Does shyness run in the genes?
By jureathome
@jureathome (5361)
Philippines
May 12, 2012 9:58pm CST
Summer class is over and they had a culminating activity yesterday. Each class had a presentation. For my girl's class, a group of kids aged 3-4 years old, they had a dance number. She was all excited talking to me about it and even showed me a few dance steps that she remembered, the day before the activity.
However, on the very day, she started sobbing and giving me hints that she doesn't want to join the presentation. I did all I can to give her a boost and told her that mommy and daddy would be very happy to see her dance on stage with her classmates.
So, we got dressed and drove to the activity area. Then the program host called their group to present next, and they were brought by their teachers to the center of the stage for their respective positions. The music played, and a few kids started to move and dance to the rhythm --- but, not her.
We were ready to take a video of her dancing, but she wasn't moving at all. She just stood there and stared blankly at us.
I smiled at her and started making a little movements so she would follow, but she didn't move a muscle.
I was teary-eyed looking at her, and I just want to hug her that minute. I know she was very uncomfortable and I can feel that she felt guilty about not making us proud.
Me and my husband are both shy people, since we were young. I wonder if this characteristic comes with the genes, like the color of the hair and eyes that gets passed on to your offspring. I hope not, and I hope there's something we can do to change that as she grows up.
2 responses
@factorial (977)
• Philippines
21 May 12
Oh that was really sad... I hope you still hug your daughter after that incident... just continue loving your daughter. Maybe yes shyness runs in the genes. My son got many traits from me.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
21 May 12
I sure did. My husband and I and her grandmother were there to give her a big hug and a pat in the back for at least standing on stage for the duration of the dance number. And, for not crying on stage.
@factorial (977)
• Philippines
21 May 12
That was the best thing you, your husband, her grandma did to give her a hug. I hope she will have many exposures in her classes. Kisses to your daughter...
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
21 May 12
She's excited to start the regular schoolyear, which will be next month. And, I hope she;d have a better time at school and more activities.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
5 Jul 12
I am sorry that your little girl acted in a shy way at the dance presentation. It was a shame she had tears in her eyes. She knew the dancing steps and got on well with it in class but the public performance was too much for her.
My mom tells me she was very shy when she was a child. As she got older her shyness rubbed off I am pleased to say. I hope that happens to your little girl. My disabled son is unable to handle very public events in noisy places. In the school play he was a mouse with no speaking responsibilities.
My sister has four children. The oldest is a boy of fifteen years old. He has got dispraxia. The next one is a boy of twelve years old. He is very shy indeed. He has the looks of my sister's husband his dad and is more shy than my sister. My sister is shy and she always has been. He is an elective mute boy. The next one is a girl of ten years old. She is a little bit shy. The last one is a girl of 5 years old. Later this month she will become six years old. She is very shy indeed.
Good luck improving the shyness of your daughter. It might have had the shyness passed on to her like say the color of her hair. In time shyness can improve like in the case of my mom.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
5 Jul 12
Wow..that's a lot of shy heads in the family. Yeah, I do hope that more exposure to school activities would improve her confidence. Perhaps, my kid was just too limited with her social interactions while she was still out of school. Now, she's in regular K1 class and she's gotten more active and energetic - sometimes, to an annoying level..
