The Surprising Things I Learned from Interviewing My Kids at Different Times in Their Lives
Some context: 7 years ago I thought it would be fun to interview my 5-year old son and learn what his perspective felt like towards safety, learning, and error prevention. Without barraging him with difficult questions and trying to make the interview fun, he opened up to quite a lighthearted chat. I wrote down the conversation for keepsake and told a Human Performance friend of mine that works at a nuclear power plant in California. He told me I should make a post about it, so I did. Some people really got a kick out of it - I certainly learned something. The complete old interview can be found by clicking here.
Any opportunity I get to see this world through my kid's eyes puts me at pause. I'm a family-man above everything and to see them growing up and exploring the world and having opinions makes me gush. This post is an updated version to see how and if his perspective has changed at all, AND to add in some new viewpoints from his younger sister whom was eager to help out.
The New Interview (October 2, 2019):
What follows is the unedited transcript...paralleled with his old answers and also his 8-year old sister's answers:
"What are some things you do so you don't make mistakes?"
5 y.o. Son (same son, 7 years ago): "I put the cup in the middle of the table." (to prevent knocking it over.)
12 y.o. Son: "Think hard and retry something if I need to. Go with your gut.If it doesn't look right or sound right, it may not be right."
8 y.o. Daughter: "Check my work. Read questions carefully."
"How do you know when something needs to be done?"
5: "Mommy and Daddy remind me."
12: "People telling me when it needs to get done, people ask me, or I have a feeling myself. When something doesn't do it's proper assignment." (function)
8: "When someone says it's really important. Also, somebody tells me when I have to do something."
"How do you keep yourself safe?"
5: "I look both ways so I don't get hit by a car. I look and I listen. I look out for big kids, too, because they can run over a preschooler."
12: "Never hesitate to check everything twice. Locked doors, crossing the street, everything."
8: "I try to calm down and keep myself under control. I try to never have too much sugar. Don't get into fights. I protect myself by not bothering people. I don't jaywalk and do what the signs says." (She sometimes has too much sugar - and actually said "jaywalk" haha - didn't know she knew what that was)
"What makes you feel safe?"
5: "Mommy and Daddy protect me."
12: "Cozy spaces and warmth make me feel safe. People being welcoming make me feel safe."
8: "Knowing people are around me that are good at fighting and protecting me. That's why I like the middle. I don't like planes. I am afraid of heights. I've seen a show called "Stranded" where people have to survive and I don't want to do that. Always bring a machete." (OMG, she said bring a machete?!?!)
Special follow up question for her: How do you help keep your older brother safe?
8: "He can keep himself safe! He's eleven! I can call 911 on my iPad if I need to."
I asked them about Daddy being safe at work:
5: "He told me he wanted me to be safe like Daddy wants him to be safe."
12: "Getting hurt is bad and a lot of bad things can happen. I want you to be careful - make sure there is no water touching any wires."
8: "Careful! I want you to be safe when you go to worksites because I'm careful - like the feeling 'Care' and 'Full' - full of care." (Like her Dad, she loves word play)
"How do we get better at something?"
5: "We get better by practicing."
12: "We get better by practicing. There is no other way - maybe training, but that's still practice."
8: "I would learn. I would search how to do it. I would practice it until I got better (like softball - that's why there are practices). Scrimmage games at basketball. I would make mistakes, because that would help me learn from them. "
"Do you have any advice for Daddy at work?"
5: "Don't cut yourself. Don't get oil in your shirt. Don't fall down."
12: "Know what you're eating when you go to far away places. Don't go near anything that you don't know what it does."
8: "Think, Think, Think, Think.Think. Think while you're at work. Think about how to work."
Conclusion
After an interview with a 5 and now 12-year-old HU Practitioner and his 8-year old sister , I've learned you need to practice if you're going to get better at anything, pay attention to the things that make you feel safe, so you know when you're not, and above anything else... THINK.