 http://www.merakohblog.com/2009/04/09/feeling-invisible/#comment-211606 What a profound statement from someone so young. Thank you for sharing. What a profound statement from someone so young. Thank you for sharing.

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