Rocks and Pebbles

Celebrating Sibling Love

Today morning at the breakfast table, I gave a sheet of paper to both my children. On both sheets, I drew a jar outline filled with four big blocks and few smaller stones and even smaller pebbles. I asked both to write what's most important to them in the biggest rocks and keep going in decreasing order to the pebbles.

Both of them filled in their sheets within a few minutes. 12-year-old Reyansh had a picture filled largely with family, friends and sports in big rocks, and his passion pursuits like music, etc. in small rocks. 8-year-old Riana had family, brother, more family in big rocks and friends in smaller rocks.

I now asked them to exchange their sheets and look over what they can learn from their siblings' sheet.

Reyansh added 'Sister' to his big rock.

Riana added more 'Activities that give her Happiness' to her small rocks.

The purpose of this exercise is multi-fold. The child thinks about what matters to me. And what I can learn from my brother and sister.

Sibling conversations have a lifelong gestation. Their relationship can be a corner stone of life energy to rely on when your child cannot speak with you or will not speak with you. Make them realize how precious this bond is and that they must always give it their time and effort.

Try this simple exercise for your children. If you are a single-child parent, do it with your child. A few minutes of self-thinking seeps in deeper than hours of conversation.

Word of caution though - Do not judge. The rocks & pebbles jar is not for us as parents to decide what should go in there but instead take it as an opportunity to peek inside your child mind and accept it.