Who Are The Na’vi?
Remember the 2009 movie, Avatar. It centered around a planet, populated by the Na’vi – a humanoid species indigenous to Pandora. Humans, who had depleted their natural resources were mining on Pandora. But the Na’vi were a big problem.
Colonel Miles Quaritch, the head of the mining operation’s security detail, wanted to wipe them out and resolve the issue. However, Jake Sully, a paraplegic former Marine, had fallen in love with one of the Na’vi, named Neytiri. Neytiri’s mother has her initiate Jake into their society. The problem was that Jake had been sent to Pandora as a spy.
There is a huge battle in which the Home Tree (a sacred and vital source of energy for the Na’vi) is destroyed. Neytiri’s father and others are killed. Jake is in a quandary because he feels remorse for what is happening on the planet and his role in it.
To regain the Na’vi’s trust, Jake does something that no Na’vi has done before – he connects his mind to that of Toruk, a dragon-like predator feared and honored by the Na’vi. Then in Hollywood fashion, he flies into the grove where the refugees are hiding. He dismounts from Toruk and walks to Neytiri.
Now here is the part that matters to this conversation.
Neytiri puts up her hand, palm facing Jake and says, “I see you.” Jake presses his palm to hers and says, “I see you.” She didn’t say, “I love you.” She said, “I see you”, which interpreted meant, “I love you.” When we really see another person, it sends a very powerful message that they matter.
A universal human need is to matter.
How can we send this important message to our children on a consistent basis?
• STOP what you’re doing. Put your cell phone down, turn away from the computer, turn off the
vacuum, etc.
• Get on their level. Kneel if you need to.
• Look them in the eye.
• Respond to what your child is feeling, not only what they’re saying.
• Listen with patience and interest.
This doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Give them 3-5 minutes. When you stop what you’re doing it says I see you; I hear you; you matter to me.
Everyone wants to matter. Even the Na’vi.