I was raised with the itsy bitsy spider as a role model for perseverance. The plucky little spider may get washed away by a rain storm, but she will not be discouraged. While reciting this popular nursery rhyme with my daughter (2), however, my son (4) gave me new insight into the true mental state of Itsy Bitsy.
Son: That’s dumb.Me: What’s dumb?
Son: The spider. Doesn’t it know it will get washed out again in the next rain?
My education taught me that doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results was perseverance. Others have said it is the definition of insanity.
Perhaps the spider should have learned from her experience and not be held up for her “perserverance?”
And maybe our school system should stop trying to do the same things harder in order to get different results. Of course that could be said about a lot of things. Who else is spinning webs in drain spouts, expecting anything other than getting washed away in the next rain?
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Yes, it’s insanity. Truth from the mouth of babes…The honesty of children is amazing.
It’s odd that in all these years I never noticed the silliness of repeatedly climbing a drain spout!
Right on the dot! We should go on blogging, and blogging, and blogging…
Now that all depends on your goals in blogging. I’m here mostly for my own amusement and that is achieved quite nicely. I’d like to think that I cause thought in others now and again, but that is difficult to judge. And I kind of assume that most people agree with me on most things, anyway.
So, I think perseverance is being sure of your goal, and not being dissuaded by hardship.
It isn’t quite the same as climbing drain spouts and thinking you won’t get washed out again. : )
what does anyone expect from this spider - it has a brain the size of.. well it is quite small isn’t it?
Out of the mouths of babes LOL
My son at 4 wanted know why Peter put his wife in a Pumpkin shell…and why she simply didn’t just get out out LOL
Shawna…that is so funny! I could definitely see my 4yo saying something like that. He has a very common sense view of the world. Yours sounds very insightful, as well.
That’s true. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results will get us nowhere. It’s a sad reality that the school system is doing it.
I think there is a lesson to be learned from this spider!
Thank you for sharing this with the Carnival of Family Life. Your post will be included in the July 30th edition at An Island Life.
Nothing like a fresh outlook on something! Our daughter loves this song, but mostly for the hand motions (and that strange, young kid’s love of repetition). Thanks for the chuckle!
My two year old adores Itsy Bitsy! She has checked out three different board books on the song from the library and spends a great deal of time pouring over the pages, reciting the song to herself, and begging for “Again! Again!”