It has been quite some time since I last wrote for The Inner Mind.
Recently, I attended my daughter’s parent-teacher meeting after her half-yearly examinations. During our conversation, the teacher shared some very positive feedback about her, which made me happy as a parent.
But what surprised me most was her reaction when she learned about our transition from Germany to India and that my daughter had completed her preschool in Germany.
This was her first school examination in India, and the teacher acknowledged that, in most subjects, she was at the same level as the other children in her class.
There was one area where she was still struggling a little—spelling. We understand that this can take some time because she had started her early education in Germany, where German and English have some differences in spelling, pronunciation, and the way words are learned.
The teacher also acknowledged that moving from one country and education system to another was a very big transition for a young child. She appreciated the decision we had taken as a family, but at the same time, she advised us not to make any major transition again for some time. At this age, another significant change could have a considerable impact on her.
I completely agreed with her.
While coming back from the meeting, I started thinking about how much my daughter had experienced in such a short period of time.
She moved from Germany to India.
She left behind her school, teachers, friends, swimming, dance, singing, and the familiar environment she had grown up with. She had to enter a completely new school, meet new teachers and children, and adapt to a different education system.
Yet, she adapted.
Of course, there were difficult days. There were moments when she missed her friends and her old life. But gradually, she accepted her new surroundings and started building her own little world again.
Listening to her teacher made me realize something else.
Although she is still very young, she has already shown me how quickly children can adapt when we give them the space and confidence to do so.
As adults, we often worry about the future.
Before making a change, we think about what might happen, whether things will work out, and what the consequences might be.
Children don’t always think that far ahead.
They simply experience what is happening today.
They go to a new school.
They meet a new friend.
They learn something new.
They come home and play.
And slowly, what was once unfamiliar becomes familiar.
Perhaps that is the power of now.
My daughter didn’t know how her first school examination would go. She didn’t know how long it would take to adjust to her new school. She didn’t know whether she would be able to keep up with the other children.
She simply kept going.
And maybe that is something we, as adults, can learn from our children.
We don’t always need to know the outcome before taking the next step. Sometimes, we just need to be present, accept what is in front of us, and keep moving forward.
As parents, we often believe that we are the ones guiding our children.
But sometimes, they quietly guide us too.
My daughter is still small, but through her transition from Germany to India, she has taught me something important about life:
We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but we can always make the most of today.
Perhaps that is what living in the present really means.