Bjorn is Katherine and Adam’s son and our fourth Grandson. He will be one in a couple of weeks. For the past six months, Katherine, Adam, Bjorn, Jane and Nani lived at Greenwood with the intention of building a Tiny House on our property. It didn’t work out but, we had six months with the Grands and saw Bjorn grow very quickly.

Bjorn got to the point where he was constantly babbling and able to stand by holding on to something.  Linda’s response to him was consistent; “I see you”, while my response was to babble back at him. Linda’s response was more than a passive one. I feel it is connected to a deeper understand of what human emotional development requires to have a healthy self-esteem, secure in one’s self and eventually capable of vulnerability and compassion…being seen; just as you are.

Throughout the initial decade after leaving my family I yearned to know what the children struggled with as they were growing up so damn quickly. But that yearning was horribly misplaced.  Instead of wanting them to know “I see you,” I wanted them to say to me, “I see you.” My agenda in developing relationships with each of them was all about building my self esteem, my security, my trust and on and on. 

Share It With Me was a song written in response to lost opportunities during those years. It was a very painful lesson and everything I learned was poured into that song. Once the song was written I had to put it into action. Very slowly I began to understand how important it was and still is to make sure they know regardless of what they see in me; unconditionally… “I see you.”

PS  I am very grateful to Emily for performing Share It With Me.  Her interpretation is far and beyond what I could do for this song.  I love thee MyEmily.