Let’s Just Stand Still, So Nothing Bad Will Happen

By Carly Andrews

I love watching children engage with parents at the grocery store, particularly, the ways parents engage children in the process of selecting food. A few days ago, I was standing in the grocery store check-out line, and the four-year-old behind me, with focused determination, was emptying the family cart and placing the items on the conveyor. He had a job, and he was intent on doing it well. When he was finished, he proudly walked back to his father, but he accidentally fell and bumped into his younger brother. You can probably imagine the chain reaction that followed. After getting everyone settled and soothed, the dad said to his children: “Let’s just stand still, right here, so nothing bad will happen.”

I really relate to this sentiment. Sometimes we want time to stand still, to freeze-frame for a moment so that we can catch our breath. We want everything to be okay, so that we can formulate a thought about what to do next. But the life of parenting continues to rush ahead, tumbling us into the next moment, whether calm or chaotic.  

Reena Vohra Morgan’s article is a wonderful anchor for parents, as we navigate the calm and the chaos. Using a framework that connects head, heart, and hands, she takes an integrated look at cognitive and emotional processes, as well as the actions we take to attune to our children and to repair when inevitably ruptures occur. After reading her piece, chock full of smart thinking, I recommend selecting one idea that resonates with you. As you go through your day consider it an anchor for those grocery store shining moments and also for the ones that dissolve into disorder. 

You are amazing! Don’t forget that. 

Join us for our next play experience in the Let’s Play! series:

Let's Play! At the Farm

Saturday, April 27, 10am-noon

Historic Wagner Farm, 1510 Wagner Rd, Glenview, IL

Join The Alliance for Early Childhood in partnership with Historic Wagner Farm for a morning of exploration at the farm in spring. Families can explore the 1920’s historic Wagner farmhouse, barter at the Farm Stand, enjoy the Farm Adventure Area playground, and visit the Heritage Center, which includes a 1930s recreated grocery store. 

Registration l link