Sparkle Schoolhouse

Exploring the Dry Gables Series - "Jane Meyer: Pony Express Rider"

The stories from the two Dry Gables Series include an accompanying post from the Sparkle Schoolhouse Educator, Meredith Markow. Each post offers insights into the characters and dynamics of the stories, along with suggestions for how to use the stories as parenting or teaching tools!

Howdy, Sparkle Grown Ups. Ride ‘em, Cowboy! In this post, we’ll spend some time with our adventure seeking, optimistic, high spirited and curious,

Jane Meyer!

Because children are naturally adventure seeking, optimistic, high spirited and curious, there’s no doubt that you find Jane in your child. It’s just that some children live there more boldly, and some stay there longer as they grow.

Jane Meyer is a “Denken” in her being. Denkens are looking for guidance and security, they can be anxious or fearful, and they want to know what and whom they can trust.

Denkens seeks guidance and security, they want to know what they can trust to feel safe, and the emotion that often underlies their motivations or that they are avoiding feeling is Fear.

And they do all of this by planning! Although it might not be so obvious that Jane would be a fearful Denken, consider this. Our Pony Express riders are afraid of being stuck!! They actually have a hard time tolerating uncomfortable emotions or being bored. So, off they go! Our Janes chafe under limits. They have physical energy and spunkiness and will look to have many activities. They want to try everything! They are looking for fun and joy, but perhaps even more importantly, they want options! Running. Running. Running. Raising Janes can be exhausting! But so joyful!

When your child is being a Jane, you might notice that they:

• Generally are self-confident
• Are happy most of the time
• Love to collect objects!
• Love to be around people!
• Have a glorious giggle
• Make friends very easily
• Are full of energy
• Are jokesters
• Like to do many different things
• They love what the world has to offer
• Feel good about themselves
• Can be exhausting and are exhausted
• Can be distractable and agitated

Our Janes are busy and fun-loving, funny and entertaining. Enthusiastic, and they delight in the world. They typically can do many things well, and they do!

The tricky bit in parenting or teaching them is that they can also be undisciplined or distracted. They can seek over stimulation, always planning activities. They love to be in motion! Their minds can be restless, and they are tend to do too much as they are often searching for new experiences. And because they are Denkens, they are fearful. They can be dissatisfied because they do too much to escape feeling uncomfortable.

But why?

The primary worry for our Janes is feeling their uncomfortable emotions and of being deprived of all the fun! Janes want to know that they are safe even when they are still, and they want to know that their needs will be met.

What your Jane most wants to hear from you is: YOU AND YOUR NEEDS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.

When their behaviors, words, actions are challenging, it’s often because they don’t feel that they are.

Here are a few tips when you have a Jane on your hands:

• Assure them that you will tend to and take care of them.
• Give them choices rather than restrict their freedom, however…
• They are best in relationships when they have clear boundaries. They may test to see what they can get away with, so be firm and fair, but be clear.
• When they want to avoid anxiety they stay in motion, and sometime in e’motion’, so be patient and wait out their emotional storms.
• Acknowledge their anxiety and fears with gentleness.
• Remind them that experiencing sadness and fear and pain and worry is all part of life and that it comes along with the fun and joy.
• Affirm their creativity, before you give feedback. They will look forward to the next opportunity.

The gift that our Janes give to us is:

Joy and Freedom!

Celebrate when you have a Jane in your life!

A life without Janes would be a life without Sparkle!