Communication

 Last week Harborlight “celebrated” picture day. As is the tradition, everyone came all dressed up (I have never seen so much pink!), and we wished as hard as we could for a no-rain day. We got our wish; the rain held off and the photographers took their assigned places on the field. Each teacher guided her or his class to the appropriate line, and the process of “smile -- next” took on a rhythm unique to school picture days. This year the photographer team was short one member and rather than assign a camera to the Infant/Toddler building the youngest Harborlight students joined the big kids on the field. As parents know, communication with children is an art form. One of the photographers was assigned to take a group picture of the toddlers. He arranged the squirming two-year olds on granite steps. When he thought he had their momentary attention he said, “Look left.” The assembled two-year olds just looked bewildered – the request to look left was wasted on toddlers who were trying very hard simply to stay still. “Left” was not in their vocabularies.

Communication is never as percise as we may wish.