[The Power of Children] A first-grader who held back tears of frustration. Surprised by their ability to shift their own feelings

1. A moment that made me smile/feel warm

“Oh, no! I’m going to lose in just a second!”
Playing a card game with a first-grade boy.

He is usually all smiles, but this time he wascompletely serious.
I felt warmed by his desperate expression.

So, I decided to act a little.
When I exaggeratedly expressed my frustration, saying, “Oh, I lost!”

The boy stood up unexpectedly, raised both hands, and cheered loudly.
“Yes! I beat Na-tan!”

I couldn't help but laugh at his beaming smile.

Winning against an adult must be so exciting.

2. The moment of tears and shifting feelings

After that, the boy challenged me again, saying, “Let’s do it one more time. One more time.”

After that, I won every game.
I thought it was cute how he got frustrated, saying, “Oh, man.”

During the game, another child gave me advice.

There was a moment when the boy got irritated, saying, “Don’t tell her anymore.”

I had intended to lose, but
I ended up winning.


The boy suddenly stood up,
and started running.

I wondered where he was going, and he had dashed outside.
I tried to hurry after him, but he came back right away.

Seeing him come back while wiping away his tears,

I was taken aback.

3. My reflection

He must have left the spot to sort out his feelings on his own.

He might have also felt like he didn't want to show me his crying face.

Looking back, I also had some reflections.

How I handled the situation when the other child gave me advice.
For the boy,
it might have felt like everyone was on my side.

I reflected that it would have been better if I had told the other children,
“I’m playing with this boy right now, so please just watch.”

4. Today’s Nattsu Memo

Even so,

“the ability to shift one's own feelings even while crying”was something I witnessed, and it was a moment that surprised me once again at how amazing children are.
It was only a few seconds of action, but

leaving the spot on his own to calm his emotions—


an action of sorting out his own feelings of frustrationwas a scene I learned from a child.