Connected Paediatrics Weekly: Confusion is the good stuff

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Hello from the train!

I’m currently on the way home from a fantastic weekend of learning with the incredible Dorte Bladt. I have been wanting to do her Switched on Babies course for years and I finally found a gap, so I headed up to Essex and it didn’t disappoint. (if you haven’t already, make sure you get to one of her seminars!)

It turns out it doesn’t matter how much you think you know about something…learning it from someone else tends to give another perspective, another way of looking at a familiar problem, which blows the whole subject wide open again. I have lots ready to integrate into practice tomorrow morning…but even more to think about.

The way Dorte explained cry/fuss (irritable) infants had me looking at the problem from a new angle. I thought I had it all sussed out but now I had a different frame of reference…a new lens! I found that I would have make some changes to my way of thinking to find a home for this new information.

This happens to me on a regular basis like with cranial bone motion, gut-brain issues, primitive reflexes...you name it, I think I have it nailed and then poof…I’m back in the starting blocks.

And, of course, as the universe does (if you keep your eyes open for it) it sent me a little sign on the way back from lunch yesterday as I was wrestling with this. Literally, it was a sign written on the wall of the uni where the course was held. And it read…

“I am never satisfied that I have handled a subject properly ‘till I have contradicted myself at least three times” – John Ruskin.

I had to have a little smile at this.

We often think we don’t know enough to treat kids because we are confused by this thing or that thing that doesn’t quite make sense. When actually, I think the hallmark of someone who is dedicated to their craft is that they are happy to try and understand the truth by immersing themselves in new information and potential confusion.

The practitioner I worry about is the one who “knows it all”. My experience with these folks is that they have found a certain view that makes sense and are not interested in anything that could challenge their views. Research moves forward, our understanding deepens, and we have access to great teachers who impart this in interesting and unique ways.

If you are confused, it means you’re growing. Your perspective is shifting and ultimately your understanding of the subject will be much deeper.

Chat soon

Mike

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