J was drawing letters today. he drew an H some time ago - maybe three weeks ago --, and he 'signed' some other letters with his fingers in the air. but today he drew an upside down J and i was delighted, "J -A -Y jayanth" he loves to say, with great pride. he was trying to draw an A, but it turned out like an H each time. then i explained that in an A, the lines are joined at the top and slanting. he made a pretty good version given that i was not demonstrating but instructing, what with Nirali nursing. boppy on the lap, brain in the kitchen. then i put her down, took his paper and wrote in large capital letters - J A Y and said excitedly, "this is how it looks!" you should have seen his face. it dropped a hundred feet and his eyes filled to the brim when he saw my writing. that was a long, confused moment for me and a very sad one for jay - me, wondering why he should react thus, he, on the verge of bursting into tears. then i realized -- he had immediately made the comparison between my letters and his and there was no question which looked better. i had burst his little bubble by trying to help! i changed gears at once and said, " you did a great job writing, jayanth. i am so proud of you" and his face lit up the way it always does-- like nothing else! and he started writing his As again. but what a moment that was! a moment that threatened to shatter his world, the moment that could have had him falling into the very young child's abyss of self-doubt and gloom. i'm so glad--grateful even--to have recognized it and held my hand out.