Sharing Moments

One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about tutoring is working with a small number of families each year.

As classroom sizes grow ever larger, it becomes harder and harder to know each of your students as individuals.

Whether it has been sharing anecdotes about their early lives, difficulties with essay writing, or achievements outside of school, I’ve really got to know my students as individuals this year.

I’m sharing one tradition from Kazakhstan that a parent shared with me this week. I’ll leave it open as to which of the objects the child selected:

Tusau Kesu, meaning “cutting the fetters,” is a traditional Kazakh ceremony celebrating a child’s first steps. The child’s legs are loosely tied with a cord, which is then cut by a respected and successful person. During the ceremony, the child may be encouraged to choose from objects such as books, money or musical instruments, with their choice traditionally interpreted as suggesting possible interests or qualities for their future. The ceremony symbolises freedom, independence and the beginning of the child’s journey through life, with the cutting representing the removal of obstacles and a wish that the child will grow up confident and successful.