May 11, 2004


  • Les jeunes enfants sont de bons observateurs .


    Young children are good observers .


                                                                                            English version under the second picture .


    Vous voyez sur la première photo notre petite - fille Manon, 4 ans en Juillet prochain ,  marchant sur la digue de mer avec ses parents . Elle se délecte avec une crème glacée au chocolat . Elle prend soin de ne pas laisser tomber cette glace et elle s ' est barbouillée la bouche . Elle est très absorbée et semble ne faire attention à rien d ' autre .


    Quelques jours plus tard elle séjournait chez nous avec ses cousins et elle dessinait . Voici son dessin qui étonna sa grand ' mère , ma femme Janine .



    • G.M. : As - tu vu des poissons , Manon ?
    • Manon : oui, à Nausicaa ! ( Nausicaa est un musée océanographique situé au port voisin ) .
    • G.M. : Et qu ' est ce que cette forme rouge sur la mer ?
    • Manon : C ' est un bateau !

    Et , en effet , loin sur la mer , à peine perceptible à l ' horizon ., il y avait un bateau de pêche qui rentrait au port .


    Et que dire à propos de l 'horizon qu ' elle a tracé ? En aurait - elle discerné la courbe ?


    Ma femme lui demanda pourquoi elle avait dessiné plusieurs soleils ? Elle répondit : parce que ce qu ' il y avait  " plein "  de soleil .! Déjà le symbole ?


    Ce dessin est le résumé de toutes ses principales perceptions ce jour - là . Rien n ' est oublié .


    On remarquera les puissantes capacités d ' observation et de mémoire d ' un jeune enfant même quand il semble distrait . Et aussi la capacité de résumer les événements d 'un jour en un seul dessin . Et on pourrait dire bien plus de choses encore .



    Manon et sa crême glacée           Manon with her ice cream             April 2004 Photo JB Fauquet  




    dessin de Manon       Manon ' s drawing                           April 2004          


     


      You see on the first picture our 4 years old next July granddaughter Manon , ,walking on the promenade at the seaside with her parents .She is delighted with a chocolate ice cream . She takes care not to let that ice cream fall on the ground . and she is dirty all around her mouth . She is very busy with that and seems not to pay attention to anything else .


      Somedays later she was at our home with her cousins and she was drawing . Here is her drawing . Her Grandmother , my wife Janine , was amazed by it .



    • G.M. :D id you see fishes , Manon .?
    • Manon : Yes , at Nausicaa ' s ! (Nausicaa is an oceanographic museum at the nearby harbour )
    • G.M : And what is this red shape on the sea ?
    • Manon : It ' s a ship !

      And , indeed , there was a fishing boat far on the sea , just perceptible on the horizon , that came back to the harbour .


      And what to say about the skyline she drew ? Would she have discerned the curve of the horizon ?


      My wife asked her why she had drawn some suns . She answered she wanted to show this day was very sunny ( much sun ) .! Already , the symbols ?.


      This drawing is the sum of her main perceptions about this day. Nothing is forgotten .


      We have to notice the young child ' s powerful capacities of observation and memory , even when he seems not to pay attention . And also the capacities of summarize the events of a day in a only one drawing .. And we would be able to say more about .



    le bateau à l ' horizon             the ship at the horizon                      phto JB Fauquet

Comments (90)

  • She is a perceptive young lady! Lots of sun   I love the photo of her with the ice cream - now that is the way to eat ice cream correctly!!

  • children see without all those ridiculous filters adults put over their eyes. It's why I love working with kids.

  • Great observations...children are so beautiful..so pure, so creative...

    somedays I wish I had more child in me!

  • Mmm Ice Cream.

    Manon is the future impressionist artist I think.

  • What a great photo of Manon with the Ice Cream around her face .

    I have been to Nausicaa '

    Where are the photographs taken are they taken at the beach by the Nausicaa .  Thomas and Alice loved playing on that beach

  • Manon is so cute!  I love the picture of here with her ice cream cone.  And she was right to put multiple suns in her picture, the weather looks very sunny! 

    ~ Amy

  • Manon is such a cutie!  Alayna loves ice cream too and even with it all over their faces they are still beautiful   Her drawing is very good.

  • wow, that picture IS amazing for a girl of her age.

    apparently genius runs in the family.

    she is precious!

  • I love children's sense of observation, they are so pure and refreshing to see things from their perspective.  Adorable picture with Manon's ice cream all over her mouth.

  • elle est très mignonne avec sa petite barbe!

  • Manon looks like a lovely young girl. I love her drawing. All the suns are such a great way of illustrating lots of sun, so simple that only a child would have the wits to tink about it.

  • Children are the most wonderful gift. Their eyes don't miss a thing!

  • Et c'est bien que les grand-parents soient aussi observateurs de leur petite-fille!

    -- Lise

  • I love her ice cream face~!

    michel, your grandchildren are so adorable.  thanks for sharing them with us :)

    ~janny 

  • I don't speak french but it's really cool you do, and you write in it too.

  • Avec amitie, monsieur.

  • Another great drawing to add to your collection. I believe you do have a real little artist on your hands.

    Because of the bright colors that she used, I sense  that she may be a very happy child,who has retained great memories from her day at the beach.

    The ice cream picture tells the whole story. A little girl really enjoying her day. She is adorable. Have a great week!!!

    Love

    Edie Rose

  • What neat photos!!  Kids sure know how to enjoy their pleasures, don't they??  They don't have to be careful not to look too messy.  Just dive right into it.  It makes me want to eat an ice cream like that!!

    Her drawing is so wonderful!!  It's interesting how she shows the fish in order.  I love children's drawings. 

    Hugs,

    Lisa

  • What a wonderful blog Michel! Children are very smart indeed. My nieces and nephews are the same. I wonder why that leaves when we grow older! Ha ha!!

    By the way, since I had all my computer problems I lost the information with your address. I have something for you from Solon and Bunzilla! so if you could email me that'd be great! My email address is on my blog.

    I posted a picture today of Solon's great grandpa!

  • She is beautiful and her drawing shows how much she absorbs in life. Even the sea is different colors of blue. The suns... much light in her life?
    Her hair is the color of my Scooby's hair.

  • What a delightful and sharp child. Makes you just beam doesn't she.

  • I can not read your site without thinking that I am reading the works of yet another French genius. Not this time a poet or a novelist, but a blogger.

    Some blogs transend the humble form and become works of great literature.

  • Michel, It IS amazing what a child will recall, even years later.

    Manon is so perceptive, & cleaver in not missing any of her ice cream......and from what I can see, not getting her clothes messy....my kind of girl!! She is precious as are all of your Grandchildren, thank you so much for sharing these memorable moments. 

    I love how you are so delighted in your grandchildren and their minds.  If only all Grandparents were as insightful & involved as you & Janine. Lucky Family!!

  • Ah, cette première photo est précieuse --bientôt elle ressentira le besoin de faire attention en mangeant sa crème glacée, pour ne pas se salir..si seulement on pouvait tous se régaler sans préoccupations comme Manon!

  • What a beautiful little girl Manon is, Michel! Children are so perseptive, and it really does show in their drawings.

  • il me semble tu as une artiste avec ta petite-fille, Manon.

    mais maintenant, je voudrais une crême glacée.

  •   Very sunny, indeed!  What a cutie! 

  • Les nombreux soleils me rappelle comment le grec antique a été parlé. Il ne traduit pas en anglais et vous devriez dessiner beaucoup de soleils! J'aime la barbe faite de crême glacée de chocolat. Manon est un bel enfant!

  • Children never cease to amaze me and fill me with awe

  • Children are amazing, isn't it wonderful to be part of something so precious.  It can open our eyes anew and remind us that there is still much beauty in the world.

  • Perhaps she should take photos also.  She seems to have an eye for composition.  Beautiful little girl and very talented.

  • Ah, as a teacher with a master's degree in gifted education, I can tell you with authority and experience that Manon is a gifted child. Memory and retention of experiences are but two of many indicators of giftedness in children. At the University where I obtained my degree in Florida, I tested children for this characteristic. Good for Manon! We need more gifted children in the world. I can also tell she is highly sensitive.

  • I will give a 10 to the drawing of manon and a 10 to the photo of her eating chocolate ice cream.

    Funny that she paints ´the boat red and she makes the little fish look like he is stonger then the bigger fish.

    Amitié

    Carlo

  • Michel, she is absolutely adorable.  And it is so amazing that it seems she wasn't watching anything but her ice cream cone yet missed nothing.  The photo of the ship is so far away that I looked two times to see it, yet her young mind caught it immediately and filed it away...color and all.  She draws beautifully. That picuture is a keeper.  I love her perception of the horizon with many suns (wonderful) and the fish...how cute is that...all the colors...she must have noticed at the acquarium that the water changes color with its' depth...give her a hugg for me please...she is precious...many huggs and love Sassy

  • That photo is just too adorable :)

  • Mèmes mots que ceux de Lise !
    chance pour Manon !
    et adorable blog de Michel ! merci

  • You are right about children being observant! Sometimes they have more insight into things than grown ups.

    DG

  • She looks like she has a little beard and mustache!  How cute!  She's a very pretty girl.  I love the drawing!!

  • Hope your haveing a good wednesday ! Hugs and Love

  • I have two 4 year old granddaughters and they are always amazing me with their memory. I love listening to them weave a tale over a picture they saw or what they had seen. We went to the ocean last year and saw dolphins in the water. I didnt think they noticed but just the other day they were saying they want to go back to see them again. Take care and God Bless you and your family.

  • children never cease to amaze one... :)

  • absolutely adorable  :)

  • You granddaughter is adorable.

  • Manon is very pretty, and very perceptive! You certainly have a lovely granddaughter!

    Thank you so much for your comments in my guestbook: I appreciate them. I should hopefully update soon. I've just had some personal issues to deal with first.

    Have a wonderful Thursday, Michel!

  • Un enfant, ça n'oublie jamais rien et tous les évènements restent gravés dans sa mémoire. C'était tellement plus simple quand on était petits. (Je suis tombée sur votre journal à la page principale et il est génial.)

    Clara

  • oh, our children ground us, and inspire us and make us love unfathomably. children are the stars here on the planet earth.

  • Merci pour le compliment. C'est que j'ai vécu quatre ans à Paris.

    Clara

  • HAHAHAH! :D Is that a beard on Manon's face? Hihi :)

  • If we could only not forget to see things as a child sees them and process those things with a mature heart - this is the simple definition of true genius.

  • This is a truly wonderful blog.  I like how you parallel Manon's drawing to the photo, emphasizing how strong a child's perception is.  I believe she must be a very happy child, for what she draws mirrors how she feels and I believe she feels warm and happy with the extra suns she has drawn in!

  • awesome blog. I really like your going back to get the pics to give us a sense of how she may have seen things.

    many compliments on having a granddaughter who truly knows how to appreciate an ice-cream!

  • I love the name Manon.   She is beautiful, even with chocolate on her face.  :)

  • She is beautiful. I can only hope to be so lucky with my children and grandchildren. Isn't it amazing to watch a young mind blossom and grow?

    -Nina

  • I love the drawing -- how much more lively than a photo.

  • She is beautiful. Children notice more than what a lot of people think. It is fun to sit and watch them play and all the things they discover. Hope you have a great weekend. and {{{hugs}}}

  • So pleased that your Father-in-law is improving, sounds a bit like Matt's condition. Matt will probably go into a respite home for a couple of weeks unless he improves very rapidly, he is never the same 2 days running ,and has declared he will not be resuscitated if the worst happens, he is 82+ so he knows he has had a good life ,the doctors have spelled it out ,he may have some time, on the other hand he could not, all in the lap of the gods. Being a fatalist i believe when his time is up, that is it. He really did sound better on the phone today pity i couldn't get in ,still I screamed down the phone (he is deaf) I love you, and he replied in kind, so i am more hopeful today .Thank you for caring ,so many Xangans have been asking and commenting  but I have only gone to you and Nanny. Take care yourself Cuddly bear, Love Marjie

  • And you have yet, another beautiful grandchild. One who obviously knows how to enjoy a chocolate ice cream!! That is definately the way chocolate should be appreciated  :)

    It is so refreshing to se the paintings and drawings of kids. It reminds me of times when life did not seem so difficult. And even more importantly it reminds me that sometimes, life does not need to be considered so difficult. That even as one gets older it is very possible to fit  the day's happenings into a drawing...

    Thank you for sharing your grandchildren with us. I take much delight in it.

    Big hugs to you and yours Michel,

    Sarah

    PS- Thank you for wishing me a happy mother's day!! I hope your wife enjoyed hers as well.

  • A very sunny day!!  Love all the sunshine.

  • the expression is here that 'children are sponges.'

    it is true....have a great weekend sir.

  • It never ceases to amaze me how much small children know, and how quickly they learn! I love how she drew many suns to show that it was so sunny out.

  •  look at that pic, Manon is so so cute! :D

  • What a beautiful photo of Manon.  It looks as if she bit her ice cream cone on the side.  Soon it will melt all over her!  I love dirty faces on children, they are usually the happiest times for them!  She is also a talented artist!   Karen

  • What a great child,  what great grandparents...

  • Thanks for your beautiful comments.

  • Hello hope your haveing a lovely weekend.
    Hugs ~n~ Love

  • She is indeed very observant!  Great pics!!!

    rr

  • I was ( and still am ) always surprised how much children retain in their memory bank. I found that sol very often they would not mention a treat or holiday for months and then suddenly would start to chat about the event as if it only happened yesterday. Ypu have a talented artist in your family Marie

  • Quelle petite-fille mignonne et jolie!! Et je croix que tu as raison, les enfants sont vraiment de bons observateurs.

  • Sometimes children see more than adults ever could.

  • Thank you for your kind words.

    And Manon is so beautiful. You are truly blessed to have her in your life. Kisses, Kate

  • d'accord, michel. en francais dans l'avenir! :D

  • If you ask me michel..children..are not only the happiest, most carefree ppl..but without realizing it...they see the world most clearly...not burdened by worries n' fears...they truly see the beauty in everything life has to offer!=)

    forgive me..my memory fails me? you have 12 grandchildren?...Manon is adorable! I really want a little girl someday..*smilez*

  • oui...les enfants savent tous ;)

  • bonjour michel, i left you a previous comment, but i am not sure if you read it. i just wanted to explain that i have not forgotten you and you have done nothing wrong. that list of people i was saying nice things about was made up of my underclassmen friends at school; you are not the only one who was confused!

    i hope to hear from you again soon. have a wonderful week!
    Much love,
    ~Savannah~

  • I love the photo and the drawing! Both are beautiful. I am amazed that the ice cream did not drip down the front ofher shirt - she must have been VERY careful

    Take care!

  • Le dessin de Manon est comme le dessin du Petit Prince.  Janine a raison, les enfants ont les observations tres fortes.

    Merci pour tes comments pour mon question silly dans mon derniere blog. :)

    Amities,

    Clementine

  • Thank you for commenting on my son's site, your granddaughter is gorgeous, one to be proud of for sure.

  • You're quite right, my friend, children make wonderful observers and we all should take a look at the world through children's eyes, shouldn't we?

  • Meant to add, Manon is beautiful and you must be a proud grandfather!

  • Lovely post! and that Manon is a doll! *smile*

  • mmmmmmm tres belle photos j'ai envie d'une glace maintenant .

    Elle dessine tres bien pour 4 ans, il faut l'encourager.

  • Wonderful drawing!  Manon is talented and perceptive!

    The face of a child eating ice cream is a pleasant sight to see.   I like to eat ice cream too!  But now, I try to keep my mouth clean. (What a shame!!)

    Hugs and love Michel,

                                Deb

  • She is such a darling girl!  Isn't it amazing the things children notice and remember?  Often even things that slip our eye are noticed by children.  They are so amazing!  And to look at the world through eyes of a child must really be a blessing.

    Jana

  •   Of course, ice cream deserves one's full attention.It's such a wonderful food. And very sunny days do seem to have many suns, that's a great way of thinking.

  • that's an interesting analysis!!

  • Michel,

    In friendship, you are the Funny Man!

  • Manon est très, très charmant,

  • She is very observant and so beautiful! You are blessed, Michel!

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taking care of what is around us

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