Are we really seeing each other for who and how we are? Or are we only seeing what we want to see?
Last night we were sitting at the dinner table 'discussing what we learned that day' and our math curriculum for the coming year.
My 15-year-old son was sitting across from me at the table.
Suddenly, he looks at me and says,
"It looks like someone hit you in the face with a stick. It's all red on your forehead."
I just looked at him, trying not to laugh.
I pointed to the red, blotchy spot in the middle of my forehead and said, with a smirk,
"You mean this? It's my birthmark. I've had it since I was a baby."
He didn't believe me at first. But I finally convinced him. Ask your dad. Look at my baby pictures.
Yes, I have had this mark on my forehead my entire life.
Then we laughed and I joked,
"I'm so glad you finally looked at me after 15 years."
To be fair, my birthmark has faded significantly since I was born.
And sometimes it's more prominent than others, like without makeup, or if my face gets red.
So you could look at me... for 15 years... and not notice it. And then wonder if I got hit in the head with a stick.
LOL
How often do we do this in real life?
How often do we only see what we want or need to see?
How often do we not see the other person for who and how they really are?
What am I missing? What don't I see about my son (or my other children, or my husband) because I'm blinded by my own beliefs, prejudices, and pre-conceived notions?