Observing — Not so Easy?

Is it easy to observe?

When I was in training to become a Davis Facilitator, we had an exercise: each of our colleagues in turn was a facilitator, then a client, then an observer.

I was very worried when it was my turn to facilitate a program. It felt like an exam. I was apprehensive: it was important that I should not miss anything, apply the knowledge gained in training into practice, do it right.

When I was in the role of a client, it was interesting – I was learning English at the time, and I experienced for myself how Davis tools worked.

But! You can’t even imagine what I endured when I was an observer! I was promised it would be the easiest. NO! This role, however paradoxical, was on the contrary the hardest. All that was required of me was to observe the work of my colleagues and… keep quiet! I repeatedly bounced up in my chair, covering my mouth with my hand so as not to suggest anything. I felt like I had to urgently save everyone! Although I realized that people who were trained with me were no less qualified. Every facilitator, whatever one may say, still has their own approach and vision of the situation.

Observing is really the hardest part. In my real work, not during training, there is also a role of an observer. And this is usually the mother of the child. Can you imagine how much a mom wants to help her son or daughter? Starting even with a banal questionnaire! Mom knows best what the child likes, what the child wants, etc. When we sculpt from plasticine, the mom is also eager to engage. She needs to help her child make the letters beautiful! Mom always doubts very much whether the child understood my words, and tries to paraphrase them so that the little person can accurately grasp the meaning.

And that’s not a bad thing. I really understand moms. It is especially difficult to be just an observer when events so important both to you and your child are happening around. I was in this place!

So thank you so much mom for trusting the Davis method and your Facilitator! Thank you for your silence while I am working with your child, but also for being involved and supporting the completion of at-home follow-up. And, of course, a special huge thank you to dads who, although less often, are also sometimes my assistants in the programs and deserve respect as well. Believe me, this is a lot of work!

This article has been translated from an original Russian social media post.