‘Never pretend to be something you’re not!’
They say.
But what happens when the 'something' you’re pretending to be, is a cool, calm, confident flyer around children?
In this case, surely ‘pretending to be something you’re not’ is not just acceptable, but advisable?
This is a topic that I’m sure will divide opinion.
What it comes down to, essentially, is whether it is better to adopt an attitude of transparency with children, and communicate one’s anxieties using age-appropriate language (all the while hoping that this honesty cultivates empathy and emotional intelligence, rather than marking the beginning of a learned behaviour!) or… is it better to feign fearlessness?
I’m no expert, but I am leaning towards the latter.
The reason, is that the former does rather run the risk of planting the seed of the same fear, into the sponge-like terrains of a young mind - no matter how much ‘mummy is a bit scared!’ is wrapped up as a lesson in humanness and bravery!
I also feel, as well, that ‘pretending’ might be neuro-protective, at least. A self-fulfilling prophecy, at best.
In the past few years, so focused have I been on keeping up this flying-is-such-fun façade, that I’ve actually forgotten until the point of buckling myself in, that I’m about to be imminently airborne!
To this end, perhaps ‘pretending to be something you’re not’ is not so much the antithesis of authenticity, as the solution?
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