Draft
The rose and the coconut tree
Sadhguru, on what each child needs:
Different children may need different levels of attention, love and toughness. If you were to come and ask me while I am standing in the coconut garden, "How much should I water each plant?" I would say "A minimum of fifty liters." But if you go home and pour 50 liters for your rose plant, it will die. So you must see what kind of plant you have in your house.
What you'll need
- A few ordinary days, no special setup
- One child in mind
- A willingness to watch before adjusting
Method
For a few days, just watch how your child meets things — what lights them up, what overwhelms them, where they push and where they pull back.
Resist comparing them to another child, or to who you were at their age.
Let what you see — not a fixed rule — shape how much room or support you offer.
Across a week, notice how the right amount differs from one child, and one day, to the next.