Sometimes I hear children described as “old beyond their years”.
People often mean it as a compliment.
Responsible.
Helpful.
Reliable.
As a Deaf mother, I find myself wondering what we're praising and what we might be overlooking.
Sometimes children grow because they are learning.
Sometimes children grow because they have to.
Those are not always the same thing.
A child may appear capable without adults noticing how much is being asked of them.
And when a child is repeatedly praised for stepping in or taking responsibility, it can become easy to expect them to keep doing so.
That doesn't mean every capable child is carrying too much. But being mature doesn't tell us everything about what a child experiences.
The more I reflect on this, the more I believe childhood shouldn't be measured by how much responsibility a child can carry.
No child should have to earn rest through early maturity.
REFLECTIVE QUESTION
What might we overlook when we praise a child's maturity without considering the responsibilities behind it?
