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Thoughtful Thursday: I was Corrected by a Three-Year-Old!

By Sara Goss

Real Estate Agent with HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate

September 03, 2009 05:04 PM

While standing in the checkout line of a department store recently I said hello to a happy 3- or 4-year-old sitting in the cart in front of me. He was thrilled to have the attention and a little conversation with a grownup while waiting. At some point he decided to test my color knowledge.

He pointed to my purse, asking, "What color is that?" "Blue," I replied, while smiling knowingly that it is ever-more-specifically turquoise. He nodded in agreement. He pointed to a sign, "What color is that?" and I answered "green" although chartreuse would have been more accurate. He nodded. Meanwhile his grandmother was unloading the items from their cart onto the counter.

He quizzed my color fluency on a few more items we could see around the store while I was placing my items on the counter. I was 100% correct. He then pointed to a metallic bowl I was about to buy and . . . . "What color is that?" "Gold," I replied.

"Nope!" he smiled, shaking his head sideways with certainty. "Yellow!!" I was about to disagree but then decided, you know . . . he's right! He's got the big picture down and that's enough! Itty-bitty minute classifications of colors are fine for me, but irrelevant to him.

I don't always speak in terms that can be understood, or I define away more than necessary. This was a useful and humorous reminder for me to consider what I say and who I am speaking to. I am not ashamed to say that I was corrected by a three-year-old!

©2009 Sara Goss All rights reserved

SARA GOSS, REALTOR®
HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate
Search Listings: www.har.com/saragoss

Helping home buyers and home sellers in the Houston Bay Area of Texas. Deadline for first time home buyers to receive up to $8000 federal tax credit is rapidly approaching . . . don't wait!

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Tony & Darcy Cannon

Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT

The C Team

Sara, I think that sometimes we all get a little too specific, simple is usually a good choice!

Sep 03, 2009 05:08 PM

Drick Ward Property Management / Broker Assoc

NEPTUNE REALTY - Virginia Beach, VA

"RealtorDrick" - Experienced Representation

Excellent reminder - keep it real and keep it relevant to the situation. Thanks for sharing.

Sep 03, 2009 05:11 PM

Susan Neal

RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA

Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Sara - Yes, we all have to remember that not everyone has the same vocabulary that we do. They know words and terms we don't, and we know ones that they don't. When I was practicing law, I learned this during a deposition of my client. The issue was whether event A happened before event B. My client had told me that A happened before B, which was good for us.

In the deposition, the other attorney asked, "Did A happen subsequent to B?" and my client said "definitely!" I about fell off my chair. When I got my turn, I asked it differently: Did A happen before B? and he answered yes. When the other attorney said, I thought you said A was subsequent to B, my client got angry and said, "How many times do I have to tell you! Yes, it happend before- subsequent - to B. Then I realized he didn't know what subsequent meant. He thought it meant before.

Sep 03, 2009 05:16 PM

Heather Adkinson

Windermere K-2 Realty LLC www.propertiesinmoseslake.com - Moses Lake, WA

Real Estate Agent - Moses Lake

To see the world from a child's eyes is the purest way to see....

Sep 03, 2009 05:27 PM

Sara Goss

HatmakerGroup.com GMAC Real Estate - League City, TX

Realtor - Houston Bay Area, Texas

Tony & Darcy, agreed! Simple is a good thing.

Hi Drick, Thanks for your comment.

Susan, Glad you were able to get the events in proper order . . . . language is complicated.

Heather, Sounds good to me, and children are very direct when talking about their point of view.

Sep 04, 2009 01:34 AM

Susan Brown

Keller Williams NE, Kingwood Texas (Humble & Atascocita too) - Kingwood, TX

Thanks for the story. It is a good reminder that sometimes we build a clock when simply asked the time!

Sep 04, 2009 03:07 AM

Kate Wheeler

Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor - Murphy, NC

CCIM - Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale

Kids really have a way of getting to the heart of the matter, don't they?

Sep 04, 2009 08:29 AM

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES

Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL

Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Sara, that's a cute story. You probably made his day too by letting him teach you something about colors! :-) Have a great weekend!

Sep 04, 2009 01:53 PM

Susan, right you are! I'm trying to be a good listener.

Kate, Yes they do, thanks for your comment!

Silvia, thank you! Kids remind me how to enjoy every moment.

Sep 05, 2009 04:39 AM

Michelle Hatmaker

Real Living - The Hatmaker Group - Galveston, TX

Houston Galveston Real Estate

Sara...I could actually picture that exchange between you and that little boy! I'm sure he was pleased to entertain you. Children, in their wonderful innocence and simplicity, always amaze me!

Sep 05, 2009 08:56 AM

Michelle, I'm no match for a 3, 4, or even 5 year old. They always win, my heart.

Sep 05, 2009 11:35 AM

Carol Lynne Bull

Keller Williams - Alexandria, VA

Sara that is so cute. You are right we do need to remember how we speak.

When my girl started kindergarten she was asked her colours. As she spent many hours with me at the flower shop I designed, she told her class the colours she knew, their shades the connecting colours and how the colour wheal worked. When she was finished she put her hand on her hip and declared " and don't get me stared on the shades of white." I sent the teachers a bouquet the next day,

Sep 05, 2009 11:39 AM

Carol, that is charming! I bet the teachers got a kick out of her explanation. Nice profile photo too.

Sep 07, 2009 01:49 PM

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