Watching over didn't mean doing nothing

When someone says, "Let's watch over them,"
it feels like I have to say nothing, do nothing,
and just endure it.

However, I think the word "watch over"
has a bit more breadth to it.

It's a common phrase, but
when you actually try to do it yourself,
"Is this watching over? Or am I just neglecting them?"
It's a phrase that's easy to get confused about.

Watching over does not mean neglecting

When you hear "watch over,"
"not speaking up"
"not interfering"
some people might have that kind of image.

However, watching over is a little different
from not showing interest in your child or leaving everything up to them.

Noticing that they seem to be struggling,
but choosing not to say anything for now.
That kind of involvement is also a form of watching over.

You aren't doing nothing when you are watching over

Actually, it was the same in my home.

When my child was struggling with their studies,
I used to speak up immediately.
"Why don't you try this?"
"Wouldn't it be better to do this first?"

One time,
I consciously created a timeto just watch the situation without saying anything.

Then, after a while,
my child rethought things on their own
and started trying a different approach.

I didn't say anything special,
nor did I push them away.

I simply
made the choice to "not speak up for now."

It's not "doing nothing," it's "choosing"

When you are watching over...
from the outside,
it might look like the parent is doing nothing.

But in reality,
• Not speaking up for now
• Watching a little longer
• Leaving this part to them

In that way,
you are choosing how to be involved each time.

Watching over is not so much a state of doing nothing,

but rather a state of continuously choosing how to be involved.

Watching over is a way of being involved without fixing the distance

Watching over
does not mean staying at the same distance all the time.

There are days when it's better to get closer,
and days when it's better to step back a little.

Adjusting the distance according to the child's state and the situation...
When you think of it that way,

the word "watch over" becomes a little easier to understand.

– * – * – * –
How you want to proceed from here is at your own pace...

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